Halloweentown

The plot: On Halloween, The Piper family is visited by their whimsically odd grandmother Aggie (Debbie Reynolds!). The eldest, Marnie, overhears a conversation between her mother and grandmother in which she discovers:

-Grandma Aggie is a witch, as is Marnie. Her mother is also a witch, but has chosen to live in the mortal world and raise her children as normal humans. 

-Something mysterious and sinister is happening in Halloweentown, an alternate universe where a community of friendly fantasy creatures live free from human's discrimination. Aggie asks for the mom's help, but she declines.

Grandma returns to Halloweentown, with Marnie and her younger brother Dylan secretly following her onto the return bus. Sophie, the youngest sibling, follows Marnie and Dylan. With the help of  the super-friendly and not at all ominous Mayor, they make their way to Grandma's house.

Before Aggie can begin to teach Marnie about witchcraft, as well as have the children assist in defeating the evil power, mom shows up and attempts to bring the children home. While attempting to leave Halloweentown, Aggie and their mother wind up battling the evil power, and are put out of commission. Now it is up to the Piper kids to rescue their family and save Halloweentown.

My thoughts: I don't remember that many Disney Channel Original Movies, but I remember this one. Halloween for me, and most kids, was one of the best nights of the year. To have a movie that takes place in a town where monsters are real (but friendly), and it's Halloween all the time? Genius. And although The Nightmare Before Christmas did this first (to great effect), these are two very different movies in my mind. Anyways...

The script itself is mediocre, but the story is interesting. The pace is pretty good. The sight gags are fun, as well as anytime the movie explores the world of Halloweentown.

this sight gag and the Lon Chaney reference both made me very happy.

Probably my biggest complaint is the special effects. This is the first Disney Channel movie to use CGI, given the fantasy nature of the film, and it's real iffy sometimes. There are some practical effects being used (Yay!), and even when the practical effects aren't great they are still better than the CGI. I can't be too harsh because I'm sure they had a small budget. And most of it was probably used getting Debbie Reynolds.

Speaking of the actors, everyone seems to be having a good time. Again, all of the characters are likable. The brother was a stick-in-the-mud, but I ended up liking him by the end. The mom and the Mayor (Judith Hoag and Robin Thomas, respectively) are clearly having fun, as well as committing to their roles. I've always found that if you want to sell your world of high fantasy or science-fiction to an audience, you best get some decent and committed actors to assist with the audience's willing suspension of disbelief. And these two do well in that respect.

Debbie Reynolds is obviously having a blast, and is the highlight of the film. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Debbie Reynolds, she is most known for playing Kathy in Singin' in the Rain. And if you have not seen Singin' in the Rain, what are you doing still reading this blog? Go. Watch Singin' in the Rain. I'll wait.

the best.

Halloweentown is definitely a good setup for some sequels to happen. And guess what? There are sequels! But I will get to those when I get to those.

This was a long one. Sorry.

Next: The Future!