As we have watched and discussed all 14 films (including Galaxy Quest) there have been highs (Wrath of Khan) and lows (Final Frontier) but always an attempt to try something new and challenge viewers. Star Trek is honestly not like Star Wars at all. Star Wars is about an individual journey to face evil where Star Trek is about a crew exploring the world and facing obstacles as they do.

The most family friendly Star Trek film is the 4th entry called Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. And even though I’m not as in love with it as many fans seem to be I enjoyed it and I think it is a good way to introduce your family to everything that Star Trek has to offer.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is a clever premise without a real villain like Wrath of Khan has. A probe has landed around the Earth and it will destroy all around it if its signal is not responded to quickly. The problem is the signal is from a humpback whale, which have gone extinct in that day and age.

The crew uses a slingshot maneuver around the sun to make them go back in time to 1986 where they work to find whales to take back with them. They meet Dr Gillian Taylor played by Catherine Hicks who presides over the whales at a marine wildlife sanctuary in San Francisco. She and Captain Kirk go on a date and the rest of the crew work on finding plastic manufacturers to make an aquarium for the whales.

Honestly I was shocked when I saw this movie at how broad the humor was. It was so different than the serious tone of Wrath of Khan and Search for Spock. A scene at a hospital is particularly nutty and feels like something out of a Marx Brothers routine but it is enjoyable and I think kids will get a kick out of it.

There are also the fish out of water antics that the crew has trying to adjust to 1980s technology and morals. In one of the most famous scenes a punk rocker won’t quiet his music on the train so Spock neck grabs him and knocks him out. Everyone on the train claps. It is these kinds of scenes that should warm up even the most anti-Star Trek viewer.

It is very silly but you get nice moments with the entire cast like when Scotty worries about Chekov getting the medical treatment he needs or when Sulu, McCoy and Scotty all try to win over the plastic factory owner with their slick ways.

To see the rest of Rachel’s reviews, click here.

If there is a weakness the romance is kind of lame and it feels very lightweight for Star Trek but it is also a nice breath of fresh air for a series that can take itself very seriously. I think the average family will have a lot of fun watching it together.

I don’t think that every family needs to watch all 14 Star Trek films like I have done but given the 50th Birthday I would recommend watching some of the good ones. There are about 9 that I think are worth watching including Star Trek VI: The Voyage Home. It is funny, charming and an enjoyable watch for the entire family.

Rachel Wagner

I always say that movies are the storytelling device of our age. Sure we still read books but if you really want to get an idea of how we are changing and growing as a culture nothing will show that more than in the movies.  Therefore, it is interesting to look at the differences between Ben-Hur 2016 and Ben-Hur 1959.

Ben-Hur of 1959 may be the greatest epic movie ever made. It needs to be nearly 4 hours with character development that fills up any available space in the story.  It’s of course the classic story of Judah Ben-Hur and his childhood Roman friend Messala who betrays Judah sending him to prison. Judah becomes very bitter at Messala especially when he learns that his mother and sister have died of leprosy. It turns out they are merely hiding from Judah because they don’t want him to see them in their condition, but his anger is still kindled against Messala.

That’s when we get the famous chariot scene which is still awe inspiring today. We end the film with Judah turning to Christ on the cross and a miracle occurring both physically and spiritually for Judah and his family. It’s inspiring and moving and everything you could want for these characters we have come to know after 4 hours.

Ben-Hur 2016 is not a complete train-wreck. The acting is pretty good and it is made with some care. I think the average moviegoer will enjoy it and get something from it. However, they make several changes that I think weaken the narrative and they try to cram 4 hours of storytelling into 2, which doesn’t work. One of the poor choices they make is to have Judah marry Esther. This lessens the tension between him and her when she lies to him about his family dying. The entire leprosy storyline is given way less time and therefore, the miracle at the end feels less earned.

