Descendants: The Rise of Red (2024)

 

 

Streaming Service: Disney+

Movie Name/Year: Descendants: The Rise of Red (2024)

Genre: Fantasy, Musical, Adventure, Family

Length: 1h 31min

Rating: TV-G

irector: Jennifer Phang

Writers: Dan Frey, Ru Sommer, Lewis Carroll

Actors: Brandy Norwood, China Anne McClain, Rita Ora, Joshua Colley, Jeremy Swift, Kylie Cantrall, Ruby Rose Turner, Leonardo Nam, Malia Baker, Melanie Paxson, Grace Narducci, Paolo Montalban, Sam Morelos, Alex Boniello, Anthony Pyatt, Dara Reneé, Mars, Julee Cerda, Peder Lindell, Shazia Pascal, Morgan Dudley, Tristan Padil, Kabir Bery, Levin Valayil, Aiza Azaar

 

IMDb Blurb: Follows Red, daughter of the Queen of Hearts, and Chloe, daughter of Cinderella, as they team up to save Auradon by traveling in back in time using the White Rabbit's pocket watch, to stop an event that would cause grave consequences.

 

 

Cat’s Point of View:

As predicted, my daughter was fairly chomping at the bit to watch this latest Descendants movie with me. Mission accomplished, and we were both pleased with the experience.

 

Let's dig a little deeper into that, though.

 

While, overall, we were happy with the overall experience of Descendants: The Rise of Red, it certainly wasn't a perfect movie. That being said, I have a feeling that it may be judged too harshly by critics – and, perhaps, even Disney fans, alike. The majority of the original characters that captured the hearts and imagination of their audience did not carry over to this new installment, and the general vibe of the film was slightly different.

 

 

Both aspects should have been expected, however, with a change in director and the tragic loss of a cast member in reality taken into consideration. I think the production team for this new story actually handled it rather well. Descendants: The Rise of Red made a point to honor their fallen cast member within the story, and not even in a subtle way (even if details were omitted). The story even carried forward the central theme of the prior movies where the status quo gets shaken up in the name of giving the children of villains (or in this case, a particular villain) a chance for redemption rather than inheriting the sins of their parents.

 

 

There might have been a few hiccups in the plot; however, I couldn't really call them plot holes until the full story is played out. While Disney hasn't confirmed any details regarding a follow-up movie, the story within Rise of Red makes it very clear that this particular tale isn't exactly over.

 

I also have a suspicion that theatrical blockbuster expectations have been placed on a movie within a series originally designed as a Disney Channel made-for-TV experience. All told, the effects were on-par with the previous movies, the set pieces were as colorful and interesting as ever, and over all held up to the concept of being a part of a fairy-tale universe. Was everything spectacularly successful? Maybe not, but honestly, unless someone was watching just to find the problems, I don't see them as being that glaring or distracting from the experience it was meant to be.

 

 

In usual Disney style, there were songs, everyone was dancing, and there were some life lessons and questions of morals and ethics posed in hopes of making you weigh it out and think about it.

 

Descendants: The Rise of Red successfully proved that it would be possible to continue this franchise as long as the narrative stays true to the heart of the movies that have come before.

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 47%

Metascore – None

Metacritic User Score – 2.3/10

IMDB Score – 4.6/10

 

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5

 

Movie Trailer:

Sneakerella (2022)

 

Streaming Service: Disney+
Movie Name/Year: Sneakerella (2022)
Genre: Comedy, Family, Musical
Length: 1h 52min
Rating: TV-G
Production/Distribution: Disney Channel, Disney+, Jane Startz Productions, Maple Plus Productions
Director: Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum
Writers: David Light, Joseph Raso, George Gore II, Tamara Chestna, Mindy Stern
Actors: Bryan Terrell Clark, Chosen Jacobs, Devyn Nekoda, John Salley, Kolton Stewart, Lexi Underwood, Logan Thompson, Lovina Yavari, Tara Nicodemo, Yvonne Senat Jones, Mif, Juan Chioran, Robyn Alomar, Hayward Leach, Robert J. Tavenor, Keethan Krish,
Levi Dombokah, Mekdes Teshome, Michael Madonis, Navi Dhanoa
 
IMDb Blurb: A modern twist on Cinderella set in New York City's Sneaker culture.

