Descendants: The Rise of Red

It has been five years since “Descendants 3” and now the famous Disney Channel franchise is back with a new story and a new cast of characters in “Descendants: The Rise of Red,” released in 2024. Oddly enough, this is both a spin-off and a prequel mixed. The focus is on new characters Red (Kylie Cantrall), the daughter of “Alice in Wonderland’s” Queen of Hearts, and Chloe (Malia Baker), the daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming. When the Queen of Hearts, played by singer Rita Ora, uses an invite to Auradon Prep for revenge, Red and Chloe time travel to the past to undo events that led her down her evil path.

“Descendants: The Rise of Red” had so much potential. You’ve got an incredible cast of characters. Cantrall and Baker have a great camaraderie as Red and Chloe. Kristen Maldonado credited in her review, “I was really impressed by Ora’s acting ability as the Queen of Hearts. This was a perfect role for her.” Brandy and Paolo Montalban even reprise their roles as Cinderella and Prince Charming from the 1997 “Cinderella” film, which is just everything. Dara Reneé was a real stand out in her first villainous role as Uliana, the baby sister of Ursula and aunt to Uma.

Maldonado admitted, “I really loved the music and how they infused a lot of hip hop and R&B into it. Some highlights were “Perfect Revenge,” “Red,” “What’s My Name (Red’s Version),” and “Shuffle of Love,” which I wish we got a full version of in the film. Although I will say there were a couple of spoken rap style lines that were a bit cringey.”

There is even a lot of nice attention to detail in the costumes when they time travel, like the heart on Red’s belt changing color when she goes back in time. Maldonado said, “But, outside of that, I wish the story was more layered. They had so much to work with, but went with a really rushed and simplistic plot.” The catalyst for a young Queen of Hearts, Bridget, played by Ruby Rose Turner, to becoming evil could’ve been much stronger. The way they set it up looked superficial. Having Uliana trick Ella, played by Morgan Dudley, into sharing in the Bridget prank would’ve added a shade that could’ve taken the story to the next level and would’ve explained why the Queen of Hearts hates her as an adult. Or, when we see Chloe getting Ella grounded, that could’ve been a substance for her missing Castlecoming which leads Bridget to feeling betrayed by her. That could lead to her losing her best friend and missing out on getting together with Prince Charming, which would lead to Chloe dealing with a “Back to the Future” situation in a sequel trying to save her family.

The major missed opportunity was just not showing Red and Chloe at Castlecoming trying to stop the prank. The dance was a huge plot line in the movie but was never shown. The lack of certain locations like that and the way the sets were built out made the story feel very contained and limited at times and the overused CGI that it started to feel cheesy. Maybe they will bring that up in the possible fifth film, but it makes this film feel incomplete. They needed to do a better job with the set up. There were also some plot holes that didn’t make sense. Maldonado asked, “Like if Merlin enchanted the magic cookbook so it wouldn’t fall into the wrong hands, wouldn’t Uliana and her crew still have been frozen on their own mission to stake out the book whether Chloe and Red showed up or not?” That way, they never would’ve been able to prank Bridget, which means it might not have been them that was the reason for her to become evil.

On Uliana’s team, they introduced young versions of Maleficent and Hades and other villain kids, but didn’t actually do anything with them. Longtime fans wanted to see more, especially since they have such a strong connection with the original trilogy. Maldonado said, “Instead, they gave bigger cameos to Jasmine and Aladdin, or Jaladdin as they preferred, that were random and cringey.”

The film ends happily, but very suddenly, ever after. Headmaster Uma, played by China Anne McClain, teases that Red and Chloe messed with the time travel and that it could have caused issues. Maldonado admitted, “I wish they teased a stronger cliffhanger. Instead, the voiceover line felt like an after thought to tease a potential next movie without actually having a plan set.”

In the end, “Descendants: The Rise of Red” is a mixed bag. There were great messages about what it means to be a good person, mother-daughter relationships, childhood trauma, and being your own person. Maldonado said, “I really enjoyed this cast and the music, but there were a lot of missed opportunities and holes in the story that tied back to the writing team. They played it too safe and simplistic when their audience is smart enough to keep up with a more detailed story. This is a franchise that is timeless and could go on forever with all the different characters in the Disney fairytale universe. I’d like to see more in this world, but with a stronger script.”

I will admit that I liked this film with the time travel aspect with changing a person from being evil to good, but I will say that I don’t know why they decided to make another “Descendants” film when the last one ended it off nicely. Maybe with how popular the franchise was, they wanted to make another one to milk in on the franchise, and that is a bad idea. Because this film, like I mentioned before, is a mixed bag. There are many good things about it, but it does make you wonder why they made another film. Check it out on Disney+ and see for yourself what you think of it.

Tomorrow I will look at a sequel to, quite possibly, my most hated live-action remake in “Disney Month 2025.”

Under Wraps 2

In 2022, the sequel, “Under Wraps 2,” was released. However, Harold and the gang have freedom to take the story in a new direction. Alex Zamm returns to direct, along with the main cast, this time working from a script by Josh A. Cagan.

The sequel starts a year later, with Marshall, Gilbert, and Amy being driven in Buzzy’s hearse to Amy’s hometown of Rockport, a Salem-like town that really loves Halloween. Amy is planning a scary party for her father’s (Claude Knowlton and Antonio Cayoone) Halloween wedding, but while they’re in town, they decide to visit Harold and his spouse, Rose, played by Sophia Hammons, who are on display in a nearby museum. They use the ancient amulet to bring the mummies alive to experience the nicer things (like room service and arcades), but they aren’t the only mummies in town.

