Greetings,
Okay, I know I did these TV movie reviews for Halloween week, but, like I said, I don't do Halloween. Know what else I'm not that into? Christmas. So put all that together and it seemed only natural to review what could possibly be the most infamous TV movie of all time. A little. Here it is, A Very Brady Christmas. Oh, yeah.
Okay, this TV movie aired in 1988, about seven years after we had gotten anything new from the Brady camp, that thing being The Brady Brides. I do not believe The Brady Brides was much of a hit . . . at all, so it might make you wonder why they could not have left well enough alone, letting us simply enjoy reruns of the original show. I always assumed it was because the upcoming year would mark the twentieth anniversary of the debut of The Brady Bunch, but who knows. What I do know is that this thing was REALLY big! Seriously, it was one of the most watched TV movies ever, and I give most credit to my assumption that people's curiosity just got the better of them. They just wanted to see what the current state of the Brady family was. They certainly got to see that. Yes, we get present-day Mr. and Mrs. Brady, present-day Alice and present-day Brady kids - all of them. I'm talking Greg, Marcia, Peter, Jan, Bobby, Cin- hey, hold it the heck up! That is not Cindy Brady! Yeah, for reasons that I have yet to discover, the actress who played the original Cindy did not take part in this, so they got a replacement who was . . . look, I'm not going to say she was bad, but they could have at least gotten someone with a lisp so we could close our eyes and pretend. It's kind of ironic, since the whole point of this movie is that it's been years since all the kids came home for the holidays at the same time, and the goal is to make it happen. So, technically . . . plan fail! PLAN FAIL! Anyway, speaking of which, let's move on to the plot.
As you may recall, The Brady Bunch, when it came to storytelling, was fairly simple and straight forward. This time, they thought they'd amp it up a bit. For example, before we get to the main plot, we get this, sort of, mini-episode with a mini-hijink. First, Alice comes back to the Brady home after leaving Sam (Yes, she married the butcher!), then both Mr. and Mrs. Brady secretly and separately tell her that they each are planning a trip, one to Japan and one to Greece, using the money in their savings account. But they don't just tell Alice. They tell all six kids, too. Really? Look, I appreciate the loyalty to their parents, but come on! When the surprises are basically spoiling each other, SAY SOMETHING! Fear not, though. Both Papa and Mama Brady discover the surprise the other was planning, at the travel agency of all places, so the whole thing was like a reference to "The Gift of the Magi". And in case you couldn't have figured that out on your own, they literally point it out. So, thanks? Anyway, they decide to forego both trips and use the money to fly everyone home for Christmas.
Okay, this brings us to the main plot, which is that everyone is coming home for Christmas. It is also at this point when we begin to realize that the movie suffers from two conflicting problems. First, that main plot is a tad too basic and generic, but then we have to deal with the fact that EVERY Brady kid has a reason why they kind of don't want to go home. So we have six subplots to keep straight. And they range from marriages falling apart to people losing their jobs to "Hey, I wanna go skiing with my friends over Christmas because I'm in college and that's what college kids do, and I'm not the real Cindy Brady anyway, so why the heck do I have to be there?" Yeah, those kind of problems. Look, I refuse to go into full on detail of all these subplots, because it would just take too long. Plus, my poor little head couldn't handle it. And on top of all that, we actually do, in my opinion, get two endings. And I have to talk about them, so spoilers ahead.
First, we get the red herring one. Everyone sits around at the table for Christmas dinner, and the secrets come out, one by one. You'd think that, when the last one is revealed, it is the end of the movie. Well, no. The phone rings and we find out that one of the buildings Mr. Brady designed has collapsed, trapping some men inside, so he has to go and help get them out. Yeah, because when buildings collapse, the first person you run to is the guy who designed it to go in and rescue the people trapped inside. And if he happens to be in his sixties, isn't that just the cherry on the sundae! Well, the initial victims get out, but then the building collapses some more, leaving Mr. Brady stuck in there alone. You know, since he was the one who designed this death trap, maybe he's getting what's coming to him. But, alas, the family arrives and we get our obligatory Christmas miracle, not to mention a flashback of the infamous "Mrs. Brady Loses Her Voice at Christmas" episode. (P.S. If you hired a fake Cindy, do not show the real one at any time.) Remember how in that episode, she sang "O Come, All Ye Faithful"? Well, she sings it here, too, and the whole crowd of onlookers joins in. And it is that which gives Mr. Brady the fortitude to get himself out of the collapsed building. And may I say that had they sung any other song, we would not have had such a prominent deus in this this deus ex machina. Oh, and we can't forget the news reporter pointing out what street on which this miracle just happened to take place. If the number 34 is coming to your mind, you are heading in the right direction! Then, they all go home to finally have Christmas dinner, and it's over. No, hold on. Someone's at the door. Who could it be? It's Sam, dressed up as Santa, because they couldn't get the original actor for that part either but didn't want us to know. Anyway, he's back to ask Alice for forgiveness, which she gives, and they're back together. The End. For real, this time. Well . . .
No, really, that was the end of that movie, but the reverberations continued on for years. First, the success of this thing parlayed it into a series called The Bradys, which brought the original Cindy back, but we had to deal with a fake Marcia. Amazingly, it lasted for six whole episodes. I think the problem was that they tried to make this, not a comedy like the original Brady Bunch, but a drama, in the vein of Thirtysomething, dealing with heavier issues. No, for real, in those six short episodes we get Mr. Brady going into politics, Marcia turning into an alcoholic, Jan adopting, Cindy romancing an older man, Peter breaking up with his fiance, and Bobby, continuing his race car driver subplot from the Christmas movie, getting into a wreck that paralyzes him, then he marries Martha Quinn. Whew! That was A LOT with which to deal, especially from the Bradys.
But things began to look up in 1995 with the release of The Brady Bunch Movie, and in 1996, with A Very Brady Sequel. Both of them, I think, were really good movies. They really grabbed on to every single cliche attached to the original show and made the most of it, therefore, solidifying the legacy of the Bradys even more. So, thumbs up. And all of this spawned. I think, from the success of A Very Brady Christmas.
So, as far as my opinion of this classic TV movie, I'd say that it's not great, but it's not too bad. It's just kind of . . . there, and you can certainly have a little fun with it. I suggest you watch it at least once, just so you can say you did. Good luck trying to find it, though. It was released on VHS back in the day, but I don't think it's ever gotten a DVD release. I couldn't find it on You Tube, which kind of surprised me. Your best bet is to keep your eyes open around the holiday season, and you might just catch an airing. And you might just get a kick out of it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Friday, November 2, 2012
Camp Cucamonga - TV Movie Review
Greetings,
When we are youngsters, there are many things that can prepare us for our adult lives. Even the people in the world of TV movies do their part to help out. Occasionally, we would get one of their movies aimed to a younger crowd, and, in September of 1990, we got Camp Cucamonga. Yeah, I don't know why they aired a movie about summer camp in September either, but let's just try and have fun with this one.
Camp Cucamonga was one of those star studded movies with all the television luminaries of the day that they could gather. And, boy, was this one just chock full. Buckle your seat belts. I'm going to go through the list, telling you who is here and who they played. We'll get to the story later. This upcoming paragraph may be a long one.