They also change Messala’s choice to turn on Judah. In the 1959 film he fails to defend his friend when an accident occurs knowing it will help secure him greater power. The Jewish people will see that he will turn on an old friend and they will fear him helping secure him a greater position. In the new version Judah harbors a zealot who shoots the guard so when Messala arrests him he has much more cause and there is less reason for Judah to be so angry at his friend. Instead of Messala dying in the chariot race like in the 1959 film they tag on a happy ending that is also really bad.

So back to my earlier point about how do you get kids excited about the classic films? Or even just to watch them period? I think it helps if you make watching classic films part of a tradition. Maybe have a monthly classic movie night and perhaps make it fun or give some kind of reward for whoever notices objects or people in the film. Most importantly make it fun and not a chore and I think they will find they enjoy the older films much more than they are anticipating. Also make any film you watch part of your discussion as a family. Have family home evening or chats about lessons characters learn or situations they face. Even in comedy there are things to talk about or laughs to recall together. Don’t be afraid to ask kids what they think of sets, costumes, cinematography, acting etc and be prepared if they don’t think a classic is very good. Kids should be allowed to have their own opinions and come to their own conclusions about film.

To see the rest of Rachel’s reviews, click here.

I think there could be a really interesting experiment using both versions of Ben-Hur. If I had kids I would show them both and ask them to compare and contrast them. You can do that with many films such as Man of Steel and Superman: the Movie. Their insight may challenge and surprise you. I would love to hear your experiences and what you find works with your kids.

Rachel Wagner

This stunning stop motion film tells the story of a little Japanese boy who has a special power of storytelling. He can make origami paper come alive to tell his stories. There is only one problem he can never figure out what the ending are to  his tales. His mother is a sickly woman who seems to be getting some kind of Alzheimers disease and she is very dependent upon Kubo for her survival.

She tells Kubo to never go out at night; however, one day he ends up out late and there are spirits who are calling to him. This starts him on an adventure with a monkey (Charlize Theron) and a beetle (Matthew McConaughey).  

Kubo is looking for his father’s armor which will help protect him from the evil spirits and save his family, but there are forces that want to stop him from gaining more powers. One thing I liked about the story of Kubo and the Two Strings is it didn’t have a classic narrative with a treasure at the end. Even though the armor is the goal it isn’t talked about that much and we don’t have a clear path on how he is going to get there. It’s not like Dorothy in Wizard of Oz who knows she needs to get the broom from the witch to get home. Everything here is more vague which keeps the viewer guessing and continually surprised.

There is also great heart to the story. I loved the character of Kubo because he was so sincere and earnest. He is blind in one eye but he is willing to make some jokes about his condition.  He is serious when he needs to be but I felt such love in his eye and from his smile. There was just something about his character that made me root for him. I wanted him to be happy very badly.

The dialogue is also very well done- particularly between monkey and beetle. They are sarcastic and sassy towards each other and Kubo. This helps keep things from getting too dark and sad.

Speaking of dark, the artistry is spectacular. There really is no other word for it. Simply stunning.  I sat in awe at how paper and water was used to give life and light to the journey.  The character movement is fluid and  you forget for long moments you are watching stop motion. It seems too good to be true, like it must be computer generated but at the end of the film they prove it is not. It is from the hands of master stop motion animators and this does feel like their masterpiece.

The music by Laika composer Dario Marianelli is perfect and it pays homage to the Japanese origins of the story without being too heavy handed. It works for the type of story being told.

Some kids might be a little bit scared by certain scenes particularly with the villain but there were lots of kids in my theater and they seemed fine. If your kids can watch the Wicked Witch of the West than they are probably okay with anything they will see here. Fortunately even the scary moments don’t last that long and are quickly interrupted by peaceful, funny or other emotion.  It makes it a well-rounded, extremely engaging story.

I am still debating with myself whether I like Kubo or Zootopia better. They both have earnest likable protagonists and are both extremely creative. I will have to give it some more thought but right now I would give Kubo the slight edge.

The sad part is only a 1/10th of the people who saw Zootopia will see Kubo and the Two Strings. It’s a real shame because I constantly hear people complain about all the sequels, prequels and remakes. Yet, here is an original work of art and nobody is going to see it.  I hope I am wrong and it does well but early estimates aren’t great.