Sobek, played by T.J. Storm, has been accidentally revived through a meatball falling out of his dinner sub. With museum worker Larry, played by Jordan Conley, hypnotized to carry out his evil mission, Sobek goes on a mission for revenge against his former best friend turned worst enemy, Harold, for stealing his former love.

Along with his safety and that of his friends (mummified or not), this time around Marshall has difficulty being the ignored one to Gilbert and Amy, who have become close while working for the school paper together. Alex DiVincenzo said in his review, “It’s also a pleasant surprise to see LGBTQ+ representation — in the form of a same-sex wedding — handled so matter-of-factly, especially after the recent manufactured outrage over Lightyear.”

DiVincenzo continued, “While Under Wraps is the more well-rounded movie, Under Wraps 2 admirably attempts to one-up the Halloween vibes with a huge festival in the holiday’s honor.” Along with an evil mummy as the villain other than a human also makes it more of a horror movie, even though Larry is always by Sobek’s side to help the scares with comedic relief. It’s nice to see Adam Wylie, who plays Gilbert in the 1997, make a cameo as well.

DiVincenzo ended his review by saying, “It’s unlikely that the new iteration of Under Wraps will have the same impact as the original — with smart devices and streaming services readily available in virtually every household, most kids have unfettered access to untold horrors at their fingertips — but both the remake and its sequel serve their purpose as fun Halloween treats.”

If you want to see this sequel, check it out on Disney+. Personally, I didn’t really see much of a problem, but I don’t think I will be going back to see this again. However, I think this is relatively harmless, so I don’t think it will hurt to see it. Watch it and judge for yourself.

Tomorrow I will be looking at a surprising sequel in “Disney Month 2025.”

Under Wraps (2021)

Premiering on October 25, 1997, “Under Wraps” was the initial Disney Channel Original Movie. Alex DiVincenzo said in his review, “The cornerstone of the network’s programming proved to be as close to appointment viewing as it got for ‘90s kids, along with the likes of ABC’s TGIF and Nickelodeon’s SNICK. Moreover, Under Wraps served as a gateway to horror for many millennials. Before the age of streaming, catching a mummy movie on the same channel where you watched Disney cartoons and Boy Meets World reruns could have been your first exposure to the macabre.”

Disney tried to recapture the effect with the 2021 “Under Wraps” remake. The original movie was successful, and holds up 28 years later, for a lot of reasons. Relatable kid protagonists, a great Halloween atmosphere, and a sense of humor that is meant for them. Director/co-writer Alex Zamm and co-writer William Robertson intelligently keep those elements for the new remake.

Actually, all the major bullets from the original film – written by Don Rhymer and directed by Greg Beeman – are still there in the remake. Though both films are harmless, the original had a little edge to it…as far as ‘90s made-for-TV kids movies go, anyway. DiVincenzo said, “The remake is sanitized to favor playful hijinks over perceived danger.”

12-year-olds Marshall (Malachi Barton) and Gilbert (Christian J. Simon) are best friends even though they are insanely against their views on horror movies. Marshall is a huge fan of them, while Gilbert is afraid of his own shadow. When they believe their scary neighbor, Kubot (Brent Stait), of stealing an ancient Egyptian mummy, the boys join with their new classmate, Amy (Sophia Hammons), to sneak into his house, accidentally bringing the mummy back to life with an amulet.

Like many of fiction’s best monster, the mummy – named Harold, in honor to Marshall’s hot sauce loving grandfather, played by Phil Wright – is not as scary as he looks. He’s just misunderstood. The kids secretly become friends with the lovable mummy, making a friendship similar to “The Monster Squad.” When learning that Harold only wants to be reunited with his spouse, they help him on his mission. However, it’s easier said than done, as Kubot and his men are right behind them, and they only have until the end of Halloween to return him to his sarcophagus or he’ll turn to dust.

DiVincenzo said, “Most of the tweaks to the material serve to contemporize it. The fish-out-of-water element is played up with Harold encountering modern amenities like an autonomous vacuum and Siri-esque technology.” The cast is also more diverse: Marshall is of Hispanic heritage, Gilbert and Marshall’s mother’s (Jordana Largy) boyfriend (Jaime M. Callica) are Black, Amy’s father is gay, and the horror monster expert the kids trust (Melanie Brook) is a young woman.

Along with the Mummy in his life, Marshall has the usual adolescent problems like having difficulty accepting his parents’ divorce and trouble with the school bully, played by Josh Zaharia. The three child actors are likable and have a natural bond. DiVincenzo said, “Stait, a veteran character actor, chews the scenery appropriately, while Wright utilizes his dance choreographer background to bring the mummy to life. The mummy makeup design by Joel Echallier (1922, Freaks) is standard but effective, featuring an off-set jaw.”

“Under Wraps” doesn’t give any major changes to defend its existence. DiVincenzo said, “It’s more like Disney dug up the film’s mummified remains and gave its sarcophagus a fresh coat of paint — and there’s nothing inherently wrong with that.”

I know this remake isn’t all that good, but if you put this on for your kids, I think they’ll enjoy it just fine. Check it out on Disney+ if you want and see for yourself.

Surprisingly, this remake had a sequel. Stay tuned tomorrow to see how that is in “Disney Month 2025.”

Descendants 3

The tragic passing of Cameron Boyce created an unexpected shade over “Descendants 3,” the latest installment of the Disney Channel Original Movie trilogy about the offspring of Disney heroes and villains. Brian Lowry said in his review, “The show goes on, yielding an at-best serviceable addition to a promising concept that's beginning to feel worn and tired.”