Okay, first, we have John Ratzenberger of Cheers playing Marvin Schector, Dorothy Lyman, fresh from the finale of Mama's Family playing his wife, Millie, and Jennifer Aniston playing their daughter, Ava, who, at the time, was on some sad series based on Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Then, there was a counselor named Roger who was played by Brian Robbins of Head of the Class, who went on to produce pretty much every show on Nickelodeon and the CW. Let's move on to the campers, who are all teenagers being played by actual teenagers. I can't believe this came out the same year 90210 debuted. First, there's Candace Cameron from Full House playing the un-DJ Tanner-like Amber, Chad Allen, before Dr. Quinn and during My Two Dads, as Frankie, who actually has a lot of girls fighting over him in this. Then, we have two - count 'em!- two stars from The Wonder Years, Josh Saviano as Max, the camp nerd (that must have been tough) and Danica McKellar as Lindsay, a sort of goth girl who wears no make up, but she's got the 'tude and the heavy metal posters to prove it. We also get, Urkel from Family Matters himself, Jaleel White, as Dennis, not really a super-nerd in this one, and I must mention an actress named Tasha Scott who plays Jennifer. I don't know who the actress is, but she's playing one of the kids in the core group, so I had to say something and she's pretty good. There are also some other campers, but they're kind of not all that important, so the only one I'll mention is a pre-Clueless Breckin Meyer as a skateboard guy. It's like looking in a crystal ball on that one. Then, there's Sherman Hemsley, who was on Amen at the time, playing Herbert Himmel, a repairman, and, finally, my personal favorite, we have the character of Howard Sloan as portrayed by G. Gordon Liddy. I am not kidding about that. For you kids who don't know who that is, ask your parents or Google "Watergate". And that's it for the cast. Let's get the story, which will promise to be much less complicated.
It's summertime, and a group of excited kids are returning to, or coming to for the first time, Camp Cucamonga. It is run by Marvin Schector and his wife, Millie. Their daughter, Ava, is one of the counselors, and it only takes about five minutes into the movie for her to meet Roger, another counselor who is kind of a gigolo. She can't stand him, and I'm sure she won't have a change of heart, forcing them to end up together. Yeah. Anyway, the Schectors are concerned that they won't get camp accreditation, so they hired a repairman to fix things up before an inspector comes. I cannot see a single hijink coming from that. Certainly not when the repairman comes dressed in a suit because he came straight from a family wedding, and the inspector comes all dirty and disheveled because he had to change a flat tire on the way. Nope. I cannot see one ounce of confusion being spawned from that scenario. But what really keeps Col. Marv, as the youngsters call him, and his family going are the great kids at the camp. I told you who plays them; now I'll tell you a little more about who they are.
Like I said, there are six main characters, as far as the campers go. The kids returning after having been at camp the previous summer are these: Frankie, your typical blonde, popular, athletic guy, who has been reunited with his summer girlfriend, Amber, your typical blonde, popular "mean girl". Then, there's Max, a tall, skinny, not good at sports guy, who we still need, because we always need one of those, and Jennifer, the nice girl who is, for some reason, very good friends with the mean girl. Then, we have the newcomers in the group: Dennis, who is kind of a tiny, little ladies' man that makes friends quite easily, and Lindsay, who sooooo does not want to be at camp but her mom is forcing her to be there. Hmmm? I wonder if she'll eventually soften up and be friends with everyone. I do wonder.
This whole thing is filled to the brim with summer camp shenanigans from the kids, including the obligatory getting lost in the woods at night and their misbehavior amplifying the camp's problems. But they really are good kids at heart and want to help Col. Marv. So what do we get from the kids when they try to save the camp by making it look good? Remember, it's the early nineties, so they produce the one thing that always works when you're trying to bring down the man - a rap video! And it is FAN-TASTIC! The only thing more fantastic is the climax of the plot. It is complete with humiliation, an attempted escape from one of the campers, and a race to see if the kids will make it back to play in the very important baseball game! Do they succeed? Right! Like I'm going to spoil it for you! But I will tell you that it ends with the one thing on which all teen movies, and life itself apparently, end - a dance! What else!
Look, obviously, this movie is a serious cheese-fest, but when I watch it, I get a little enjoyment out of it, nostalgic, though it may be. It kind of reminds me of my childhood, and it is always fun to revisit those things that seemed so totally cool at the time but now just make us laugh. Hey, whatever works, I say, and makes us feel something other than sad! Right?
Oh, and this fun bit of television cinematic awesomeness is available on DVD! Buy, buy, buy!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
When we are youngsters, there are many things that can prepare us for our adult lives. Even the people in the world of TV movies do their part to help out. Occasionally, we would get one of their movies aimed to a younger crowd, and, in September of 1990, we got Camp Cucamonga. Yeah, I don't know why they aired a movie about summer camp in September either, but let's just try and have fun with this one.
Camp Cucamonga was one of those star studded movies with all the television luminaries of the day that they could gather. And, boy, was this one just chock full. Buckle your seat belts. I'm going to go through the list, telling you who is here and who they played. We'll get to the story later. This upcoming paragraph may be a long one.
Okay, first, we have John Ratzenberger of Cheers playing Marvin Schector, Dorothy Lyman, fresh from the finale of Mama's Family playing his wife, Millie, and Jennifer Aniston playing their daughter, Ava, who, at the time, was on some sad series based on Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Then, there was a counselor named Roger who was played by Brian Robbins of Head of the Class, who went on to produce pretty much every show on Nickelodeon and the CW. Let's move on to the campers, who are all teenagers being played by actual teenagers. I can't believe this came out the same year 90210 debuted. First, there's Candace Cameron from Full House playing the un-DJ Tanner-like Amber, Chad Allen, before Dr. Quinn and during My Two Dads, as Frankie, who actually has a lot of girls fighting over him in this. Then, we have two - count 'em!- two stars from The Wonder Years, Josh Saviano as Max, the camp nerd (that must have been tough) and Danica McKellar as Lindsay, a sort of goth girl who wears no make up, but she's got the 'tude and the heavy metal posters to prove it. We also get, Urkel from Family Matters himself, Jaleel White, as Dennis, not really a super-nerd in this one, and I must mention an actress named Tasha Scott who plays Jennifer. I don't know who the actress is, but she's playing one of the kids in the core group, so I had to say something and she's pretty good. There are also some other campers, but they're kind of not all that important, so the only one I'll mention is a pre-Clueless Breckin Meyer as a skateboard guy. It's like looking in a crystal ball on that one. Then, there's Sherman Hemsley, who was on Amen at the time, playing Herbert Himmel, a repairman, and, finally, my personal favorite, we have the character of Howard Sloan as portrayed by G. Gordon Liddy. I am not kidding about that. For you kids who don't know who that is, ask your parents or Google "Watergate". And that's it for the cast. Let's get the story, which will promise to be much less complicated.
