Michael's Movie Grade: C
This is the first Disney + original movie to completely feel like it belongs on the Disney channel. This film completely feels like a made for TV movie. Like many made for TV movies this film has no pretentions about being anything great, it simply tries to be an entertaining way to pass some time. It successeds pretty well at this.
The story here is full of clichés that we have seen a million times in an environment that doesn't feel new at all. If you can't see what is going to happen at least 99% of time, you haven't seen many movies before. Yet it kind of works because of sheer likability. Our main character (Nathaniel Logan McIntyre) (Adam Devine may be the first one credited, but this is one of the too often instances of the adult star being credited over the child star, who is actually the main character), is the true heart of the movie and brings some real emotion to the movie. He is instantly likable and while his character arc is nothing new it works surprisingly well, keeping our interest in even the film's weaker moments. In fact the kids steal the movie from the bigger name adult stars. The funniest moments don't come from Adam Devine's mugging but rather from Ruth's (Isabella Crovetti) obsession with bunnies. To be honest the moments focusing on the adults don't quite work. Adam Devine is given little actually funny to do and despite the fact that he is giving it his best, he can't save how unfunny his character is. His mean spirited feud with a more successful magician (Gillian Jacobs) that he used to be partners with, honestly makes him a bit too unlikable at times. Yet the pure charm of the kid characters and the unpretentiousness of the movie, make this work.
This will never be a Disney classic but for an enjoyable way to pass some time, it is a good choice.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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