To see the rest of Rachel’s reviews, click here.

I couldn’t encourage you with more vigor to see Kubo and the Two Strings.  It is a truly stunning animated film that will entertain the entire family. It’s one you will want to get on blu-ray and in a very weak summer it is probably the best movie I have seen.

Overall Grade- A+

Rachel Wagner

Released in 2011, Rio is the story of Blu, a macaw voiced by Jesse Eisenberg, who is dependent upon his owner Linda to survive. He doesn’t even know how to fly. To save his species he and Linda head to Rio to try and find a mate for Blu. There he meets a female macaw named Jewel voiced by Anne Hathaway. Unfortunately things get busy when right before Rio Carnival both Blu and Jewel are abducted by thieves after them for their rarity.

The rest of the movie is spent with Blu and Jewel trying to find their way home with the help of a toucan named Fernando and a bulldog named Luiz.  Their owners Linda and Tulio are also looking for them through all the Rio Carnival madness. They are also running from a hilarious cockatoo named Nigel (voiced brilliantly by Jemaine Clement. For years I thought it was Tim Curry’s voice).

It’s not the most original set up for an animated film. It’s basically a cat and mouse chase type story but it’s executed in a charming way, which is obviously the key to any good movie. You can have the greatest idea ever but if it isn’t executed well it will fall flat on its face.

Anyway, one of the most pleasing parts of Rio is the relationships between the characters. I particularly liked the chemistry between Blu and Jewel.  It builds in a semi-realistic way.  Also it is nice to see Blu become braver and gain more confidence as the story commences.

There are also some good jokes and musical numbers. The bright colors, rhythm of the samba comes through every time. Jamie Foxx ends up getting a large hunk of the jokes but they work and there isn’t the innuendo or other tawdry moments you expect in a film like this from Blue Sky.

On the negative side, while I enjoy the music I don’t know if it fit in with the story. Also Eisenberg and Hathaway can get a little annoying in their vocal performances.  Also the vocal performances are a little bit annoying at times but for the most part I was fine with them.

To see the rest of Rachel’s reviews, click here.

All in all, Rio is an engaging sweet family movie. There is one scene where Linda, the human character wears a very skimpy outfit for the carnival but it will hopefully go over most kids head.

The animation, like I said, is beautiful in Rio and overall it is a very sweet little animated film. It’s not too cynical or cash grab like the Ice Age movies. It’s just an energetic, happy picture about macaws and how Blu gets renewed confidence.

Is Rio a favorite of yours? What is a movie set in a foreign land that you love? Share in the comments below.

Rachel Wagner

Honorable Mentions-

Sing Street– my favorite movie of the year and it is PG-13 but some of the themes and situations it doesn’t quite feel like a family film for me. If you are a family with teenagers watch it!

Miracles from Heaven– a touching, more nuanced faith-based film about a family going through a medical crisis

Secret Life of Pets– a charming animated film that I think you will enjoy watching with your family. It could have been better but overall I enjoyed it especially Gidget and Chloe

So now on to the top 10!

10. Ghostbusters– don’t listen to the naysayers this is a very enjoyable film geared more towards kids than the somewhat raunchy innuendo of the original. I loved the 4 leading ladies and it made me laugh

9. Only Yesterday– made by master animator Isao Takahata in 1991 it finally got a US release this year. I loved the sections about the little girl and her family. The adult stuff I could live without but still a sweet lovely story about a family and the everyday struggles of growing up

8. The Jungle Book– most would have this much higher on their list but I did enjoy Jungle Book very much. The visuals are stunning and I liked how they fixed some problems in the original such as making the ending better. I liked that Mowgli was more of a proactive character and the voice casting was spot on. The middle drags a bit for me and I didn’t like the portrayal of Louis or the way they used the songs

7. Kung fu Panda 3– I liked this movie a lot more than most. It’s a nice journey for Po going from the student to the teacher. I loved the animation and liked how they combined the humor of the first KFP movie with the action of the second. I also love the adoption message which is important to talk about and celebrate.