It's summertime, and a group of excited kids are returning to, or coming to for the first time, Camp Cucamonga. It is run by Marvin Schector and his wife, Millie. Their daughter, Ava, is one of the counselors, and it only takes about five minutes into the movie for her to meet Roger, another counselor who is kind of a gigolo. She can't stand him, and I'm sure she won't have a change of heart, forcing them to end up together. Yeah. Anyway, the Schectors are concerned that they won't get camp accreditation, so they hired a repairman to fix things up before an inspector comes. I cannot see a single hijink coming from that. Certainly not when the repairman comes dressed in a suit because he came straight from a family wedding, and the inspector comes all dirty and disheveled because he had to change a flat tire on the way. Nope. I cannot see one ounce of confusion being spawned from that scenario. But what really keeps Col. Marv, as the youngsters call him, and his family going are the great kids at the camp. I told you who plays them; now I'll tell you a little more about who they are.
Like I said, there are six main characters, as far as the campers go. The kids returning after having been at camp the previous summer are these: Frankie, your typical blonde, popular, athletic guy, who has been reunited with his summer girlfriend, Amber, your typical blonde, popular "mean girl". Then, there's Max, a tall, skinny, not good at sports guy, who we still need, because we always need one of those, and Jennifer, the nice girl who is, for some reason, very good friends with the mean girl. Then, we have the newcomers in the group: Dennis, who is kind of a tiny, little ladies' man that makes friends quite easily, and Lindsay, who sooooo does not want to be at camp but her mom is forcing her to be there. Hmmm? I wonder if she'll eventually soften up and be friends with everyone. I do wonder.
This whole thing is filled to the brim with summer camp shenanigans from the kids, including the obligatory getting lost in the woods at night and their misbehavior amplifying the camp's problems. But they really are good kids at heart and want to help Col. Marv. So what do we get from the kids when they try to save the camp by making it look good? Remember, it's the early nineties, so they produce the one thing that always works when you're trying to bring down the man - a rap video! And it is FAN-TASTIC! The only thing more fantastic is the climax of the plot. It is complete with humiliation, an attempted escape from one of the campers, and a race to see if the kids will make it back to play in the very important baseball game! Do they succeed? Right! Like I'm going to spoil it for you! But I will tell you that it ends with the one thing on which all teen movies, and life itself apparently, end - a dance! What else!
Look, obviously, this movie is a serious cheese-fest, but when I watch it, I get a little enjoyment out of it, nostalgic, though it may be. It kind of reminds me of my childhood, and it is always fun to revisit those things that seemed so totally cool at the time but now just make us laugh. Hey, whatever works, I say, and makes us feel something other than sad! Right?
Oh, and this fun bit of television cinematic awesomeness is available on DVD! Buy, buy, buy!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Friends 'Til the End - TV Movie Review
Greetings,
I'm going to talk for a moment to those of you in my age bracket, who grew up in the days of the original Beverly Hills, 90210. Remember how, over the course of the first four years, people started to hate the character of Brenda Walsh, and then, in turn, they began to not be so fond of Shannen Doherty? Well, I can agree that Brenda Walsh got a little annoying, and maybe Shannen did a few crazy things when she was out and about, but I always liked Ms. Doherty. Maybe it's because she's one of the few celebrities brave enough to say she's a Republican, or maybe it's because, according to tabloids, she has thrown things at Paris Hilton in night clubs. That would make anyone a candidate to be my best friend. No, I think there is another reason. Despite the shenanigans that Shannen Doherty may or may not have been involved in, you can't deny that she is a really good actress. So I thought this week I would do a review of one of her TV movies, my favorite of hers actually, Friends 'Til the End.
Our movie begins backstage at a kiddie talent show. Don't worry. It only lasts for a few minutes. We see a dark haired girl with a very supportive, loving mother sitting next to a blonde girl with a mother who is, let's say, a bit critical. Despite the encouraging words of the brunette, blondie still goes on stage and chokes. Then, the other girl gets up and sings, "Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries", because that is what the cool kids sing. As the music fades, we transition into the future and see the dark haired girl all grown up, and she's Shannen Doherty. I was shocked at this reveal. Okay, no, I wasn't. Anyway, she is Heather Romely, a student in college, a popular sorority girl and the lead singer of a band which she is in with her boyfriend, Simon, played by Jason London, not to be confused with his twin brother, Jeremy, who was in Mallrats, also with Shannen. Heather also writes songs with the drummer named Nick played by a guy named John Livingston, who I've only seen in this movie. Keep that whole songwriting thing in mind, though, because it is important. Anyway, we first see Heather (grown up) at a sorority party, then at a gig with her band, all the while being watched by a blonde girl. I can already feel the wheels in your minds turning, but don't get ahead of me.
So then we see Heather in class, desperately looking for her paper that is due at that very moment. And who should come to her rescue but the blonde girl, handing her the assignment with the flimsy excuse of, "Hey, I think you dropped this is the club. Good thing I coincidentally picked it up, so now you owe me, and you better be my best friend." Or something like that. Turns out, the blond girl is Zanne Armstrong played by Jennifer Blanc, who I cannot believe is not an uber-famous actress. Now Zanne is wearing glasses so that means she's a shy, unpopular nerd. Right? Well, Heather takes her under her wing, getting her into the sorority, helping her to be pretty and even letting her join the band after hearing how well she can sing.
Things seem great at first, but then Zanne starts to "inadvertantly" sabotage Heather, but always in a way that makes it seem like she didn't really mean it. And everyone falls for it. As the plot begins to crescendo, Heather uncovers a lot about Zanne's very dark past, including her real name and the connection the two young women have. So, quickly, Zanne's new life begins to crumble, one thing at a time. And all of this culminates in a - what! - battle of the bands. Oh, man. I thought Shannen was from 90210, not Saved By The Bell. And you'll never guess which girl comes out on top.
Let me take this opportunity to speak about the music in this TV movie. There are only a few songs, and frankly . . . they're kind of good. No lie. I actually liked them. And while I'm not sure about Jennifer Blanc, I am pretty sure that Shannen Doherty did her own singing. As for that, she's not Whitney or Mariah, but I thought she did a decent job. So, since music was an important part of this movie, I'm glad they actually took enough time to make it listenable.
Now this TV movie still airs from time to time, probably LIFEtime, to be exact, but, again, it can also currently be found on You Tube. So if you're looking for some good late nineties nostalgia, music, fashion and all, try to check this one out.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I'm going to talk for a moment to those of you in my age bracket, who grew up in the days of the original Beverly Hills, 90210. Remember how, over the course of the first four years, people started to hate the character of Brenda Walsh, and then, in turn, they began to not be so fond of Shannen Doherty? Well, I can agree that Brenda Walsh got a little annoying, and maybe Shannen did a few crazy things when she was out and about, but I always liked Ms. Doherty. Maybe it's because she's one of the few celebrities brave enough to say she's a Republican, or maybe it's because, according to tabloids, she has thrown things at Paris Hilton in night clubs. That would make anyone a candidate to be my best friend. No, I think there is another reason. Despite the shenanigans that Shannen Doherty may or may not have been involved in, you can't deny that she is a really good actress. So I thought this week I would do a review of one of her TV movies, my favorite of hers actually, Friends 'Til the End.