The 2015 original began from a smart area, with the children of different Disney villains getting the opportunity to leave the island where they’ve grown up and live among the magical area consisted of the good guys and their offspring.

By now, that has became a somewhat awkward build, around not just marquee characters but so many more strange ones, unless you were really curies what the pirate sidekick Smee’s children might be like.

The relationships have continued to improve, with Mal (Dove Cameron), the daughter of Maleficent, now exactly a part of the kingdom of Auradon and in a serious relationship with is current prince, Ben (Mitchell Hope), the son of Beauty and the Beast.

Mal and her friends, played by Boyce, Sofia Carson and Booboo Stewart, are still trying to mainstream the children of the villains and bring them over when a disaster happens. Lowry noted, “That raises questions about old fears, breaking down barriers (in this case, the magical one that protects Auradon) and when they can be set aside.”

This may sound like there’s a more serious tone inside the movie, but that magical “wall” has been the focus of the story from the start. Lowry mentioned, “Any loftier ambitions also dissipate pretty quickly in the race to squeeze in mostly uninspired musical numbers, possessing both the energy and substance usually associated with a parade at a Disney theme park.”

To its credit, the story does change the script a little by having one of the offspring the protagonists – Audrey, played by Sarah Jeffery, the daughter of Princess Aurora – basically becomes a villain. Lowry said, “If the early movies preached that evil isn't destiny, the welcome point is being good isn't either.”

Lowry continued, “The story also receives a boost of mischievous whimsy from the Hercules villain Hades, played with a starched mop of hair and punk-rock eyeliner by Cheyenne Jackson, rekindling some (but not enough) of the silliness Kristin Chenoweth brought to the first movie.”

When you look at it, “Descendants 3” aired at an interesting time, as Disney continues to go through the vaults both theatrically and for when Disney+ was going to be started. Lowry noted, “It also continues its youth-oriented network's streak of spinning ratings gold out of live-action musicals, after the "High School Musical" and "Teen Beach Movie" franchises.”

Despite that the talented cast and nicely choreographed dance numbers credited to their director Kenny Ortega, “Descendants 3” feels more like a production that has run out of everything in the formula.

Boyce’s passing brought a serious feel to what’s otherwise a happy flick for families with younger kids. However, all of that aside, whatever was in “Descendants” mainly, this third installment is easily the worst in the series.

I’m sorry to say, but I really didn’t enjoy this one at all. There was nothing in this movie that I liked and would say for those who didn’t like the past two movies will definitely not like this one. Now I know there are kids that like this series so they can see this and enjoy it just fine. Remember, this is for kids and adults will not like this trilogy at all. There’s nothing in this film that is bad for kids, so they can see this, but I wouldn’t think adults will want to watch this.

Alright everyone, we have now reached the end of “Disney Channel Original Movie Month.” I know that throughout I was constantly saying that I wasn’t the right age group for these films, but I think these films are meant for little kids and teenagers. Adults will probably not get into a lot of the films. However, I hope that everyone enjoyed this month and hopefully I made some good recommendations.

Enjoy the end of the year everyone. With the next year being the start of a new decade, hopefully it will be a good start for everyone and will open up opportunities for those who are out there trying to get on a steady pace. I’ll see everyone next year when I start back up with my regular Friday reviews.

Kim Possible (2019)

Danielle Solzman started her review by saying, “Not every animated series or film works in live-action but I feel that Kim Possible was able to pull it off in the newest Disney Channel Original Movie.” This new movie premiered back in February.

A quick story has an awesome cameo for Professor Dementor (Patton Oswalt) – sees Kim Possible (Sadie Stanley) fighting crime with her partner Ron Stoppable (Sean Giambrone). The two are helped by tech genius Wade, played by Issac Ryan Brown. This takes place shortly before the two enter their freshmen year at Middleton High School. Yes, Kim must balance being a teen crime fighter with the everyday struggle that happens with being a high school teenager.

Besides Kim thinking she knows everything that she needs to know, high school won’t be just something typical that she deals with daily. Solzman noted, “The comedy rule of threes requires some fun interactions with Mr. Barkin (Michael P. Northey).  No matter how fun they may be, they certainly play into the typical genre cliches.” One of the most notable changes is Kim trying out for soccer besides cheerleading. Obviously, this means having to deal with enemy Bonnie Rockwaller, played by Erika Tham.

Kim meets Athena, played by Ciara Riley Wilson, right when she has sunk to her lowest point. High school may be a lot for Kim but Athena has it even worse. Athena admits that she is one of Kim’s biggest fans. She knows everything she needs to be a crime fighter. As you can guess, she joins Team Possible – getting suited up and everything. Athena, it turns out, also is a fan of singer Poppy Blu, played by Christy Carlson Romano, who Kim knows personally. Before too long, Athena is the most popular kid school!

Previous villains Drakken (Todd Stashwick) and Shego (Taylor Ortega) get the live-action treatments who want their revenge. Having been in jail, Drakken is kind of behind with society. It doesn’t stop him from ordering Shego around so he can get his revenge. Solzman noted, “The big thing here is that he wants Kim’s spark and he’ll stop at nothing to get it!”

Sadie Stanley has some large shoes to fill in replacing the role but she does a fine job. This is because Christy Carlson Romano is Kim Possible to a lot of fans. Change is not an easy thing and this is very frequently seen in Disney remaking their animated works. Solzman noted, “Say what you will about that but from where I was watching, the actress was able to pull it off.  Sadie Stanley may be taking over for the title role in Kim Possible but the actress is certainly a star-in-the-making.”