6. Eddie the Eagle– the Olympics are coming so this is the perfect time to watch a story about a true underdog- Eddie the Eagle. This movie will make you smile and feel good. There are a few adult moments but overall it will make you cheer.

5. April and the Extraordinary World– a small indie animated film that took my breath away.  It’s an alternate dimension story where steampunk actually exists and the world never progressed beyond steam. I loved the characters and the story really surprised me. Plus, they have a talking cat which is always a good thing right? 😉

4. Captain America: Civil War– I debated about putting this on my list because it can get pretty intense but if your family has seen the rest of the Marvel movies than I think they can handle this one. This movie makes everything that Marvel has done in the preceding films for Tony and Steve come to fruition. It’s a sequel that makes the proceeding films like Age of Ultron much better. I love the dynamic of Tony wanting control and Steve fearing it. There’s tremendous heart, amazing action and funny dialogue from the likes of Spider-Man!

3. Finding Dory- another home run for Pixar. Here we get Dory’s journey to find her family and if you pay attention to the clues there is more going on at the marine life institute than we see at first glance. The film will pull at your heartstrings and it may be Pixar’s funniest film. I love the way it uses light and shadows to convey tone and setting. Great film.

2. Life, Animated- a wonderful documentary about a family that has to deal with a son named Owen with severe autism. It turns out Owen communicates with the world through Disney movies. He literally has all of them memorized and uses the text to convey what he wants or desires. It’s very well done using clips and interviews with the family and should invite good discussions with families on how we treat those that are different and how we each have a unique way of processing the world.

To see the rest of Rachel’s reviews, click here.

Number One~ Zootopia- Disney’s modern day fable about a fox and a bunny is utterly delightful. It will make you laugh with background and primary jokes and the world building is amazing. Judy Hopps is a wonderful character that I think we can all relate too and Nick has a depth to his character you don’t expect. The voice acting is perfect and it captures the film noir feel perfectly. Best buddy cop movie in years!

So that is my top 10 family films of 2016. What are your top 10? Share in the comments below. Thank you!

Rachel Wagner

Make no mistake Mary Poppins is, as the title character says, ‘practically perfect in every way’.  I could go on about Julie Andrews and her nuanced and delightful Oscar winning performance.  I could talk about the amazing Sherman Brothers songs and the choreography by Marc Breaux. I could talk about the amazing adaptation from PL Travers rather forgettable novel. The live action/animation hybrid scenes are sublime (I mean we have dancing penguins for goodness sakes).  The list goes on.

Mr Banks

All of those things are perfection but what I want to talk about is what Mary Poppins says about life and particularly work. I have always been fascinated by films about work as aside from sleep it is what occupies most of our time here on earth. How much to work? When are we over-working? How do you balance family and work? These are all issues that modern families face and they are all a critical part of what makes Mary Poppins great.

One of the very first characters we meet in Mary Poppins is Mr Banks played brilliantly by David Tomlinson. He is convinced he is leading the best kind of life, that he has it all figured out. He says “It’s six-o-three and the heirs to my dominion are scrubbed and tubbed and adequately fed. And so I’ll pat them on the head and send them off to bed. Ah lordly is the life I lead.”

The interesting thing is at this very moment the children have run away. This is a good example of how out of touch he truly is with his family. The mother is not much better. She has turned her fervor for the Suffragette movement into a distraction from her children.

This leads us to one of the major themes of Mary Poppins. Something good (hard work and political activism) has become a bad thing when it hurts our children or other loved ones.

Mary Poppins and Burt have an adventure in the park.

When she arrives Mary Poppins see’s this as the major problem at the Banks household. Everything that she does then is meant to cheer up the kids and show them the nobility of their father’s ways while on the other hand showing their father what he is missing in his children. Bert tells Mr Banks when he is grieving over the loss of his seemingly perfect life “you’ve got to grind, grind, grind at that grindstone. Though childhood slips like sand through a sieve. All too soon they’ve up and grown and then they’ve flown and it’s too late for you to give”

The two main sequences that allow for this moment to work are when Mary convinces Mr Banks to take the kids to work with him. Then she sings to them about the lady who lives to feed the birds. This is implanting in the children a different way of life than their father leads. She is inviting them to challenge their father, which they then do, causing a run on the bank. I don’t think there was any way to get through to Mr Banks without it coming from his place of employment.