Our movie begins backstage at a kiddie talent show. Don't worry. It only lasts for a few minutes. We see a dark haired girl with a very supportive, loving mother sitting next to a blonde girl with a mother who is, let's say, a bit critical. Despite the encouraging words of the brunette, blondie still goes on stage and chokes. Then, the other girl gets up and sings, "Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries", because that is what the cool kids sing. As the music fades, we transition into the future and see the dark haired girl all grown up, and she's Shannen Doherty. I was shocked at this reveal. Okay, no, I wasn't. Anyway, she is Heather Romely, a student in college, a popular sorority girl and the lead singer of a band which she is in with her boyfriend, Simon, played by Jason London, not to be confused with his twin brother, Jeremy, who was in Mallrats, also with Shannen. Heather also writes songs with the drummer named Nick played by a guy named John Livingston, who I've only seen in this movie. Keep that whole songwriting thing in mind, though, because it is important. Anyway, we first see Heather (grown up) at a sorority party, then at a gig with her band, all the while being watched by a blonde girl. I can already feel the wheels in your minds turning, but don't get ahead of me.
So then we see Heather in class, desperately looking for her paper that is due at that very moment. And who should come to her rescue but the blonde girl, handing her the assignment with the flimsy excuse of, "Hey, I think you dropped this is the club. Good thing I coincidentally picked it up, so now you owe me, and you better be my best friend." Or something like that. Turns out, the blond girl is Zanne Armstrong played by Jennifer Blanc, who I cannot believe is not an uber-famous actress. Now Zanne is wearing glasses so that means she's a shy, unpopular nerd. Right? Well, Heather takes her under her wing, getting her into the sorority, helping her to be pretty and even letting her join the band after hearing how well she can sing.
Things seem great at first, but then Zanne starts to "inadvertantly" sabotage Heather, but always in a way that makes it seem like she didn't really mean it. And everyone falls for it. As the plot begins to crescendo, Heather uncovers a lot about Zanne's very dark past, including her real name and the connection the two young women have. So, quickly, Zanne's new life begins to crumble, one thing at a time. And all of this culminates in a - what! - battle of the bands. Oh, man. I thought Shannen was from 90210, not Saved By The Bell. And you'll never guess which girl comes out on top.
Let me take this opportunity to speak about the music in this TV movie. There are only a few songs, and frankly . . . they're kind of good. No lie. I actually liked them. And while I'm not sure about Jennifer Blanc, I am pretty sure that Shannen Doherty did her own singing. As for that, she's not Whitney or Mariah, but I thought she did a decent job. So, since music was an important part of this movie, I'm glad they actually took enough time to make it listenable.
Now this TV movie still airs from time to time, probably LIFEtime, to be exact, but, again, it can also currently be found on You Tube. So if you're looking for some good late nineties nostalgia, music, fashion and all, try to check this one out.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
The Dreamer of Oz - TV Movie Review
Greetings,
Okay, it is officially Halloween, and though, like I said, I don't do the Halloween thing, I am giving you something scary today. Well, there is a witch. Sort of. Not exactly, but you see the creation of one. Look, today, I'm reviewing a 1990 TV movie called The Dreamer of Oz, which is a bio (TV) pic about the life of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz author, L. Frank Baum. And I think this could possibly be my favorite TV movie ever.
Now this one is quite different from your average TV movie. It is shot in a way that is so incredibly cinematic and colorful and larger than life, you'd swear it was meant for the big screen. Frankly, if they did take this and release it in a theater, it would look amazing. And I think I like it so much because I am a writer, and, for a writer, it is very inspirational and motivational. It's just fantastic. So let's get to it.
Though I referred to this as sort of a biopic, it does not take us though the entire life of L. Frank Baum. Instead, it focuses mainly on his life with his wife and sons, how he does whatever it takes to support them while keeping his passion for writing alive, and eventually creating the world of Oz.
The movie begins at the premiere of the film, The Wizard of Oz, in 1939. The press is clamoring over the cast of actors, Judy Garland and whatnot, but one young reporter notices an elderly woman and pulls her aside to talk with her. Turns out, it is the widow of L. Frank Baum, Maude, who is played fantastically throughout the film by Annette O'Toole (what's up, Mrs. Kent!), and I'm pretty sure in this scene she's got her old lady make up on. Anyway, Mrs. Baum is quite surprised but flattered that this young man even knows who she is. Actually, he is quite interested in learning about the true story behind THE story, so Maude begins to tell the tale of her life with her beloved husband.
At this point we flash back to eighteen hundred and . . . something, where we are introduced to L. Frank Baum, played brilliantly by John Ritter. I actually this is the best thing he ever did in his career. Anyway, we see the first meeting between Frank (yeah, I'll just call him Frank from now on) and Maude Gage, daughter of Matilda Gage, played by the great Rue McClanahan. Wow, I am being VERY descriptive about these actors. Anyway, Frank is hesitant to meet Maude because her mother is a serious nineteenth century feminist, and he finds her a little scary. But alas, Frank, who is a poor actor at the time, and Maude fall in love, mostly because of his ability to be so creative and make up these beautiful worlds to describe to her. There's some pleasant foreshadowing for you. Despite her mother's objections, Maude does marry Frank.
So throughout the film, we follow the life of Frank, Maude and the sons they would have. There is also a lot about all the jobs Frank had in order to take care of them. Like I said, he starts as an actor, but also, while his family lives in the Dakota Territory, he opens a store, and then goes on the road as a salesman. According to the film, it is this that takes a great tole on his health. Eventually, he takes his professional writing seriously, getting a book of children's stories published, with the help of illustrator W.W. Denslow, who would go on to illustrate the Oz books as well. Now it is that first publication that gets him some recognition and money, but he does not give up on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Through his persistence and hard work, it is one day published. Of course, there is mention of the books that would follow, but it is the first around which the film is centered.
One of the best things about this movie is how we see the Oz story being developed over the years. He tells it, piece by piece, to different people, be they his wife, his children, their friends, even his mother-in-law, who does warm up to him and his great talent. We also see how certain events and people he meets in his life inspire the story and the characters, from the munchkins to the Cowardly Lion to Dorothy herself. S he was writing his greatest work. sometimes, without even really knowing what he was creating. Again, as a writer, I love the way it shows that, if we pay close attention to our lives, we can be inspired enough to create something great, which is certainly something that L. Frank Baum did.
Honestly, the most disappointing thing about this TV movie is the fact that, after that initial airing, I don't recall that it was ever shown again. Maybe it's just where I live, but that is sad. And though I've tried, I also cannot find this thing on DVD. But I'm sure it's out there somewhere, so if you can find it, watch it. Seriously, it won't disappoint. It may not be as good as The Wizard of Oz, but hearing the stories of how that came to be, I think, can bring about the same nostalgic feeling of that classic movie. So go ahead, find it, watch it, enjoy it!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Okay, it is officially Halloween, and though, like I said, I don't do the Halloween thing, I am giving you something scary today. Well, there is a witch. Sort of. Not exactly, but you see the creation of one. Look, today, I'm reviewing a 1990 TV movie called The Dreamer of Oz, which is a bio (TV) pic about the life of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz author, L. Frank Baum. And I think this could possibly be my favorite TV movie ever.