While live-action is not able to recreate certain things in the same way as animation, it was very cool to watch Stanley in action, along with Taylor Ortego and Ciara Riley Wilson. The women really get to showcase their skills. It’s not only restricted to the teenage stars. As Ann (Willow Rosenberg from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," Lily Aldrin from "How I Met Your Mother" and Michelle Flaherty from the "American Pie" franchise, Alyson Hannigan) and Nana Possible (Connie Ray), Kim’s mother and grandmother get in on some of the action.

Solzman said, “Similarly, I cannot stress this enough but the TV series and movie can co-exist.” This may not be an easy thing to pull off, but this film does deserve a chance. To its credit, the actors are just doing a job so they can’t be blamed. It was nice to see Christy Carlson Romano make a cameo as they also serve a purpose in film. It’s a small one and less than five minutes long but definitely worth it. Unfortunately, Will Friedle does not make a cameo. Nancy Cartwright reprises her role as Rufus the naked mole-rat.

In all honesty, I do agree that the animated films were better and I’m sure the previous show is far superior, but this film looks good for today and shows a lot of promise. Maybe if it’s a pilot to the remake show, then potential is seen in this film. Check it out and give it a chance. See it for yourself and see if you like it or not.

Look out tomorrow as I finish off “Disney Channel Original Movie Month” with the third “Descendants” movie.

Descendants 2

This probably needs to have children under 12 to appreciate how huge of a business a Disney Channel movie like “Descendants 2,” released in 2017, is, which makes the confusing feeling of this sequel mystifying. Because despite the first movie showing some inspiration, the second feels completely cashing in, as if it could just go on by with the title alone.

Brian Lowry said in his review, “Perhaps it can, at least in terms of mollifying the target audience, which will be corralled via a six-network simulcast across Disney-owned channels, including ABC.” However, their parents will find this sequel musical uneasy to watch, as the complete generic listening to the songs hugely balances the energetic choreography.

Lowry noted, “The original came outfitted in a highly marketable premise, with the teenage sons and daughters of the Disney villains -- raised on an island separate from their heroic peers -- being mainstreamed into the high school attended by the progeny of heroes like the Beast, Mulan and the Seven Dwarfs.” On top of that, it tapped Kristen Chenoweth as the Sleeping Beauty’s enemy Maleficent, giving a Broadway performance to brighten up the film.

As an opposite, “Descendants 2” completely skips any adult supervision, depending on the teen stars to carry the movie. Lowry said, “And while they might have the talent for that, it then strands them within a tedious, drawn-out plot, after a jaunty opening number that isn't equaled for the next nearly two hours.”

Without overstressing the story, Maleficent’s daughter Mal (Dove Cameron) has gone legit but feels down and insecure as she prepares to attend the Royal Cotillion with the Beast and Belle’s energetic son, King Ben (Mitchell Hope). Her efforts to blend in finally break, sending her back to the Isle of the Lost, with her friends Evie (Sofia Carson), the Evil Queen’s daughter, Cruella De Vil’s son Carlos (Cameron Boyce), and Jafar’s son Jay (Booboo Stewart) following behind.

The cast introduces a new variety of teenage offspring of the villains, led by Uma, played by China Anne McClain, the daughter of the villain from “The Little Mermaid,” Ursula.

Lowry said, “Unfortunately, the inevitable feel-good message takes forever to roll around, while the movie -- directed by Kenny Ortega, a musical veteran whose credits include the first "Descendants" and "High School Musical" -- gets tied up in trite romantic subplots involving various characters.”

The music and scale apart, this doesn’t just act like any old episode of a Disney Channel live-action comedy, but an ordinary one overall.

Lowry mentioned, “Again, it would be easier to dismiss "Descendants" as kiddie fare if Disney didn't have so much wrapped around it, including the conspicuous tie-ins to its heralded animated predecessors.” Overall, getting access to Walt Disney’s vault is – or at least should be – too valuable to waste on the wrong kind of Mickey Mouse effort.

This movie is better than the first one, but not by much. I like how there aren’t any parents just sitting in the background and trying to influence the offspring in some way, giving the teenagers full freedom to do whatever they want, but still, it feels like a cash-in or copy of the “High School Musical” movies. If you liked the first one, see this, but if not, then stay far away from the series.

Tomorrow I will look at the live-action “Kim Possible” movie in the next review of “Disney Channel Original Movie Month.”

Descendants

For its 2015 movie musical, Disney Channel tries to make some familiar Disney characters into a “High School Musical” type story and the results disappoint.

At almost two hours, “Descendants” feels too long and completely intentional (Rob Owen noted in his review, “A final-seconds tease of a potential sequel seems like a grafted-on afterthought that is particularly presumptuous”).

Owen noted, “Director/choreographer Kenny Ortega, who made “High School Musical” a hit, is hamstrung by a paint-by-numbers plot in a script by writers Josie McGibbon and Sara Parriott, veterans of “The Starter Wife” and “Desperate Housewives.”” The songs are done far apart and few of the songs are catchy or memorable.

The movie’s story is smart though: Disney villains Maleficient (Kristen Chenoweth), the Evil Queen (Kathy Najimy), Cruella de Vil (Wendy Raquel Robinson) and Jafar (comedian Max Jobrani) have been banned to an island away from the fantasy mainland of Auradon, where Ben (Mitchell Hope), the 16-year-old son of Belle (Keegan Connor Tracy) and former beast King Adam (Dan Payne) from “Beauty and the Beast,” is about to be named king.

