by Jennifer Contreras
Editorial Director
Disney’s newest film, “Max Keeble’s Big Move,” which opens today, takes viewers through the world of seventh-grader Max Keeble (Alex D. Linz). Though it has some good performances, the film, directed by Tim Hill, has little appeal for anyone above the seventh grade.
The movie follows Max through his first week of junior high, a week that places Max in a number of predicaments.
First, his father, Don Keeble (Robert Carradine), announces to his family that they will be moving to Chicago by the end of the week. But before then, Max encounters two school bullies, Troy McGinty (Noel Fisher) and Dobbs (Orlando Brown), a corrupt principal (Larry Miller), and a psychotic ice cream truck driver (Jamie Kennedy).
Max is accompanied by two heartwarming characters, Megan (Zena Grey), who is secretly enamored with Max, and Robe (Josh Peck) an awkward kid who wears a bathrobe to school everyday.
The three of them have been through elementary school with each other and are now braving the world of junior high together. They help Max scheme and plot to teach his enemies a lesson while helping him get through the week.
At the end of the week, justice is served and Max’s father decides to quit his job, thus calling off the big move.
The movie is filled with in-your-face visuals. For example, with the introduction of each character, we see their face on a newspaper with headlines representing facets of their personalities. Other rambunctious scenes include a cafeteria food fight and an elaborate chase scene between Max and Evil Ice Cream Man in his truck.
The screenplay, written by Jonathan Bernstein, Mark Blackwell and James Grier, is clearly written for pre-teens and filled with jokes and witty junior high lingo that create the perfect atmosphere for a target audience of children ages 13 and under.
Linz, 12, who made his film debut in the film “One Fine Day,”is returning to Disney after voicing the role of young Tarzan in Disney’s “Tarzan” in 1999. In this movie, his acting reveals what a seventh-grader, at least this seventh-grader, really is: a smart-mouthed, clever and mischievous kid who fantasizes about the girl down the street, or in his case, the girl on his paper route, Jenna (Brooke Anne Smith).
Even with his strong performance, the movie creates unrealistic situations that make it harder for older audiences to relate to. For instance,the movie features a 13 year-old stock investor (Dobbs) who steals money from his peers and gets away with it and a monkey running loose in the cafeteria.
The film clearly tries to appeal to a pre-teen crowd, right down to its choice of music, including bands such as New Found Glory and American Hi-Fi.
However, the child-like feel the film radiates contradicts the vibe the music sets, which is that of an older crowd.
If ULV students have little brothers and sisters who want to see this movie, take them. They will enjoy it and the smile on their face will be worth it.
If not, don’t waste money. The movie is predictable and unappealing to the average college student. “Max Keeble’s Big Move” is a kiddie movie, so leave the “big move” for the small guys.