 
Cat’s Point of View:
I’ve got to admit, Sneakerella was better than I thought it would be. I was a bit on the fence when I listed it as my #12 entry on May’s Top 20 list. I’m just not a sneakerhead, and I was a little worried that the story might not fully translate into something other than just ‘cute’ Disney fare.
 
The good news is that I didn’t have to be a subscriber to that cultural niche to get a lot out of this new reimagining of the Cinderella story.

 
We have seen so many iterations of Cinderella over the years. I enjoy most of the ones that I’ve seen. There are some that are simply iconic – much like Disney’s original animated classic from 1950. While a lovely story of rags to riches and triumph over domestic oppression, it sometimes gets a bit worn out.
 
Sneakerella gives the narrative a flip on many levels. I’m not just talking about the excellent hip-hop choreography of the dancers, either.
 
Here, we had a new spin on the essence of the story – it was about a young man finding himself as a shoe designer and saving the legacy of his mom’s shoe store. It wasn’t about anyone looking to get married. Sure, there was a little romance involved, but it was the appropriate interaction level for the characters’ ages. I’m actually head over heels about the pacing of such. I think Disney finally got a clue, and seem to be sticking to Elsa’s advice from Frozen (2013) that “You can’t marry [someone] you just met.”

 

I really liked the spotlight on the Astoria, Queens area, also, and the emphasis on neighborhood and community. I found myself grinning ear to ear as the role of the ‘fairy godmother’ was revealed and worked in with a bit more subtlety than the common interpretations of this story.
 
All of the key elements were present and presented well in conjunction with the film’s messages of diversity, honesty, following dreams, finding your voice, staying true to yourself, and making the choice to take a bold first step.
 
Sure, some elements were a little sappy – but who cares?!

 
I found Sneakerella to be a movie that kids would enjoy and parents won’t roll their eyes watching the first few times. The dancing was cool, the music was catchy, and I had a lot of fun.
 
If you like the premise of Cinderella, it’s worth giving this version a shot. You can find it now on Disney+ included with membership at no additional premium.

 
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 100%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 57%
Metascore – None
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score –4.2/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5
 
Movie Trailer:

Riverdance: The Animated Adventure (2021)

 

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: Riverdance: The Animated Adventure (2021)
Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Music
Length:  90 minutes
Rating: TV-G
Production/Distribution: Aniventure, Cinesite, River Production, Constantin Film, Notorious Pictures, SND Films, Vértice Cine, Sky Cinema, Netflix
Directors: Eamonn Butler, Dave Rosenbaum
Writers: Dave Rosenbaum, Tyler Werrin
Actors: Pierce Brosnan, Brendan Gleeson, Lilly Singh, Jermaine Fowler, John Kavanagh, Pauline McLynn, Stephen Delahunty, Conor Drum, Sam Hardy, Hannah Herman, Rory Kardos-Ivess, Thomas Lappin, Danny McColgan, Brian Tynan
 
IMDb Blurb: An Irish boy named Keegan and a Spanish girl named Moya journey into the mythical world of the Megaloceros Giganteus who teach them to appreciate Riverdance as a celebration of life.

 
Cat’s Point of View:
It’s hard to put into words how giddy I was when I noticed that Riverdance: The Animated Adventure was available to stream on Netflix. When I listed it as my #12 on November 2021’s Top 20 list, it wasn’t clear where it would be landing for streaming purposes following its initial run. I could have danced a jig on the spot (had I still the coordination and balance for such things).
 
I feel I must preface my review with the same disclaimer as my Top 20 entry: don’t expect the stage show when you watch this movie. If you have the story from the show in your head, you would likely be disappointed and frustrated with the movie. Clean your mental slate before embracing this whimsical Irish tale of magic and music.
 
I’m pretty sure the few stinky critic reviews I’ve seen so far (as well as regular audiences) were from those that didn’t bother to modify their expectations – and failed to take into consideration the fantastical nature of Irish folklore.

 
I can’t say that I’m familiar with all of Ireland’s myths, but I do know a fair amount of them. Irish art, music, and mythology have been passions of mine for many years. Deer have been represented in several legends. Why not this one, too?
 