Now this one is quite different from your average TV movie. It is shot in a way that is so incredibly cinematic and colorful and larger than life, you'd swear it was meant for the big screen. Frankly, if they did take this and release it in a theater, it would look amazing. And I think I like it so much because I am a writer, and, for a writer, it is very inspirational and motivational. It's just fantastic. So let's get to it.
Though I referred to this as sort of a biopic, it does not take us though the entire life of L. Frank Baum. Instead, it focuses mainly on his life with his wife and sons, how he does whatever it takes to support them while keeping his passion for writing alive, and eventually creating the world of Oz.
The movie begins at the premiere of the film, The Wizard of Oz, in 1939. The press is clamoring over the cast of actors, Judy Garland and whatnot, but one young reporter notices an elderly woman and pulls her aside to talk with her. Turns out, it is the widow of L. Frank Baum, Maude, who is played fantastically throughout the film by Annette O'Toole (what's up, Mrs. Kent!), and I'm pretty sure in this scene she's got her old lady make up on. Anyway, Mrs. Baum is quite surprised but flattered that this young man even knows who she is. Actually, he is quite interested in learning about the true story behind THE story, so Maude begins to tell the tale of her life with her beloved husband.
At this point we flash back to eighteen hundred and . . . something, where we are introduced to L. Frank Baum, played brilliantly by John Ritter. I actually this is the best thing he ever did in his career. Anyway, we see the first meeting between Frank (yeah, I'll just call him Frank from now on) and Maude Gage, daughter of Matilda Gage, played by the great Rue McClanahan. Wow, I am being VERY descriptive about these actors. Anyway, Frank is hesitant to meet Maude because her mother is a serious nineteenth century feminist, and he finds her a little scary. But alas, Frank, who is a poor actor at the time, and Maude fall in love, mostly because of his ability to be so creative and make up these beautiful worlds to describe to her. There's some pleasant foreshadowing for you. Despite her mother's objections, Maude does marry Frank.
So throughout the film, we follow the life of Frank, Maude and the sons they would have. There is also a lot about all the jobs Frank had in order to take care of them. Like I said, he starts as an actor, but also, while his family lives in the Dakota Territory, he opens a store, and then goes on the road as a salesman. According to the film, it is this that takes a great tole on his health. Eventually, he takes his professional writing seriously, getting a book of children's stories published, with the help of illustrator W.W. Denslow, who would go on to illustrate the Oz books as well. Now it is that first publication that gets him some recognition and money, but he does not give up on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Through his persistence and hard work, it is one day published. Of course, there is mention of the books that would follow, but it is the first around which the film is centered.
One of the best things about this movie is how we see the Oz story being developed over the years. He tells it, piece by piece, to different people, be they his wife, his children, their friends, even his mother-in-law, who does warm up to him and his great talent. We also see how certain events and people he meets in his life inspire the story and the characters, from the munchkins to the Cowardly Lion to Dorothy herself. S he was writing his greatest work. sometimes, without even really knowing what he was creating. Again, as a writer, I love the way it shows that, if we pay close attention to our lives, we can be inspired enough to create something great, which is certainly something that L. Frank Baum did.
Honestly, the most disappointing thing about this TV movie is the fact that, after that initial airing, I don't recall that it was ever shown again. Maybe it's just where I live, but that is sad. And though I've tried, I also cannot find this thing on DVD. But I'm sure it's out there somewhere, so if you can find it, watch it. Seriously, it won't disappoint. It may not be as good as The Wizard of Oz, but hearing the stories of how that came to be, I think, can bring about the same nostalgic feeling of that classic movie. So go ahead, find it, watch it, enjoy it!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
A Friend To Die For or Death of a Cheerleader - TV Movie Review
Greetings,
I love Kellie Martin. I have loved her for over twenty years, ever since her days as Becca Thacher on Life Goes On, one of my favorite shows of all time. During her years on that show and all the years since, Kellie has more than proven herself as a great actress. Though she has shown up in a few feature films, it is most definitely her work on television that has garnered her the most success, through series and, of course, TV movies. Again, it was difficult to pick one, but there is something about this chosen one that makes it stand above all the rest. We'll get to that soon. So let's begin our discussion on A Friend to Die For . . . or Death of a Cheerleader. Yeah, here's the thing. When it aired originally, it was called A Friend to Die For, but, in later airings, up until the ones that air to this day, it is referred to as Death of a Cheerleader. Don't ask me why, but I thought I'd share both titles, so you won't miss it.
This is another one based on a true story, but the names and probably the locations were changed. And because it's true, I'll be going into more detail than usual. The film starts out with Stacey Lockwood played by Tori Spelling (groan! Sorry) knocking on the door of a house so that she can use the phone, because her friend "got a little weird". We see a lot of this from the perspective of an unknown person, then from the point of view of the man who was nice enough to drive Stacey home when she couldn't reach her parents by phone. After dropping her off and sitting in his car, he very vaguely sees the images of two people, including Stacey, then one person attacking the other, with said attacker fleeing the scene and jumping in a car. Not fully aware of what has happened, the man pursues the car of the attacker, but to no avail. Next, we see Stacey walking (somehow) to the home of a neighbor, where she tells them she's been stabbed, then collapses. After this, her parents come home to the flashing lights of ambulances and cop cars, then they are seen watching her die in surgery. Those last two scenes are, to be honest, very heart wrenching. You just can't imagine what it must be like for parents to come home to something like that. And knowing it is a true story makes it even worse.
So that was the opening, and since we know who dies within five minutes, it is not really a spoiler. The spoiler will be when I say who the killer is. And I kind of have to do that in order to truly speak on the fine acting performances. Plus, it's revealed pretty early on.
Okay, after that, we go back in time ten months to a living Stacey surrounded by her friends in a high school auditorium. And many rows back, we see Angela Delvecchio played by Kellie Martin sitting next to her friend Jill. It is in this scene where it's established that this high school is very, very dedicated teaching the kids to have a competitive edge in order "to be the best". No, seriously, the principal literally makes the student body shout out these four words. And who is the man telling them to do this? It is Principal Ed Saxe played by - wait for it! - Terry O'Quinn! That's right. Ten years before he was John Locke of Lost, he was a high school principal. Way to go, Terry. And he's not the only familiar face we see.
When we get a look at Angela's home life, we meet her sister, Terri, played by a pre-Drew Carey Show, Christa Miller, and their mother, played by the iconic Valerie Harper. Mrs. Delvecchio is clearly a very religious woman, constantly practicing her Catholic faith, and this does slightly play a part in the film.
The first half of this movie is centered around Angela's desperate attempt at popularity, which, especially in high school, can run a person's life. She wants to work on the school paper, be a cheerleader and join a "prestigious" club. She does succeed at that last one, but still remains an outcast even within the group. She feels as though all the work she has been doing has been for nothing, and becomes even more desperate for acceptance.
