LEMONADE MOUTH DVD (2011)

SYNOPSIS: Be heard. Be strong. Be proud. It's time to turn up the music and have some fun with an all-new Disney original movie, starring Bridgit Mendler, and Adam Hicks, and introducing ten awesome new songs. When five ragtag freshman first meet in detention, it seems they have nothing in common. But, through music, they form an unbreakable bond and discover they have the makings of the greatest high school garage band in history! In the face of incredible odds, Olivia, Stella, Wen, Mohini and Charlie find they can make a real difference when they learn to lean on each other and let go of everything holding back their dreams.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Blame it on High School Musical if you must. The slew of Disney Channel Original Movies (television movies premiering on Disney Channel) showcasing a group of happy teens playing music became the rage after the 2006 production starring heartthrobs Zac Efron (the good looking lad has gone far in his Hollywood career ever since) and Vanessa Hudgens (well, she has Sucker Punch and err, Beastly under her belt). Since then, the House of Mouse has produced other similarly themed movies like 2007’s Jump In!, 2008’s Camp Rock (a sequel followed two years later) and the series of movies featuring The Cheetah Girls (the trio of singing girls have been around even before Troy and Gabriella). The latest musical drama movie is this feel good production based on the book of the same name by Mark Peter Hughes.

The Patricia Riggen directed movie tells the story of five high school students (the best characters to target Disney Channel’s demographic) who meet in detention and form a band to stand up for their beliefs. They also bond over individual and collective struggles in their journey of growing up. Oh, did we mention that one cause they fight for is the retention lemonade machines in their school. And did you know that the band’s name is inspired from a lemonade spitting incident?

Lemonade Mouth – a rather, err, awkward name for a band? We thought so too.

But trust the folks at Disney to make this a likable movie, thanks to its successful formula of infusing positive themes in its story. Here, parents will be pleased to know that their kids will learn the values of honest, integrity and self expression from the 107 minute movie. With the importance of family and friendship thrown into the mix, you can bet this will go down well with educators as well.

The music soundtrack grows on you too, if you are a fan of wholesome music (you know you are one if you own all three High School Musical soundtracks). Tap your feet to the catchy melodies and rhythms of tunes like “Turn Up the Music”, “Somebody” and “Determinate”. Next, memorise the inspirational lyrics and work them into your autograph messages. These, our young readers, are what teenage years are all about.

Production values of this movie aren’t too shoddy either. Expect show stopping (by TV movie standards, at least) sequences where cast members Bridgit Mendler, Adam Hicks, Hayley Kiyoko, Naomi Scott, Blake Michael and Nick Roux belt out their songs. When the movie ends with a finale taking place in a performance in Madison Square Garden, you’d be cheering the young ones along and wishing that your younger days were as illustrious as these photogenic kids.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

This Code 3 DVD plays the movie in a Rock-Along version where you can sing along with the stars. An Exclusive Scene features the band in a talk show sequence where they eventually perform a tune entitled “High Wire”. This five minute sequence is probably a reason for the producers to record one more song for the soundtrack album. Sneak Peeks of Disney movies and a clip showcasing Disney’s Blu-Ray 3D features are also included on the disc.

AUDIO/VISUAL:

There is nothing to complain about the visual transfer of the movie. You can choose to watch it in English, Spanish or Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound.

MOVIE RATING:



DVD RATING :

Review by John Li

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