Let’s put aside whether or not the legend of the Irish deer (Megalocerus Giganteus) magically preserving the flow of rivers and teaching people step-dancing is authentic or not. It’s still a fun story. I actually adored how the writers incorporated the deer with the dance, and also the overall message of the movie – coping with grief and moving on in celebration of life. The heart of the story is authentically Irish enough that the rest doesn’t matter.

 
There were more layers to this story than I anticipated. It’s definitely about more than just dancing deer and the soundtrack. It’s about family, community, responsibility, owning your mistakes, tradition, friendship, and inclusivity as well. Complex for a kiddie movie? Perhaps, if you look at those concepts on paper. The animated tale made it easy to swallow without being preachy. I will also add that the production was very respectful in portraying death on screen so that it wouldn’t be as traumatic for young viewers.
 
Honestly, if you know someone with young kids dealing with grief from the loss of a loved one; this might be a good movie to show them to help them through it a little.
 
Now for the music.

 
I don’t think they could really get away with calling this Riverdance without some aspect of the original within the film. In this case, Riverdance: The Animated Adventure uses quite a bit of the music from the stage production. The same composer was on board, after all. Some songs were used only as a background score as events unfolded, but other tracks still hosted lively Irish step-dancing on the screen. It was just animated this time. I got a bit misty when my favorite piece played. Each number was thematically appropriate for the action on screen.
 
I absolutely adored this marriage of music and animation. If you loved the music of the stage production, perhaps give Riverdance: The Animated Adventure a try. Do keep in mind that the message is geared for younger kids, but it could still be fun for the whole family. My 18-year-old daughter watched with me and enjoyed it more than she would admit to. 

 
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 38%
Metascore – None
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 5.4/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5

P.S. - There is a brief post-credits scene.

Movie Trailer:

Falling for Christmas (2016) - 'Tis the Season

Streaming Services: Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, DirecTV, Hallmark
Movie Name/Year: Falling for Christmas (2016) – [aka Snowcapped Christmas]
Genre: Romance
Length: 87 minutes
Rating: TV-G
Production/Distribution: Annuit Coeptis Entertainment II, Johnson Production Group, Snowing Productions, Corus Entertainment, UPtv
Director: Christie Will Wolf
Writer: Barbara Kymlicka
Actors: Leah Renee, Niall Matter, Lisa Whelchel, Michael Teigen, Lochlyn Munro, Jocelyne Loewen, Gracyn Shinyei, Kathryn Kirkpatrick, Blaine Anderson, Howard Storey, Natasha Woods
 
Blurb from IMDb: An injured figure skater is sent to the mountains to recover from an injury. Once there, she meets an ex-hockey player and his young daughter and begins to realize that something is missing from her life.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
When someone says they’re going to stay in and watch Christmas movies, it’s rare that they’re talking about the Die Hard (1988) variety. This tends to be closer to what they are envisioning. In fact, it’s exactly what I would picture.
 
Falling for Christmas is corny, saccharine sweet, and exactly the kind of heart-warming nonsense I want from a typical Christmas film. Would I be feening for it the rest of the year? No. Chances are, I wouldn’t even see it as good if it was set during any other time.
 
That’s the thing. Christmas flicks like this are fine, because the time of year makes us crave miracles. We want the happy ending. We need to see the stories that tell us taking time off work is ok, making time for family is ok, because the rest of the year we’re told it’s not. We’re made to believe that following our dreams is irresponsible – even if we can afford it, and not everyone can.
 

So, yeah, this kind of film is predictable and mostly unrealistic, but we allow ourselves to believe in its premise during the season of miracles.
 
There’s nothing wrong with that. Movies like this feel like a spa for the soul. They’re not life-changing, but they’re a great break from the stress and pessimism of a much darker real world.
 
Falling for Christmas was cute. It wasn’t better or worse than expected, and it left me feeling like I want to feel on a cold December morning with a cup of hot chocolate in hand.
 

Cat’s Point of View:
Falling for Christmas was not a movie that was previously on my radar. If it weren’t a made-for-TV movie, I’d be shocked at this – considering it combines two things I really love: figure skating and Christmas. I will admit that it’s been harder for me to keep up with skating in recent years, but I used to watch competitions religiously.
 