One night, Angela devises a plan to get Stacey to go to a party with her, in the hopes of winning her friendship and, in turn, the popularity she intensely craves. Things do not go as planned, though, as Stacey gets angry, calling Angela weird, and storming from the car. At this point, Angela begins to develop a massive fear that Stacey will convince everyone to turn against her and begins to follow the car in which she is riding. Now we see that Angela was the person watching in the shadows in the opening, and that she, in a fit of rage, is the one who stabbed Stacey. Afterward, she flees home, cleans the knife and breathes deeply in fear and realization of what she just did.
The second half of the film is full of the students and the town speculating about what happened and who may be the killer. Most of them believe it to be a girl named Monica who was clearly the greatest outcast in the school and the favorite target of Stacey and her friends. It also raises questions about the aforementioned obsession that both the school and town have with being the best. This entire time Angela is racked with guilt and terrified to tell anyone. She, like a lot of students, is questioned by the police, one of whom is played by James Avery (Hi, Uncle Phil!). They come to realize she is guilty but cannot prove it. In the end, Angela confesses, first to her mother in a letter, then to the police. And the scene where her mother finds and reads the letter is breathtaking. Kellie Martin is reading the contents of the letter in a voice over, while we see Valerie Harper silently reading it. Just the look in her eyes as she reads and the cry to her husband as she finishes is enough to break your heart.
Despite her confession, Angela is put on trial, since the prosecution wants her to be convicted of first degree murder, though the punishment is the same for second. The defense attorney shows that it was an crime of passion and not premeditated, therefore, Angela is sentenced to confinement until the age of 25. And that is where we end.
Let me make it clear that I speak on this story strictly from the perspective of what is shown in this movie. I know these "characters" are based on real people, so whatever I said about them, what they felt, how they behaved, their motivations, has nothing to do with those real life people. I don't know about who they truly were and are, so I cannot speak on that. Here, I am simply commenting on how they were portrayed in the film.
I know I gave away a lot about this movie here, but I think it's all right, since the reveal comes early, and you can probably guess the outcome. Still, it is definitely worth the watch. It's a movie that can certainly get your attention and keep it. You might find moments of melodrama, but the story is so well portrayed by Kellie, Valerie and a lot of the rest of the cast, it can be overlooked.
So be on the look out for either A Friend to Die For or Death of a Cheerleader, because, with either title, it is one to be watched.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I love Kellie Martin. I have loved her for over twenty years, ever since her days as Becca Thacher on Life Goes On, one of my favorite shows of all time. During her years on that show and all the years since, Kellie has more than proven herself as a great actress. Though she has shown up in a few feature films, it is most definitely her work on television that has garnered her the most success, through series and, of course, TV movies. Again, it was difficult to pick one, but there is something about this chosen one that makes it stand above all the rest. We'll get to that soon. So let's begin our discussion on A Friend to Die For . . . or Death of a Cheerleader. Yeah, here's the thing. When it aired originally, it was called A Friend to Die For, but, in later airings, up until the ones that air to this day, it is referred to as Death of a Cheerleader. Don't ask me why, but I thought I'd share both titles, so you won't miss it.
This is another one based on a true story, but the names and probably the locations were changed. And because it's true, I'll be going into more detail than usual. The film starts out with Stacey Lockwood played by Tori Spelling (groan! Sorry) knocking on the door of a house so that she can use the phone, because her friend "got a little weird". We see a lot of this from the perspective of an unknown person, then from the point of view of the man who was nice enough to drive Stacey home when she couldn't reach her parents by phone. After dropping her off and sitting in his car, he very vaguely sees the images of two people, including Stacey, then one person attacking the other, with said attacker fleeing the scene and jumping in a car. Not fully aware of what has happened, the man pursues the car of the attacker, but to no avail. Next, we see Stacey walking (somehow) to the home of a neighbor, where she tells them she's been stabbed, then collapses. After this, her parents come home to the flashing lights of ambulances and cop cars, then they are seen watching her die in surgery. Those last two scenes are, to be honest, very heart wrenching. You just can't imagine what it must be like for parents to come home to something like that. And knowing it is a true story makes it even worse.
So that was the opening, and since we know who dies within five minutes, it is not really a spoiler. The spoiler will be when I say who the killer is. And I kind of have to do that in order to truly speak on the fine acting performances. Plus, it's revealed pretty early on.
Okay, after that, we go back in time ten months to a living Stacey surrounded by her friends in a high school auditorium. And many rows back, we see Angela Delvecchio played by Kellie Martin sitting next to her friend Jill. It is in this scene where it's established that this high school is very, very dedicated teaching the kids to have a competitive edge in order "to be the best". No, seriously, the principal literally makes the student body shout out these four words. And who is the man telling them to do this? It is Principal Ed Saxe played by - wait for it! - Terry O'Quinn! That's right. Ten years before he was John Locke of Lost, he was a high school principal. Way to go, Terry. And he's not the only familiar face we see.
When we get a look at Angela's home life, we meet her sister, Terri, played by a pre-Drew Carey Show, Christa Miller, and their mother, played by the iconic Valerie Harper. Mrs. Delvecchio is clearly a very religious woman, constantly practicing her Catholic faith, and this does slightly play a part in the film.
The first half of this movie is centered around Angela's desperate attempt at popularity, which, especially in high school, can run a person's life. She wants to work on the school paper, be a cheerleader and join a "prestigious" club. She does succeed at that last one, but still remains an outcast even within the group. She feels as though all the work she has been doing has been for nothing, and becomes even more desperate for acceptance.
One night, Angela devises a plan to get Stacey to go to a party with her, in the hopes of winning her friendship and, in turn, the popularity she intensely craves. Things do not go as planned, though, as Stacey gets angry, calling Angela weird, and storming from the car. At this point, Angela begins to develop a massive fear that Stacey will convince everyone to turn against her and begins to follow the car in which she is riding. Now we see that Angela was the person watching in the shadows in the opening, and that she, in a fit of rage, is the one who stabbed Stacey. Afterward, she flees home, cleans the knife and breathes deeply in fear and realization of what she just did.
The second half of the film is full of the students and the town speculating about what happened and who may be the killer. Most of them believe it to be a girl named Monica who was clearly the greatest outcast in the school and the favorite target of Stacey and her friends. It also raises questions about the aforementioned obsession that both the school and town have with being the best. This entire time Angela is racked with guilt and terrified to tell anyone. She, like a lot of students, is questioned by the police, one of whom is played by James Avery (Hi, Uncle Phil!). They come to realize she is guilty but cannot prove it. In the end, Angela confesses, first to her mother in a letter, then to the police. And the scene where her mother finds and reads the letter is breathtaking. Kellie Martin is reading the contents of the letter in a voice over, while we see Valerie Harper silently reading it. Just the look in her eyes as she reads and the cry to her husband as she finishes is enough to break your heart.
Despite her confession, Angela is put on trial, since the prosecution wants her to be convicted of first degree murder, though the punishment is the same for second. The defense attorney shows that it was an crime of passion and not premeditated, therefore, Angela is sentenced to confinement until the age of 25. And that is where we end.
Let me make it clear that I speak on this story strictly from the perspective of what is shown in this movie. I know these "characters" are based on real people, so whatever I said about them, what they felt, how they behaved, their motivations, has nothing to do with those real life people. I don't know about who they truly were and are, so I cannot speak on that. Here, I am simply commenting on how they were portrayed in the film.