After getting the advice from Bert, Mr Banks makes his pilgrimage back to his employment and he finally gets it.  He finally see’s what is important and that is when we end with the family united all ready to go fly a kite.

This might make the film sound gloomy, which of course it isn’t.  It’s just got such heart and soul to it that the humor is added perfection.  You have Ed Wynn who is so good singing I Love to Laugh. You have Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, which is a riot.  You have the great chemistry between Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews singing Jolly Holiday, and the busy choreography of Step in Time.

To see the rest of Rachel’s reviews, click here.

The characters, even the children, are complex and well written. The charm is off the charts.  Everything holds up to me in Mary Poppins. In fact, it’s central themes may be more important now than ever before.  No wonder it was such an important film for Walt Disney himself to get off the ground just a few years before his passing. It is his crowning achievement and one of my all-time favorite movies. I hope you enjoy it with your family and that it is a Spoonful of Sugar for your family!

Rachel Wagner

On the surface Ernest and Celestine is a sweet little bedtime story for children.  The sketchy animations style with a watercolor palate reminds me of a Winnie the Pooh or Little Prince illustration. But if you pay attention to the narrative there are subversive, surprising moments.

Ernest and Celestine is based off of a book by Belgian author and illustrator Gabrielle Vincent. It tells the story of a mouse named Celestine who is taught to believe that all bears are horrible and to be feared. However, they must interact with the bears to get their teeth because in their world all mice are obsessed with dentistry (I know weird but it works).  The mice kind of like the fearful tooth fairies of the bears.

Unfortunately the bears also hate the mice and are horrified by their very appearance. However, a bear named Ernest is a free thinker.  He’s gruff and grumbly and doesn’t want to do what his family expects for him to do (they want him to become a lawyer which I find funny for some reason). Ernest loves to sing and perform and one day he meets Celestine. He is just about to eat her when they make a deal with each other.

Celestine convinces Ernest to spare her and she will show him a candy store he can eat to his heart content. In return he shows her a teeth bank that she can get her quota of teeth from. Unfortunately, the two are caught in their theft and then are on the run from the police, both mice and bear officers.

Then the rest of the narrative becomes a kind of Bonnie and Clyde story for kids. This is definitely not what you expect when you see the sketchy sweet animation style. That’s what makes it so subversive. Also, the characters aren’t as sweet as you expect them to be.  As I said Ernest is gruff and he stays gruff and rough around the edges through the entire movie. I appreciate that Celestine didn’t change him into something totally new.

I also like how their friendship is not automatic. For a good chunk of the movie they have a marriage of convenience and not friendship. But as they spend time together cooped up in a house for the winter they start to see things from each other’s point of view. This is a good lesson for children that an immediate friendship never would have shown and something I don’t think big studio films would have the patience for. That’s what makes Ernest and Celestine special.

Kids need to know that friendships take time and that we need to accept people for who they are. Someone may be a little rough around the edges but find where you relate to that person, find something to bond over.

In the final act Ernest and Celestine face the legal systems of their species. They try to explain their situation to the court but the prejudices are too strong on both sides. It isn’t until an act of heroism shows the mice and bears that they realize they really aren’t that different as they thought.

To see the rest of Rachel’s reviews, click here.

In today’s polarizing racial climate it is important to talk about themes of prejudice and bias with our kids. Zootopia did a great job this year with those themes but Ernest and Celestine is another fable that can also be a good teaching opportunity for families. It’s perhaps a little softer than Zootopia but equally didactic. Both are great and important tools in helping kids understand these important issues.

So give Ernest and Celestine a chance. The English dub is very well done with Forest Whitaker, Mackenzie Foy, Lauren Becall, Paul Giamatti and more. Your family will love it and it will be easy to work into a family home evening.  Let me know what you think if you get to see it.

Rachel Wagner

Made by the usually schlock-masters Disneytoons, A Goofy Movie is simple yet effective. It takes the characters from the Goofy based animated series at the time and gives them their own movie. Of course, Goofy is the lead and he is the Dad to a boy named Max. Goofy wants nothing more than to have a great relationship with his son but Max, like most teenagers, is very resistant.

Max would rather be focusing on his favorite rock band called Powerline and he tries to impress his crush Roxanne at a school talent show. Unfortunately for him, Goofy insists he not go to the concert and go on vacation with him instead. On a road trip they start and they even have a few songs on their way. I love a scene when Goofy takes Max to a hoe-down at a opossum park and Max finally loses it. As silly as the characters might look there is real heart to their scenes together.

And that’s what makes A Goofy Movie really work- it’s the relationship between Goofy and Max. Goofy is very heartsick over his inability to relate to his son. He is devastated. Plus, he compares his relationship to Pete and PJ which seem to have everything figured out. What parent can’t relate to that?

But it’s not all somber thoughts on parenting. We have scenes where the car makes it into the Colorado River and another where Goofy ends up fishing for Big Foot. It’s a family vacation like most families have but amped up a bit!

It’s really hard sometimes for Dads to express their love for their children and I think Goofy and Max’s relationship could help encourage discussion in families and provide some laughs as well. It’s just a sweet little movie.

All the voice work is on point including Bill Farmer as Goofy, Jason Marsden as Max, Rob Paulsen as PJ and Jim Cummings as Pete. Wallace Shawn, Pauly Shore and Pat Caroll can all be heard as well.

The animation also looks nice and I like the songs. Even the Powerline songs are ok for the 90s type rock music. But my personal favorites are After Today and On the Open Road, which have a bit of a Broadway feel to them.

It’s also kind of fun to see Disney in a modern setting. With the exception of Big Hero 6, Lilo and Stitch and Oliver and Company most Disney films are in fairy tale or creative settings. The Goofy Movie has a hot tub and a vacuum. Modern, everyday items you typically don’t see in a Disney film.

It’s also not the most tidy ending with both Goofy and Max compromising and learning from each other. That’s great!

To see the rest of Rachel’s reviews, click here.

I think if you give Goofy Movie a shot you will find it is a very enjoyable film for you and your family. I also have previously reviewed An Extremely Goofy Movie which is not well regarded but I like it. This is better but I like that one as well. (Originally this Family Movie Night was going to be all streaming movies but I’ve moved away from that). So give both movies a try and enjoy!

Let me know what you think about A Goofy Movie. Is it one that you watched growing up or have you never seen it?  Put in the comments section below. Thank you! And have fun on your own vacations wherever they may take you.

Rachel Wagner

I think Matilda may be Dahl’s  best written novel  It keeps things pretty simple as opposed to creating a magical factory or giant peach with large insects.  Matilda is just about an ordinary girl who is born into a bad situation and finds a way out of it- and a little magic never hurt anyone.

That said, it’s still a tricky book to turn into a movie because of the challenges of managing tone. Make no mistake about it Matilda’s life is rough and so showing that without the film becoming downtrodden and mean-spirited is tough to do. Fortunately, director Danny Devito and writers Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord are up for the challenge.

Matilda tells the story of a little girl who is detested by her parents from the moment she is born. Her parents are horrible people with her Dad (played by Devito) a crooked used car salesman and her Mom (Rhea Perlman) a bingo playing addict. Nobody cares about her or watches over her in any way. Fortunately for Matilda she is blessed with a keen intellect and is able to provide for herself, learning how to cook and take care of herself from a very young age.

At the age of 4 she teaches herself to read and discovers the local library is within walking distance.  She pours herself into anything she can find including classics like Moby Dick and Great Expectations. She gets a break from her horrible life through the reading and starts to gain more confidence.