Needless to say, when I realized what this movie was going to entail, I was super excited to see what it had to offer.  Was it the best figure skating movie I’ve ever seen? No, but I’d say that would have been asking a lot from this production. Was it any good? I don’t really have any complaints on substance. It was solid. The only thing I could really poke at would be the legitimacy of the medical information – but, hey, this wasn’t a procedural. We’re not watching for that sort of thing, right? It’s a holiday TV rom-com.
 
This Christmas ice-capade follows the predictable rom-com recipe to the letter. While originality and defying expectations are things we like to see in movies, it’s not a make-or-break requirement to enjoy something.
 

Watching this film made me feel like curling up in a warm blanket with some hot cocoa. It was familiar enough to be comforting because I already knew where it was going. It also got bonus points for some nice examples of figure skating. It felt a little bit like if The Cutting Edge (1992) was remade as a Hallmark movie and without the extra competition. The plots are really only superficially similar, but it was nostalgic enough for me.
 
The only thing I’m frustrated about, really, has nothing to do with the film itself. I am dying to know if Leah Renee (Blue Mountain State, My Babysitter's a Vampire, Sailing Into Love) really did all of her own figure skating. Alas, IMDb’s trivia only mentions the locations where the movie was filmed.
 
In a nutshell, I believed the dynamics between characters, nothing felt forced, and it was a cute wholesome experience that explored some life lessons. It would even be appropriate for the whole family.
 
If you’re in the mood for a feel-good story with gorgeous scenery and a side of figure skating, this could be just the movie you’re looking for.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – None
Metascore – None
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 6.2/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 3/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5
 
Movie Trailer:

Feel the Beat (2020)

Streaming Services: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: Feel the Beat (2020)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family
Length: 109 minutes
Rating: TV-G
Production/Distribution: Resonate Entertainment, Bitter Boy Productions Ltd., Deluxe, Netflix
Director: Elissa Down
Writer: Michael Armbruster, Shawn Ku
Actors: Sofia Carson, Pamela MacDonald, Brandon Kyle Goodman, Rex Lee, Enrico Colantoni, Dennis Andres, Drew Davis, Christopher Jones, Donna Lynne Champlin, Merle Newell, Kai Zen, Wolfgang Novogratz, Eva Hauge, Carina Battrick, Lidya Jewett, Justin Caruso Allan, Shiloh Nelson, Shaylee Mansfield, Sadie Lapidus, Johanna Colón, Dan Lett, Pat Thornton, Jonathan Breedon, Amy Stewart, Marcia Bennett, Robinne Fanfair, Ken Pak, Ana Maria Mallinos, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Aniko Kaszas

Blurb from IMDb: After failing to find success on Broadway, April returns to her hometown and reluctantly is recruited to train a misfit group of young dancers for a big competition.

Selina’s Point of View:
I’m a little on the fence with this one.

The climax of the film was cute, and the kid characters really forced me to smile – as did a few of the supporting actors. In fact, there were a lot of scenes in the film that made that happen. Adorable kids are bound to do that, especially when they’re beating the odds at something or kicking a football player’s ass at push-ups. The problem was the rest of the film.

Feel the Beat was formulaic, to say the least. If you’ve ever seen a dance film before in your life, you know exactly what the ending is going to be. That’s not entirely a problem – provided you WANT to see the main character win.

I didn’t. Not at all. I, at no point in the film, wanted to see the main character succeed. At anything.

It never felt like she made up for anything. At the end, she’s still a selfish person. Anything she does is based on what she feels and not anyone else. There’s no REAL arc that makes me believe she’ll be a changed person going forward.

Honestly, I would have given this flick SO much more credit if it had just gone with a different ending. Something that resembled anything that looked like she actually sacrificed anything for anyone else.

I love dance films. I remember being a kid in dance class, and this movie felt all kinds of nostalgic to me because of it. The actors all did exactly what was expected of them and played their characters well, but the main character was just very poorly written.

There are better dance films streaming on various sites. I don’t feel like this is the one I would recommend.

Cat’s Point of View:

Do you know that saying that when it rains, it pours? I am feeling that right now. Between things going on in my life and that of friends and family, it just seems to be a deluge. I can’t tell you how much I needed something light and positive like Feel the Beat. I’m guessing, with the current global situation, that I’m not in the least bit alone.