I know I gave away a lot about this movie here, but I think it's all right, since the reveal comes early, and you can probably guess the outcome. Still, it is definitely worth the watch. It's a movie that can certainly get your attention and keep it. You might find moments of melodrama, but the story is so well portrayed by Kellie, Valerie and a lot of the rest of the cast, it can be overlooked.
So be on the look out for either A Friend to Die For or Death of a Cheerleader, because, with either title, it is one to be watched.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, October 29, 2012
A Killer Among Friends - TV Movie Review
Greetings,
I love people who are legendary for a reason and for a good reason. One of those people would be Patty Duke. She is truly a treasure and that is because she is fantastic at what she does and always has done as an actress. And, as an actress, she has done more than her share of TV movies. If you ask me, she is one of the faces that adds legitimacy to the entire genre. So it seems only right to include a TV movie that features her. It was tough to pick one, because many of them are very good, but I decided on one based on a true story, A Killer Among Friends.
In this movie, Patty Duke plays Jean Monroe, mother of three, with one grown son, one teenage son, and in the middle, a teenage daughter named Jenny. Jenny is played by Tiffani (Amber, at the time) Thiessen, proving early on in this small but pivotal role, that there has always been more to her as an actress than Kelly Kapowski. Remember the awesomely wicked Valerie Malone. Moving on. Jean is very close with her daughter, as well as all of Jenny's friends. She's kind of the cool, understanding mom that all the kids go to when their having trouble with their own mothers. Sadly, this idyllic life is shattered when Jenny is murdered, her body discovered in a quite a gruesome manner for TV at the time, I think.
The film follows Jean's desperate search for her daughter's killer with the help of Detective Patricia Staley played by Loretta Swit of M.A.S.H. fame and Jenny's best friend and single mom, Ellen Holloway played by Margaret Welsh. I love Patty's performance in this, because she perfectly shows the intensity that any mother would have in this situation without acting over the top like other actresses might. As time goes on in the story, we are pretty much drawn in to this amateur investigation of hers and Ellen's, giving us false leads and red herrings, enough that we are pretty stunned at the reveal of the true killer. Am I going to tell you who that is? Well, no. First, because they still show this movie on TV occasionally and, second, it's done so well, I don't want to ruin it for anyone. For that reason, I can't really give a ton of details about what happens in the plot either. There isn't exactly an out of the blue, killer reveal. All the pieces begin to appear and come together, almost forming a bridge to get us to the ending. And I love that.
While I can admit that at the reveal of the killer, you might say "I knew it!", but really that's not something you'll say in the beginning and then just wait for confirmation. The film does a great job of building the tension, where you have your suspicions, but then those perfectly placed red herrings throw you off enough that you get off track. That succeeds in letting the ending be kind of shocking. So this is basically just a very, well crafted, murder mystery. Even though it's true.
Every time this movie comes on, I definitely stop and watch. Though I've seen it several times and know the ending, I just can't pass up on the fantastic performances of the cast. Much like Patty Duke as an actress, this is certainly a TV movie that bumps up the genre in the area of credibility. So if you're ever channel surfing and come across this film, you should definitely stop and watch.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I love people who are legendary for a reason and for a good reason. One of those people would be Patty Duke. She is truly a treasure and that is because she is fantastic at what she does and always has done as an actress. And, as an actress, she has done more than her share of TV movies. If you ask me, she is one of the faces that adds legitimacy to the entire genre. So it seems only right to include a TV movie that features her. It was tough to pick one, because many of them are very good, but I decided on one based on a true story, A Killer Among Friends.
In this movie, Patty Duke plays Jean Monroe, mother of three, with one grown son, one teenage son, and in the middle, a teenage daughter named Jenny. Jenny is played by Tiffani (Amber, at the time) Thiessen, proving early on in this small but pivotal role, that there has always been more to her as an actress than Kelly Kapowski. Remember the awesomely wicked Valerie Malone. Moving on. Jean is very close with her daughter, as well as all of Jenny's friends. She's kind of the cool, understanding mom that all the kids go to when their having trouble with their own mothers. Sadly, this idyllic life is shattered when Jenny is murdered, her body discovered in a quite a gruesome manner for TV at the time, I think.
The film follows Jean's desperate search for her daughter's killer with the help of Detective Patricia Staley played by Loretta Swit of M.A.S.H. fame and Jenny's best friend and single mom, Ellen Holloway played by Margaret Welsh. I love Patty's performance in this, because she perfectly shows the intensity that any mother would have in this situation without acting over the top like other actresses might. As time goes on in the story, we are pretty much drawn in to this amateur investigation of hers and Ellen's, giving us false leads and red herrings, enough that we are pretty stunned at the reveal of the true killer. Am I going to tell you who that is? Well, no. First, because they still show this movie on TV occasionally and, second, it's done so well, I don't want to ruin it for anyone. For that reason, I can't really give a ton of details about what happens in the plot either. There isn't exactly an out of the blue, killer reveal. All the pieces begin to appear and come together, almost forming a bridge to get us to the ending. And I love that.
While I can admit that at the reveal of the killer, you might say "I knew it!", but really that's not something you'll say in the beginning and then just wait for confirmation. The film does a great job of building the tension, where you have your suspicions, but then those perfectly placed red herrings throw you off enough that you get off track. That succeeds in letting the ending be kind of shocking. So this is basically just a very, well crafted, murder mystery. Even though it's true.
Every time this movie comes on, I definitely stop and watch. Though I've seen it several times and know the ending, I just can't pass up on the fantastic performances of the cast. Much like Patty Duke as an actress, this is certainly a TV movie that bumps up the genre in the area of credibility. So if you're ever channel surfing and come across this film, you should definitely stop and watch.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Sunday, October 28, 2012
The Ron Clark Story - TV Movie Review
Greetings,
You know the cliche story of a teacher who goes to work at some school in a "bad" area and tries to teach a bunch of "bad" kids and ends up changing their lives forever? Of course you do. We have had about a thousand movies with that as the main story. At first thought, it may be considered overdone. However, the fact that some of them are based on real people makes me not be so critical. You do have to admire someone who takes on such challenges without even knowing that they might become famous for it. Well, today, you're going to hear about one of those people as I review The Ron Clark Story.
This TV movie stars Matthew Perry in the title role. And let me just say that I am so pleased they cast him in this. It lets us go back to his pre-Friends days, when I called him a great dramatic actor. That happened after I saw him on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 playing a guy who wasn't exactly the biggest fan of his own father. He was fantastic in that part. I was actually surprised when he showed up on Friends in a highly comedic role. He was great there, too, but I fear it led people to forget how good he was at drama. That's a main reason why I like this movie, with it coming out about two years after our goodbyes to Chandler Bing, because it reminded us, or showed some of us for the first time, just how talented Matthew Perry is at things other than comedy. Okay, enough kissing up. Let's get to the story.