For his first rule, Ben wants to give the children of those four Disney villains a chance at healing on the mainland at his prep school.

Maleficient’s daughter, Mal (Dove Cameron), is somewhat the leader of the pack, along with Evil Queen’s daughter, Evie (Sofia Carson), Jafar’s son, Jay (Booboo Stewart) and Cruella de Vil’s cynophobic son, Carlos (Cameron Boyce).

The four start off by singing how bad they are (I’m rotten to the core/I’m not like the kid next door), but this is Disney Channel so by the end of the movie you know they will be making themselves good, mainly Mal, who falls in love with Ben. (“I can look into your eyes and tell you’re not evil,” Ben assures Mal.)

“Descendants” lets Kristen Chenoweth have a song, and for nostalgic reasons the Auradon Prep Family Day has a hip-hop version of Be Our Guest from “Beauty and the Beast.”

Owen ended his review by saying, “While “High School Musical” couldn’t lay claim to staking out new territory in teen drama, it benefited from a lack of TV musicals at the time of its pre-“Glee” premiere, a fresh cast with chemistry, and some toe-tapping earworms. These elements made “High School Musical” a fresh attempt to push the Disney Channel movie form through experimentation. The dull “Descendants” has none of that; it just seems like a widget – albeit an occasionally cute, harmless widget – churned out by the Disney machine.”

Now look, as smart as this idea may be, I still couldn’t find myself getting into this. Everyone acts like they are just following directions to a stage show, which I can’t blame them, as they are all doing the best they can. I just don’t really like the way this turned out. However, I know that people like this movie, so people can check it out, as it’s not one of the worst I have seen, but if you don’t want to see it, it won’t hurt you. If you feel you will find this boring and dull, it’s best you don’t see it then.

Look out tomorrow when I look at the sequel to this film in “Disney Channel Original Movie Month.”

Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension

In a fair and just world, children would have access to safe homes, healthy food, perfect educations, and smart, funny TV shows they could watch and re-watch so much. Noel Murray noted in his review, “In 2011, about all the powers-that-be can reasonably guarantee is the latter, thanks in large part to shows like the Disney Channel’s Phineas And Ferb. Since 2007, Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh’s snappy little cartoon series has entertained youngsters (and a fair number of their parents) with the adventures of two good-hearted, super-smart stepbrothers, who construct crazy inventions and defy their vindictive older sister Candace (Ashley Tisdale), all while their pet platypus Perry squares off covertly against evil-but-hapless scientist Heinz Doofenshmirtz. The appeal of Phineas And Ferb is immediately clear: The show is funny, fast-paced, and rooted in the “havin’ fun in the summertime” vibe that’s been the backbone of kid-friendly American entertainment since the days of AIP beach-party movies. It’s top-drawer escapism.”

As a TV show, “Phineas and Ferb” usually has two 11-minute stories in a half-hour slot along with commercials. “Phineas And Ferb – The Movie: Across The 2^nd Dimension,” released in 2011, last exactly a completely epic 77 minutes, and the expansion shows some twist at times. The story is smart, with intelligent Phineas (Vincent Martella) and his reserved-but-capable brother Ferb (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) finally finding out that Perry (Dee Bradley Baker) is a secret agent at the same time all three of them are transported to a different dimension where Dr. Doofenshmirtz (Dan Povenmire) has finally figured out his goal of taking over “the tri-state area.” Murray said, “After all the opposite-world particulars are established, Across The 2nd Dimension turns more action-oriented, in ways that deviate from what the series does best.” However, there’s so much here to satisfy “Phineas and Ferb” fans, from the way the movie hinds to the heroes’ past inventions to the way both Doofenshmirtzes collects coins “in case vending machines become the dominant race.” It’s hard not to be entertained by any film that has lines like, “If I had a nickel for every time I was doomed by a puppet, I’d have two nickels…which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it’s happened twice, right?”

One of the enjoyments of “Phineas and Ferb” is its lack of sarcasm. The show makes fun of its own principles sometimes, but never sarcastically or jokily. Nevertheless, it’s an important part of growing up for young people to enjoy entertainment that’s rude, weird and/or smart-alecky.

I was very familiar with this show when it was airing on TV. I never saw it, but I did have a feeling there was a huge audience behind it and that it was actually one of the good, entertaining shows for the whole family to sit and watch. Since I know there are a large number of people who saw this show, check this movie out if you haven’t. As a person who never saw the show but did see this movie, I actually found myself, not surprisingly, thoroughly enjoying this film and would recommend everyone to watch it, if you have or haven’t seen the show. Maybe after watching this you will want to go and watch the show. Maybe I will, but I don’t know yet.

Look out tomorrow when I start looking at a franchise that revolves around the Disney characters I grew up watching in “Disney Channel Original Movie Month.”

The Suite Life Movie

“The Suite Life Movie,” released in 2011, is exactly what you think: a bit of a silly Disney movie. Based on the TV show “The Suite Life on Deck,” it’s about Cody (Cole Sprouse) and Zack (Dylan Sprouse) on their final spring break before going back to school for their last few weeks. Cody receives an internship that is sabotaged by Zack, who gets them another internship that gets them stuck. It is up to them to save themselves and everybody else who are also stuck. Cody and Zack have to get along for their own good and everybody else if they want to escape.