So, let’s get this out of the way: it’s not a phenomenally original film. The dance competition and home-town-girl-makes-good recipes are old staples. Almost every bit of the story was predictable. There were a few little bits here and there that surprised me or stood out. That being said, what did stand out was really special.

A couple of the wonderful tidbits would be spoilers, unfortunately, so I can’t mention them. That doesn’t stop me from sharing the others with you, though! I loved the diversity of the young dancers from the movie’s town of New Hope. The group was incredibly divers and everyone had a chance to dance and shine. No one was shamed because they weren’t the ‘perfect ballerina image.’ These young dancers clearly worked hard for their roles and I really enjoyed the showcase their performances provided.

The casting for other primary roles was also amazing. We all know that Sofia Carson (Tini: The New Life of Violetta, Descendants: Wicked World, Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists) can sing. That’s a talent that she’s exhibited repeatedly through her career, and especially during her involvement with Disney. That did not prepare me, however, for the breadth of her talent for more classical dance styles. I was blown away.

I also really enjoyed the hometown dance teacher played by Donna Lynne Champlin (Downsizing, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Good Fight). I’ve had a few special teachers in my life that have really inspired me or helped me far beyond what words could express. I love seeing roles exemplifying teachers in that way – all it takes is one person to really inspire you and it can lead someone to great things.

I have to come back around to the dancing, itself. The showpieces were well done – and one fairly moved me to misty eyes. Of course, I recognized that style and emotion evoked. Mia Michaels (Move TV, Rock of Ages, Step Up Revolution) was credited with the choreography for the film. She is absolutely phenomenal. If you have time, I would highly recommend looking up her work with So You Think You Can Dance (2005-) on YouTube. You won’t be sorry. I’ll probably be doing some of that, myself.

I really enjoyed this Netflix original. While it would have fit right in on Disney or another channel known for made-for-TV romance movies, I think the streaming giant played its cards right here. If you’re a fan of dance, or are looking for a good pick-me-up with heart, I’d definitely give this one a whirl.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 46%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 55%
Metascore – 50/100
Metacritic User Score – 7.5/10
IMDB Score – 6.3/10
CinemaScore – None

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 2.5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5 

Movie Trailer:

Descendants 2 (2017)

Streaming Service: Disney+

Movie Name/Year: Descendants 2 (2017)

Genre: Action, Adventure, Family

Length: 111 minutes

Rating: TV-G

Production/Distribution: Disney Channel, Disney-ABC Domestic Television, Disney XD, American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Freeform, Lifetime, Disney Cinemagic, Disney+, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Walt Disney Television

Director: Kenny Ortega

Writer: Sara Parriott, Josann McGibbon

Actors: Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, Mitchell Hope, Brenna D’Amico, Melanie Paxson, Thomas Doherty, Bobby Moynihan, Dylan Playfair, Dianne Doan, Jedidiah Goodacre, Zachary Gibson, Anna Cathcart, Dan Payne, Keegan Connor Tracy, China Anne McClain, Whoopi Goldberg

Blurb from IMDb: Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay try to adjust to life in Auradon, but Mal becomes overwhelmed with pressure and returns to her roots.

Selina’s Point of View:

I liked the first Descendants (2015) movie and I expected to like this sequel. I try to go into film as cold as possible – I don’t even watch the trailers ahead of time unless it’s for a top 20 – but it’s impossible in this case.

I watched the original Descendants for this blog, but you might have noticed that only Cat wrote about it. That was the night that a pipe burst under the foundation of my house and my first floor flooded. I felt pretty much the same as Cat did, though. It was cute. Though I would have scored it a little lower than her, and I did think it bordered on too cringey in some scenes.

That said, I have a much higher opinion of Descendants 2.

The first thing I noticed was that the songs were a much higher quality. There was some seriously good music in this film. I’m definitely going to have a few lyrics stuck in my head. I didn’t really experience the same thing with the first one. If you played the soundtrack to the first movie for me, I might not be able to place any of it… but the second one I might even sing along to. It’s almost like they put more effort into the second film’s music.

I also didn’t feel like there was nearly as much cringe in Descendants 2. In fact, everything about it seemed so much more like a Disney movie. You could still feel the ‘Disney Channel’ aspect to it, in the way that everything was stripped down to the G-ist of G ratings, but otherwise it just had a higher quality.