This movie is about a teacher named Ron Clark who starts off working in a nice, safe school in North Carolina, but then decides to head off to the big, bad city of New York to teach at an inner city school. When he gets there, he specifically asks for the class full of "troubled" students. Needless to say, they do not exactly like this new teacher. Clearly, they just don't know how to react to someone who genuinely thinks they are intelligent and have potential. So they just do what you'd expect and misbehave.
Though it is a big challenge, Mr. Clark does all he can to try and win them over, using some very creative ideas, including a rap he writes about the presidents. Yeah, that's right. We get to see and hear Matthew Perry rap. Your reaction to this could probably go either way. Initially, I may have released a small eye roll, but then I thought, "Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do". After A LOT of resistance, the kids finally warm up to him, and eventually grow to really love him.
Once the kids start paying attention, we get to the core plot of the film, where he is trying to get them ready for state exams, whatever those are. During this time (but not necessarily in this order), he starts helping the kids outside of school, gets seriously ill, takes them to see The Phantom of the Opera, and even gets himself a forced love interest that doesn't exactly become one full on. I have a feeling this chick may have been added for dramatic effect, to show that he was a real person, not just a teacher. Hey, whatever. And of course, in the end, the kids do great on the test and we have a happy ending, where we get that typical text on the screen telling us more about the real life Ron Clark.
Okay, I can admit that, as much as I like this movie, it does have its flaws, naturally. It is, of course, predictable in the long run. I mean, was anyone really shocked that we got a happy ending? Oh, and they also throw in that obligatory well- behaved, likes to study, good kid in amongst all the "delinquents". Seriously, why in all heck is this kid in this class? It makes no sense. But, while I am discussing one of the kid characters, let me say something about the kid actors.
I am not exactly a huge fan of kids, particularly kids in the entertainment industry, but I kind of like these ones. They were all pretty decent. I know it's more difficult to play a kid when you are not one (speaking of 90210), but they were still good. Two of them did stand out, though. The first is Hannah Hodson, who plays Shameika. You could call her the main, I guess, antagonist, though I'm hesitant to call a kid that believe it or not. Still, she was the one who gave Mr. Clark the most trouble and was kind of the unofficial leader of the kids as they waged their little war against their new teacher. But then she ended up becoming very close to Mr. Clark. So this young young actress really showed a lot of range, and she did it well. Another stand out was Brandon Mychal Smith who plays Tayshawn. This character is very emotionally driven, particularly in some of his final scenes. He is a very talented artist who also comes from an abusive home, and, in the end, this kid really holds his own having to portray someone with this life.
But as good as the kids were, Matthew Perry was who truly carried this movie. He was funny and heartfelt and real. Basically, he was perfect in this role, and this story was one that needed to be shared. I certainly feel for really good teachers, especially these days, and it is good that the truly committed ones who try very hard to help their students fulfill their potential are more than just noticed.
Now I'm sure some people would call this movie a little sappy, but I do like it. I like to see people who do admirable things like this get some recognition for it beyond their weekly paycheck. I would certainly recommend this to anyone who is a teacher or just really appreciates them. Or anyone who wants to see Matthew Perry in something even better than Friends.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
You know the cliche story of a teacher who goes to work at some school in a "bad" area and tries to teach a bunch of "bad" kids and ends up changing their lives forever? Of course you do. We have had about a thousand movies with that as the main story. At first thought, it may be considered overdone. However, the fact that some of them are based on real people makes me not be so critical. You do have to admire someone who takes on such challenges without even knowing that they might become famous for it. Well, today, you're going to hear about one of those people as I review The Ron Clark Story.
This TV movie stars Matthew Perry in the title role. And let me just say that I am so pleased they cast him in this. It lets us go back to his pre-Friends days, when I called him a great dramatic actor. That happened after I saw him on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 playing a guy who wasn't exactly the biggest fan of his own father. He was fantastic in that part. I was actually surprised when he showed up on Friends in a highly comedic role. He was great there, too, but I fear it led people to forget how good he was at drama. That's a main reason why I like this movie, with it coming out about two years after our goodbyes to Chandler Bing, because it reminded us, or showed some of us for the first time, just how talented Matthew Perry is at things other than comedy. Okay, enough kissing up. Let's get to the story.
This movie is about a teacher named Ron Clark who starts off working in a nice, safe school in North Carolina, but then decides to head off to the big, bad city of New York to teach at an inner city school. When he gets there, he specifically asks for the class full of "troubled" students. Needless to say, they do not exactly like this new teacher. Clearly, they just don't know how to react to someone who genuinely thinks they are intelligent and have potential. So they just do what you'd expect and misbehave.
Though it is a big challenge, Mr. Clark does all he can to try and win them over, using some very creative ideas, including a rap he writes about the presidents. Yeah, that's right. We get to see and hear Matthew Perry rap. Your reaction to this could probably go either way. Initially, I may have released a small eye roll, but then I thought, "Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do". After A LOT of resistance, the kids finally warm up to him, and eventually grow to really love him.
Once the kids start paying attention, we get to the core plot of the film, where he is trying to get them ready for state exams, whatever those are. During this time (but not necessarily in this order), he starts helping the kids outside of school, gets seriously ill, takes them to see The Phantom of the Opera, and even gets himself a forced love interest that doesn't exactly become one full on. I have a feeling this chick may have been added for dramatic effect, to show that he was a real person, not just a teacher. Hey, whatever. And of course, in the end, the kids do great on the test and we have a happy ending, where we get that typical text on the screen telling us more about the real life Ron Clark.
Okay, I can admit that, as much as I like this movie, it does have its flaws, naturally. It is, of course, predictable in the long run. I mean, was anyone really shocked that we got a happy ending? Oh, and they also throw in that obligatory well- behaved, likes to study, good kid in amongst all the "delinquents". Seriously, why in all heck is this kid in this class? It makes no sense. But, while I am discussing one of the kid characters, let me say something about the kid actors.
I am not exactly a huge fan of kids, particularly kids in the entertainment industry, but I kind of like these ones. They were all pretty decent. I know it's more difficult to play a kid when you are not one (speaking of 90210), but they were still good. Two of them did stand out, though. The first is Hannah Hodson, who plays Shameika. You could call her the main, I guess, antagonist, though I'm hesitant to call a kid that believe it or not. Still, she was the one who gave Mr. Clark the most trouble and was kind of the unofficial leader of the kids as they waged their little war against their new teacher. But then she ended up becoming very close to Mr. Clark. So this young young actress really showed a lot of range, and she did it well. Another stand out was Brandon Mychal Smith who plays Tayshawn. This character is very emotionally driven, particularly in some of his final scenes. He is a very talented artist who also comes from an abusive home, and, in the end, this kid really holds his own having to portray someone with this life.
But as good as the kids were, Matthew Perry was who truly carried this movie. He was funny and heartfelt and real. Basically, he was perfect in this role, and this story was one that needed to be shared. I certainly feel for really good teachers, especially these days, and it is good that the truly committed ones who try very hard to help their students fulfill their potential are more than just noticed.
Now I'm sure some people would call this movie a little sappy, but I do like it. I like to see people who do admirable things like this get some recognition for it beyond their weekly paycheck. I would certainly recommend this to anyone who is a teacher or just really appreciates them. Or anyone who wants to see Matthew Perry in something even better than Friends.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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