Sarah Peel said in her review, “I will say that I thought that the movie was going to be pointless and even silly to the point that no adult could enjoy it. But, like with many movies before this one, I was surprised at just how funny it was!” Look at when London, played by Brenda Song, thinks that dolphins are camels, which might get some laughs from kids. Or when Zack and Cody fight, which anyone who has a sibling can understand when that happens. It was well written, even if it was slow to begin. Peel said, “I will say that I also feel that they added a lot of thought to it, which is a nice touch for something that the public just learned about late last summer or early fall.”

Peel continued, “I am impressed with how well the characters stayed true to the TV show; I thought that they might get lost in the shuffle. But they stayed strong and were not weakened by Disney. Cody was my favorite, but Zack and London both keep the laughs rolling in. The other characters were just okay; I don’t think they carried the movie like Cody, Zack and London did. Still, I think it was well rounded for a Disney movie. Even if it was a little thick in the plot in some areas.”

The story was fine, but it is what you would predict from Disney. Still, it may be cute enough for even adults to find humor in the film. It was well written, acted and directed, which is fine for a Disney Channel Original Movie. Peel admitted, “However, I will say that it is clearly not the best movie ever made by any means. It was above what I expected, but I do think that they could have made it a stronger movie. With that being said, I can still say that I think most hard core The Suite Life On Deck fans will love it, and perhaps some who are not fans of the show would get a lot out of it.”

The sets and camera angles were sometimes awkward. Filming on a boat may not help their cause. Peel said, “I think that the first few shots did not have a proper angle; it did not show Zack’s whole face when he was with his friend. I think that sort of lowered the movie a bit, but during the rest it appeared to work fine. I think it helped that most of it was filmed on land; that bad angle was corrected, but I was shocked that Disney did not edit that out.” It does not reflect well on Disney in any way.

Peel admitted, “For my age group recommendation, I will say that I do think it is safe for even young kids to watch. Of course, I would not expect anything less from Disney.”

Peel continued, “As for my final thoughts on the movie, I will say that I did enjoy it. But I also did not allow myself to have high hopes for it, so it did not disappoint me. It in fact gave me a surprise in how well it turned out.” This film is not bad, but in no way close to being perfect.

I know that there is a fanbase for “The Suite Life” show, which I am familiar with, but never watched. This film is decent and is good for adults to watch only once, if they want to see it for themselves. But for kids who are fans of the show, they may want to watch it multiple times seeing how they are fans of this show. If adults can watch this more than once, good for them.

Stay tuned tomorrow where I look at another film that I really enjoyed in the next review in “Disney Channel Original Movie Month.”

Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam

A recurring them throughout “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam,” released in 2010, is how one loses their essence and identity when looking for something bigger and less successful. Ryan Cracknell said in his review, “It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy as the bubble gum sequel hardly attempts to add any sort of depth or purpose to its characters.” Instead, it looks more like a commercial for the soundtrack.

Cracknell said, “Don’t get me wrong, Camp Rock wasn’t exactly a P.T. Anderson exploration of character nuance. It was a cutesy summer film aimed at pre-teen girls with crushes on one of the brothers Jonas. Relatively harmless, it was lightly enjoyable and disposable at the same time. This time around, things are a little more snarky.” The story is not about teenage love and music put wanting votes and doing large performances that distract from dull music.

Cracknell said, “Channeling equal parts American Idol and Glee, Camp Rock 2 adds far too much glitz to the summer camp atmosphere. Camp is a place normally reserved for lake-side belly flops off rickety docks, poison ivy and slop house mashed potatoes.” This time it’s fireworks and spotlights as the competitive Camp Star locates right next to Camp Rock. Sacrificing relationships for professional material, Camp Star is a place of all work and no unstable docks. It’s a place of high expectations and surplus. Because of this expensive method, it’s threatening to actually close down the comfortable Camp Rock. The best solution they can come up with is to make a performance contest on TV. Cracknell was funny when he asked, “Where’s Simon to smack some sense into these folks?”

Even though they were past the peak in popularity, the Jonas Brothers were still more familiar than they were in the first film. It’s not a surprise when all three Jonas Brothers have taken on the starring roles instead of just Joe Jonas and small parts for his brothers. Cracknell said, “And while I do consider them much more talented than most of their other teenaged Disney peers, their mix of music and goofiness (not to mention pretty-boy hairstyles) make me think of The Monkees. Whether or not that’s good or bad depends on your view of The Monkees, I guess.”

Demi Lovato got her break starring as Mitchie in the first movie (something I didn’t know is that she was on an episode of “Barney”). Cracknell noted, “She was quirky, a little bit awkward and adorable in a Blossom sort of way. Here she’s a little too Mean Girls minus the sarcastic wit. Her character is the biggest disappointment in the film, getting shuffled aside to play the buzzkill of the Camp Rock group.”

“Camp Rock” isn’t really the huge popularity that “High School Musical” was. Cracknell noted, “Still, this second outing feelings like a bookend to a profitable era for Disney. No doubt they will reinvent themselves shortly with a new flavour of the month.” “Camp Rock 2” isn’t ending off on a high note, except for that nobody will have to deal with it any longer.

I’ll be honest, this film I surprisingly liked better than the first one. I guess the reason why is because the first one was just a pain and hurt to watch and this one is just a basic bad sequel. There wasn’t anything that really drove me to my boiling point, but I was noting everything that just made a typical sequel bad. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to watch it, especially for those who were fans of the first movie. However, for everyone else, you can just watch it once and never have to see it again.

Stay tuned later today when I review my usual Christmas film.

Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie

If Disney is slowly trying to get every child into looking and acting like Miley Cyrus (with all those tattoos), parents might want to have their children watch “Wizards of Waverly Place” instead.

Despite “Wizards of Waverly Place” not being as tense as “Hannah Montana,” its first official movie, released in 2009, is a surprisingly helpful and family-friendly movie that should keep tweens wanting magical powers, not tattoos.

Roxana Hadadi said in her review, “Though stars Selena Gomez, David Henrie and Jake T. Austin aren’t nearly as Broadway-ready as those kids from “High School Musical” or as goofy as the ones from “Hannah Montana,” it’s their acting skills that carry the film, which was watched by 11.4 million viewers when it premiered back in August.”

The film starts like a usual episode of “Wizards of Waverly Place,” all about the Russo family, where three kids Alex, Justin and Max (Selena Gomez, David Henrie and Jake T. Austin), all have magical powers they got from their dad, Jerry (David DeLuise). Despite Jerry giving up his powers when he married their mortal mom, Theresa, played by Maria Canals Barrera, he teaches the kids their spell-learning and training for the day when the three of them will fight to become the family’s full wizard – the winner will get all the magical powers and the other two will lose theirs. Even though the oldest brother Justin studies for the test everyday, 16-year-old slacker sister Alex would like to use her powers for her own purposes, like turning the family’s train shop into a train car that can take her and best friend Harper, played by Jennifer Stone, to a party that her parents’ don’t want her to attend.

As a result, her parents find out about her train shop-turned-train car attempt and force Alex to join them on a family vacation to the Caribbean, where Jerry and Theresa first met and fell in love. Just one condition: Theresa, who doesn’t like it when her children use magic to go against her or what they want, forces them to leave the wands at home. Obviously, Justin – who can’t stop using the family’s titanium wand, which works best for him – sneaks that with them, while Alex – who swiped the family’s book of forbidden spells from Justin without his knowledge – packs that in her luggage. The two bring their competitive attitude with them, as well, and soon their different interests (and Alex’s misbehavior and not being able to get along with her mother) make Alex wish her parents had never met. That was bad, Alex.

Hadadi noted, “It’s at that point where Disney takes a little dash of pop culture know-how from “Back to the Future” and some more from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” and uses those tidbits to round out the storyline: If Alex, Justin and Max can’t reverse the spell or get their parents to fall in love again, they’ll disappear (kind of like Marty McFly). And the only way to reverse the spell is using the Stone of Dreams (kind of like Nicholas Flamel’s alchemy work), which is conveniently buried on the same island the kids are staying at and which Justin and Alex go after.”

Even though you can predict the story – this is Disney, and siblings have to get along while parents faithfully love them – it’s the kids – acting and surprisingly believable special effects which make the film work. Hadadi said, “Gomez is a master at being the annoying, selfish Alex, and her portrayal of a typical 16-year-old rings entirely true (trust me, I’d know), while Henrie works well as the know-it-all Justin, who thinks magic is the only way he’ll amount to anything. The film does a good job at building upon the familial relationships that the show uses on a weekly basis, and though scenes like Alex’s and Justin’s (numerous) heart-to-hearts drag on, they’re necessary to further the film’s plot.”

Put that together with some surprising cool effects, like when Alex and Justin use levitating rocks to cross a huge abyss or their weather-heavy magical fight to be the full wizard, and the film should hold fans of the series while also making some exchanges. Hadadi noted, “It’s frothy and actually fun, and though the special features are somewhat lacking (there are some interviews with the film’s producers and stars about stunts and special effects, but they’re nothing spectacular or particularly insightful), at least it’s not a “Party in the U.S.A.””

That’s actually a good thing, since I never was interested in seeing this show. However, this film is actually good, seeing how it took place in between seasons. I don’t think that I will check out the show after seeing this, but I had an enjoyable time seeing this. If you were a fan of “Wizards of Waverly Place,” then you should see this movie. I think that anybody could see this movie and enjoy. However, if you don’t like the whole “Back to the Future” “It’s a Wonderful Life” copycats, then it may not be for you. For anyone else, check it out and see it for yourself.

Hold on to your seats because tomorrow I’m going to look at the “Camp Rock” sequel in “Disney Channel Original Movie Month.”

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Jim Schembri started his review by saying, “TWEENS everywhere, brace yourselves for another mega-dose of old-school, clean-cut, family-friendly Disney values as the whole wholesome gang return to dance, jump and sing their way through their final year at the only public high school in America that doesn't have a metal detector.”

Singing basketball player Troy (Zac Efron) is still really in love with his fellow classmate Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens), but while their one-step at a time love for each other knows no bounds there is now the fear of separation.

Gabriella has to leave to get a first look at a potential college, meaning that Troy must have to separate on good terms. He also has to fight with choosing between what he wants and what his somewhat insistent father, played by Bart Johnson, wants.

Schembri noted, “The third instalment of the phenomenally successful - and purely accidental - Disney film franchise is the first to hit the cinema, and while it certainly has the candy-coloured innocent charm of the first two TV movies, the strain is beginning to show as the kids work extra-hard to fill the big screen frame with their youthful energy and playful scheming, with mean girl Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) still the only dramatically interesting character in the class.”

Alternately animated and expressive, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” released in 2008, overstays its welcome, being 20 minutes longer than it needs to, thanks mainly to a final congratulatory roll that just doesn’t want to end.

With that, it is hard not to feel some amount of affection for this confection, since we see the kids graduate and leave to college, where they will continue their education, meet new people and maybe see what love life is.

I know that this was the only theatrically released film in the trilogy, so you might be thinking why I didn’t review this last year? Because I wasn’t going to watch the trilogy out of order! It made more sense to wait until I saw the first two before watching this one or else I wouldn’t have understood anything.

As everyone might guess, I think this one is alright, but I’m not the right age group to see this. Even when these films were coming out when I was in high school, I wasn’t even interested in seeing them since I was at that age where I didn’t watch anything on the Disney Channel. I know there is an audience and fan base for these films, so if you liked the first two, then you can see this one. Everyone else can stay far away from this if you’re not into teen musicals.

Let’s take a break tomorrow from all these musicals and look at another Disney Channel TV show film in “Disney Channel Original Movie Month.”

The Cheetah Girls: One World

Disney Channel’s “The Cheetah Girls” are back once again, trying to get that big break that really launches their career.

Now having the subtitle “One World,” this 2008 sequel in the movie franchise sees the three teen rock singers traveling to India, simply because one of the girls’ cell phones has such bad reception that she mistakes the invitation on the other side and hears Bollywood instead of Hollywood.

Disney’s first “Cheetah Girls” a few years prior was credited for having heard, a good beat and a little soul. However, now only the beat remains. Marilyn Moss said in her review, “Still based on the book series by Deborah Gregory (who also co-produces here), this latest cheetah creature is bare-boned and rift of the originality it once displayed.”

Moss continued, “Dan Berendsen's story -- with teleplay by Berendsen, Nisha Ganatra and Jennifer Small -- has little originality and heart, but director Paul Hoen does all he can to perk it up. He's aided by some pounding musical numbers, though they're about as shallow as the rest of the story.”

The girls – Chanel (Adrienne Bailon), Dorinda (Sabrina Bryan) and Aquanetta (Kiely Williams) – look so desperate at times to get the story started and get moving. They scream and jump up and down as is relatable to their age, but very soon we see that’s basically all we’re going to see. Moss noted, “Fatima Robinson's choreography and Donald Duncan's photography are lively but can't really salvage the telefilm's flatness.”

The good thing is that the locations – the cities of Mumbai and Udaipur – put a little color and spark, and some songs do lighten up the film, including Cheetah Love and I’m the One, both written by Kara DioGuardi, along with Dance Me If You Can, written by Matthew Gerrard & Robbie Nevil.

However, as often happens, the story line that joins the music isn’t really at the standards. The girls get to travel, find (and sometimes lose) romance and even sing as hard as they could. Sill, sometimes determination can go just a little much, and jumping up and down and squealing can get very annoying.

I’m sorry, but after Cheetah Love, the film goes downhill very fast. The film is definitely the worst in the trilogy. There’s nothing salvageable and nothing can save it from being so bad. This is definitely the worst sequel I have seen this month. I just cannot stand this film after the opening song. Just do yourself a favor and don’t see this movie, if you liked the other films. However, if you liked the past two films and enjoy this one, I can’t say that there isn’t an audience for this, because there has to be, but for adults, just avoid this one.

Tomorrow I will be looking at the last of the “High School Musical” trilogy in “Disney Channel Original Movie Month.”

Camp Rock

Neil Genzlinger started his review by saying, “Some hacker needs to go to work on the Disney computer that randomly mixes the same 10 plot lines and 15 young actors to create new movies and television shows. One of the character threads in there, that of the spoiled teenage diva, desperately needs to be excised; it is so very, very tired that it has begun to drag down any script it finds its way into.”

Like the one for “Camp Rock,” a highly promoted musical movie starring the then new band Jonas Brothers and released in 2008 on the Disney Channel. The movie has some highlights, but a lot of it is centered on the local diva of the main camp that it’s hard to focus on the good areas. You’re so livid at having this slowly made up character that you have seen countless times.

Mitchie (Demi Lovato) really wants to attend a rich-kid rock-and-roll camp, but her family can’t afford it until her mother (Maria Pilar Canals-Barrera) gets hired as the camp rock, letting Mitchie to attend on a discount. Also at the camp is a useless rock star (Joe Jonas) doing some image therapy, along with that intolerable diva (Meaghan Jette Martin). Genzlinger said, “It’s a sort of glass-ceiling character for these movies and shows; either the writers of such stuff think that young viewers can’t handle anything more than blatantly obvious good-gal/bad-gal dynamics, or they have no idea how complex and varied real high school social life is.”

As we’ve seen before, Mitchie tries to hide her identity. The necessary romance, food fight and climactic talent show also are in the movie. Some rather toe-tapping song and dance numbers are included (many of them at the end, in the talent show).

The film has two highlights. One is when the Jonas Brothers (in the movie they’re a band called Connect Three) perform a song Play My Music to the gathered campers, showing the energy and stage presence the film’s other performers don’t have. Genzlinger said, “The other is a fleeting “Barney” wisecrack early on, Ms. Lovato having once been a cast member of that kiddie show with the irritating purple dinosaur. It goes by quickly, but it leaves something pleasant to ponder during the more formulaic patches of “Camp Rock”: it appears that either Barney has switched to a career of flipping burgers, or he has been turned into burgers.”

I’m sorry, but this movie is probably the worst I have seen. I know that’s quite a verdict to make, but this one was just so annoying to watch. I just wanted the film to end because of the constant themes that have been repeated countless times, but with these rockstar, pop artists that are nothing but teenage idiots. If you want to watch it, go ahead, but for people that are not in the age range targeted for this film, they will be really aggravated while watching this. Yes, I know this is my 900th review, and I had to make it on a film that I really got annoyed at.

Look out tomorrow when I look at the last in “The Cheetah Girls” trilogy in “Disney Channel Original Movie Month.”