There was a message here that I really liked, and it’s one that I don’t think enough pop culture touches on. In a lot of films, books, and even songs, you see it said that changing yourself is bad. In Descendants, however, Mal changed for the better – so Disney couldn’t really go there. They’d already showed a healthy form of change, saying that people shouldn’t change at all would have contradicted that.

Instead, the movie shows that you can evolve without changing every single thing about yourself. That’s important. Evolving is VERY important. If I was the same person I’d been as a teenager… that would be awful. In other ways, I’ll always try to be as unapologetically myself as possible.

It’s important for kids to know that sometimes change is good – but that it doesn’t mean the stuff you love has to change as well. It’s a good “be the best version of yourself” lesson. I have to acknowledge that.

I liked Descendants 2. I think it was a better movie than the first one. I am looking forward to seeing the third one, though there will be a bitter-sweetness to it. I don’t see how they could possibly continue past that film without the talented Cameron Boyce (Mrs. Fletcher, Steps, Jessie). I don’t think he’s replaceable.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 71%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 71%

Metascore – 47/100

Metacritic User Score – None

IMDB Score – 6.5/10

CinemaScore – None

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4/5

Movie Trailer:

Descendants (2015)

Streaming Service: Disney+

Movie Name/Year: Descendants (2015)

Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Comedy

Length: 112 minutes

Rating:  TV-G

Production/Distribution: Disney Channel, A 5678 Production, Bad Angels Productions, Blu Shine, Disney Cinemagic, Disney-ABC Domestic Television, Galapagos Films, Galapagos Films, The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Walt Disney Television

Director: Kenny Ortega

Writers: Josann McGibbon, Sara Parriott

Actors: Dove Cameron, Booboo Stewart, Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson, Mitchell Hope, Melanie Paxson, Keegan Connor Tracy, Kathy Najimy, Kristin Chenoweth, Sarah Jeffery, Stephanie Bennett, Dan Payne

Blurb from IMDb:  The teenage son of the king and queen of Auradon offers the trouble-making children of villains a chance to attend prep school in the kingdom.

Cat’s Point of View:

We have always been Disney fans in my family. It was a no-brainer when Disney+ was announced that we would sign up ASAP. For this movie, however, we didn’t have to wait for the streaming platform launch to watch. My daughter had corralled us (at least me) to watch this film (and its sequels) as they aired on the Disney Channel for the first time.

That being said, I didn’t mind watching again.

I love how Descendants sprinkles little nods to the fairytale movies represented by the teen characters in the movie, or their families. I always enjoy that little ‘ooh!’ feeling each time I spot something new. These go beyond Easter eggs because they enrich and offer a foundation to the stories unfolding within the frame of the film.

I have enjoyed the take on each hero and villain’s offspring. The overall plot might be a smidge on the predictable side – because let’s face it, it’s a Disney fairytale movie – but it’s still interesting enough to keep attention on the way towards the finale.

Aside from that, the story is ultimately about redemption, second chances, and children not being bound by the sins of their parents. It’s a study of nurture vs. nature wrapped in candy coating. It’s that long sung of spoonful of sugar to let the medicinal lesson go down. Of course, there are other lessons laced within – and more to be explored with the sequels.

The music and dance numbers are fun and catchy – but that’s to be expected from director Kenny Ortega (High School Musical, Legally Mad, A Change of Heart). Some of his first IMDb credits are music videos of iconic songs from the mid-'80s. He hit the ground running and really hasn’t looked back.

The overall film isn’t too corny, and it’s phenomenally cast with beloved Disney staple actors such as Dove Cameron (Barely Lethal, Liv and Maddie, Marvel Rising: Initiation) and Cameron Boyce (Grown Ups 2, Bunk'd, Paradise City), as well as those with more mainstream recognition like Booboo Stewart (He Never Died, Bad Company, #Roxy).

This re-watching was rather poignant to me, considering the untimely death of Boyce in 2019. I have to admit I got seriously misty during his scenes.

I would have no qualms in giving this film a recommendation for anyone who enjoys the fairytale (especially Disney) genre, and those that have tween or younger children. 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 90%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 67%

Metascore – 63%

Metacritic User Score –  None

IMDB Score – 6.4/10

CinemaScore – None

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5

   

Movie Trailer: