JAM Movie Reviews: Mae Whitman

Friday, September 24, 2010

JAM Reviews Tinker Bell & The Great Fairy Rescue from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

Tinker Bell & the Great Fairy Rescue: Blu-Ray/DVD Combo: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Review by JAM

“Well Tink, you found something to fix after all”
Terrance to Tinker Bell

Curiosity killed the cat, and it can get a fairy in trouble too. Tinker Bell is allowed to head to the mainland with her usual cast of friends and finds another mystery to investigate, a human residence. Vidia was along for the crazy ride as Tinker Bell got captured by a true believer in the fairy way, a little girl named Lizzy.

Vidia leads a rescue party of sopping wet non-flying fairies to come get her, even as Tinker Bell makes friends with Lizzy and helps around the house while she has the chance. But an unbelieving father threatens the fairies and their special world leading to a finale in which you just need to believe.

Here’s to a little faith, trust, and pixie dust to bring the magic back into your life! Mae Whitman (Parenthood), Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies and Broadway superstar of Wicked), Lucy Liu (Charlie’s Angels), Raven-Symoné (That’s So Raven), Jesse McCartney (Greek and popstar fame), and newcomers Michael Sheen (Twilight: New Moon) and in her first role Lauren Mote as Tinker Bell’s human friend Lizzy all star in Disney’s newest rescue adventure, Tinker Bell & The Great Fairy Rescue!

JAMS Ink on Tinker Bell & The Great Fairy Rescue

It is really fun for the kids, and me, to see each of the fairies have their chance to shine with the individual talents. Rosetta and her garden fairy aversion to mud, Silvermist and her magical boat ride, Iridessa and her brilliant blast of light, Fawn and a catnip lure, Vidia and her hijinks and speed makes this a fairy version of the A-team. Watching them really work out of the environment having been soaked by a storm and unable to fly makes this a lot of fun.

HollywoodTeen’Zine’s Natalia has always had a soft spot in her heart for Vidia, the typical “villain” of the previous movies. Seeing Vidia as part of the team, apologetic and actually missing her nemesis is actually a lot of fun. Even sacrificing herself to save Tinker Bell from a father’s trap means that Natalia’s hero finally acted like one. Probably why Vidia’s dolls are in the new sets, and probably why someone is going to have to buy them for the little HollywoodTeen’Zine reporter.

Lizzy is an interesting addition to the movie, along with her father of course. Seeing the human interaction with the fairy world brings you back to your childhood and those days of hopes and dreams. Maybe it’s time to help your kids fill out their own manual for whatever their hearts desire and maybe then you can recapture your childhood as well.

This reviewer can admit he is a sap when it comes to Disney movies. They just know how to hit the final note that can bring the start of a tear to your eye. Seeing a father believe in his daughter and realize there is nothing more important started hitting me. Hey, you cannot say I am not honest with my reviews.

EXTRAS

Deleted Scenes - The director Brad Raymond and producer Helen Kalafatic join us in order to introduce the Deleted Scenes included on the disc, giving the reasons for their removal from the film. Some of the scenes actually add to the movie, yet have legit reasons for their removal such as the intro scene which shows why Lizzy’s father cannot believe in fairy tales from the beginning. It is truly a touching intro that could not be used, but I think was important to include like they did. There is also a scene showing Lizzy’s loneliness even while her dad is nearby, even showing the little girl acting the part of the caring mother almost. Also included are a tea party in process, and a cat and mouse caper involving Tink and Lizzy’s cat looking for a bite to eat.

Fairy Field Guide – a trivia game in four chapters that help you fill in your own field guide with fairy facts. The game is a lot of fun to play, and actually has a payoff for playing. Take a look and see what you think and learn more about your fairy friends.

Bridget Mendler Music Video for “How To Believe”

Design a Fairy House – a cool look at the design of a imaginative fairy house from the perspective of kids and a look at the winner’s design made by their Disney friends.

Tangled Sneak Peek – Disney’s next animated offering coming to theatres in November. This gives a look at design, the actors, and gives a taste of what to expect. Trust me, we’ll be there early in the run to see what Tangled has in store for us.

Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue from Walt Disney Home Entertainment flies onto store shelves on September 21, 2010 so see if you can catch a fast flying copy before they are gone back to Pixie Hollow.

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

JAM Reviews Acceptance from Vivendi Home Entertainment

Acceptance: Vivendi Home Entertainment
Review by JAM

Most teen dramas focus on romantic relationships or adolescent changes, with a small side of not fitting into a high school world. In Acceptance from Vivendi Home Entertainment, the emphasis is laid on the finding of a college that is right for a person rather than the typical teen dramas from years gone by. For those of us who have done the search or are in the middle of searching for our future college, we know the drama that can be involved. Now imagine it Hollywood style!

Taylor Rockefeller (Mae Whitman from Parenthood, or the voice of Tinkerbell for us animation buffs) is a high school former overachiever searching for the next step in life, which for her is going to a college she likes whichever one that may be. On the road to her acceptance, she seems to be searching for acceptance of any kind, even justifying stealing other people’s mail as a way to be accepted into their families. Her mother Nina (Joan Cusack) is looking to push her into a big name school where she learn everything possible, meet a successful husband, and become the success all mothers want for their kids. Only problem is that Nona has blinders on when it comes to success, wanting only a top school for her daughter where she can get an education and find a successful husband, especially since Taylor’s father is a bit of a deadbeat dad. The parental relationship obviously affects Taylor in a myriad of ways, causing more pressure and stress as failures and screw-ups compound.

Throw in a messed up former best friend Maya (Deepti Daryanani) and a messed up former boyfriend AP Harry (Jonathan Keltz) to go with messed up parents, mix them all together and out comes a fun little high school/college drama in which things may end up differently than we expected but might still work out for the best.

JAMS Ink on Acceptance

Acceptance is quite the quirky little drama starring a quirky mix of actors and actresses starting with the marvelous Mae Whitman. She has now become Tinkerbell to me, as whenever I see her I think of that little pixie. Having little girls around this reviewer means Tinkerbell will always be an important part of our lives, so I hope Mae knows it is a compliment to be seen as a little pixie dust toting fairy.

Kiersten Warren also plays a huge role in the movie, best known to this reviewer from Saved By The Bell: The College Years. In watching the movie in which she plays the mother of a graduating senior, I was flabbergasted to see her cast to play that age. Of course, then after consulting IMDB I found she was quite a bit older than me, though I must say she still looks like that cute sassy college student she portrayed alongside Zach Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar).

Joan Cusack is amazing even as a train-wreck of a mother. So many movies, often with her brother John, and she is the type of actress that can control a scene without being the main star and this movie is no different. Her facial expressions have always been top-notch especially as the majority of her characters are just a bit off.

Funny little coincidence… Rob Mayes who plays Justin Smelling, the perfect SAT kid in Acceptance was in what movie that JAM has reviewed this last year??? If you guessed Ice Castles from back in February 2010, you have studied my reviews way too much. LOL

EXTRAS

None

Acceptance from Vivendi Home Entertainment is sent onto shelves on July 27, 2010.

ACCEPTANCE
Street Date: July 27, 2010
U.S. Rating: NR
Total Run Time: 88 minutes

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.