Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off

I say this is a most exceptional movie showing how hard it is to do something you love to do when your parents don't approve. Most teens will face situations where their parents don't approve of their dreams but they need to support them anyway since it's their life not the parents. Also the movie represents how just because you're a guy it doesn't mean you can't enjoy things normally girls would stereotypically do like cook. Or if you're a girl it does not mean you can't play sports either a.k.a Hannah and her mother. The movie is all about not letting anyone or anything stopping you from doing something you love. Whether it's the ridicule or being shunned. Although most importantly people learn that you will not agree with what your friends do (that's positive not NEGATIVE!) or your family but if they like it you support it if you love them. The actors...for the most part really capture the emotion of embarrassment and shame, but also still keep it in a comedic tone. Music matched the movie, a family feel like tone just like all usual Disney work.

First things first, I am so NOT one for Disney Channel Original Movies, I find them extremely annoying and most of them feature fantasy creatures or non-realstic scenarios. BUT, on Friday July 18th I sat and watched Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off and I loved it, that's right, I loved an original movie and I'm not afraid to admit it! I mean Taylor Ball is a great actor (not to mention good looking), that sounds so cliche, but have you seen the other movies, I know you don't think those kids are good actors, but Taylor is totally believable and does his job with ease. Orlando Brown, ok he annoys me but I'm warming up to him, I mean he wasn't always being silly like the line "Yeah well I don't think you making Eddie chose between having friends and cooking is helping either D.B." that was really well acted and I think he could have a future in other things, not just disney channel shows and movies. Reiley McClendon, I love Reiley, this kid is so adorable, and he's really funny too. And Rose McIver (Hannah) I had no idea she was a Kiwi, you couldn't even tell she's terrific at an American accent, she's definately going to go far. OK, only three things bugged me about this movie 1. NO ONE, would make fun of a boy for cooking! The boys are better at Home Ec. then us and they like it too, no one makes fun of them. 2. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FOOD FIGHT!!!! I have never been in or seen a real food fight, they are nonexistant, you would be in SO much trouble, no one I repeat no one! really has school food fights! 3. The girl who plays Bridgette SUCKS at an American accent, alright she can not do it, I don't know why they hired her, she wasn't fooling me for a second. My favorite scene is when Eddie goes over to talk to Bridgette and D.B. comes over and is like "What are you doing." and Bridgette goes "We're talking about the cook-off." and Eddie goes "No we're not." and Bridgette's all "Yes we are." and Eddie says "She's crazy." then D.B. says "Is something going on between you two." and Eddie's all "With me and Bridgette? Get real!" I LOVE that part it's so hilarious, and later on when Eddie goes "They're carrots, whatever you do to them they're going to taste like carrots." and the another funny thing is at the end when Eddie goes "I GOT LEMON!!" it's so lame, like out of context, it's freakin hilarious. So if you, like me, lost faith in the Disney Channel a long time ago, be not afraid, watch this movie, it's fun, not too silly, and has an actual message sorta. And if all else fails, it will make you laugh.

Honestly, I never cared for the movies produced by the modern Disney channel (I think they're calling it Zoog? Whatever that means.). In fact, I haven't really liked most of the more recent theatrical films from the Disney company. They seem to have gone way downhill since Walt died, though there have been signs that they are returning to form lately. Movies like Sky High, Pirates, and even The Game Plan was a minor improvement over the countless number of sub-par attempts they have been making since the late 80's. And now we have this. Yet another family sports comedy featuring a kid as the lead, just another sandlot wannabe. Or is it? Yes, the plot is cliché and tired, and yes, the film itself is endlessly predictable--especially how it ends. But somehow it manages to pull itself away from what seemed like inevitable mediocrity. The film itself had a sort of charm to it that really added to the viewer's enjoyment of what would be an otherwise pointless mess of cliché. That and Taylor Ball, best known for playing the part of Brian on the sitcom Still Standing. He times his lines just well enough that he actually makes some rather silly lines of dialog work. He manages to make a character out of one of the most tired cliché vehicles in the book. and for that, I praise him. Taylor Ball saved this movie from being a total failure. It is a wonder why he doesn't get more work. -Ryan out.