Matilda

And this is where I think the film separates itself from the drab, dark movie it could have become.  Matilda played by Mara Wilson is always smarter than everyone else in the movie. There’s never a sense they are dominating over her or ruining her. In fact, once she starts to get angry at the horrible adults the energy of that anger gives her a kind of superpower where she can move items and cause all kinds of mayhem. It is this power over adults that make the movie palatable.

Eventually she is able to convince her parents to allow her to go to school but that is full of new challenges.  While her teacher Miss Honey is sweet, the principal, Miss Trunchbull (Pam Ferris) is a beast. She yells, screams and tosses children around.  I will say there is probably too much Trunchbull and it does get a little mean-spirited in moments. However, even with Trunchbull, Matilda is always smarter than her- all the kids are.

You can tell Matilda is made in the 90s because there is lots of Home Alone style antics that break up the horrible adults. Whether it is Trunchbull getting a newt in her glass or Matilda gluing her Dad’s hat to his head, kids eat that stuff up, or at least I did growing up.  Kids want to feel like they are smarter than the adults- that if they were secretly running things it would all be much better.  Movies like Home Alone and Matilda give them that kind of experience.  They get to be smarter and sillier than all the adults and that is really fun to see.

To see the rest of Rachel’s reviews, click here.

The production design, costumes and special effects for the most part hold up and at 98 minutes Matilda doesn’t outwear its welcome.  I think you will have a lot of  fun watching it as a family and your kids will laugh a lot.

Let me know what you think of Matilda and what is your favorite Roald Dahl movie/book? Also if you see The BFG what did you think of it?

Rachel Wagner

High School Musical came out in 2006 and is directed by Kenny Ortega who had previously directed Newsies and Hocus Pocus. Plus he had been a choreographer on many popular films such as Dirty Dancing, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Xanadu. He brings this exuberance to High School Musical and the energetic dance numbers make the movie.

They were also lucky in casting. Zac Efron has of course become a great star but they also found talent in Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman. All of these actors felt believable as high school students and had a nice chemistry between them. Monique Coleman is the only one that is significantly older but it is still believable.

The plot is nothing to write home about. Basketball star Troy (Zac Efron) falls for nerdy Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) on vacation and much like Grease it turns out they are going to the same high school. They both worry about being with the other because of their peer groups.

There is also a dynamic of the high school musical which is a nice device for the original songs; although it strains belief to think a high school student wrote these songs it doesn’t really matter. I’m willing to go along with that plot. Gabriella wants to audition and Troy wants to impress Gabriella so they both sign up. However, Troy’s father is the basketball coach and isn’t happy to see his son distracted by drama.

Then you also have Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) and her brother Ryan (Lucas Grabeel) who are used to ruling the school, especially the play. They hate these new people honing in on their turf and try to sabotage them in any way they can.

The adults, Ms Darbus (Alyson Reed) a drama teacher, and Jack Bolton (Bart Johnson) Troy’s father and basketball coach, are thoroughly lame. Ironically they are both the worst actors amongst the young inexperienced cast! Whenever the adults get involved it feels like a sitcom.

But nobody watches High School Musical for the plot. We watch it for the energetic songs and choreography and Ortega delivers this in spades. Some of my favorite numbers are “We’re All in This Together’, ‘Stick to the Status Quo’ and ‘Get’cha Head in the Game’. They are catchy songs and I like the dancing and creative way they are staged.

High School Musical also teaches a nice message for kids that could lead into helpful family discussions. The main theme is the labels we put on ourselves. Troy wants to be in drama, another kid wants to bake, and another loves hip-hop dancing, and yet they all feel this is out of their defined label. By the end of the film they have ditched these labels and embraced what they love to do. Especially when you are dealing with kids and middle/high school this is a tremendously important message to share.

To see the rest of Rachel’s reviews, click here.

So I like High School Musical. Sure it’s not going to be winning any Oscars (or in this case Emmys) but it’s cheerful and I like the music. They have an engaging cast and good dance numbers. It checks off all my boxes for this kind of movie. I think you will enjoy watching it with your family.

If you get a chance to see it let me know what you think. Do your kids like this kind of entertainment or has it passed its appeal? Thanks!

Rachel Wagner