The Slumber Party

Anna Maria is having a sleepover birthday party with her two best friends, Paige and Megan. Her parents are forcing her to invite her impending stepsister Veronica. They have hired Mesmer, the hypnotist. The girls wake up with a lot of questions, a missing Anna Maria, and no memories of the previous night.

Disney is remaking The Hangover for 14-year-olds. The missing one is late for a wedding. Instead of a tiger, they have baby ducks. The only missing item is a baby and that's not happening. This does come with an initial problem. They have to write around the drug and drunk amnesia. The hypnotist solution is not rock solid, but it may be the best idea considering the circumstances. This cannot deal with any adult situations. It is a kiddie movie. I don't recognize any of the kids. They're fine for a Disney TV movie. It's fine family-friendly entertainment.

There are so many aspects that are wrong about this movie. It reminds me of a long short film written by a student filmmaker and it looks like one too.

First, is the out of place product placement at the beginning of the movie for Ouija Occult Spirit Boards. It's clearly product placement, and I can only ask why, why push it on junior high and high school kids.

Second, is the need to try to target every racial and gender demographic possible.

Third, a very confusing mod podge of era's that looks like it's occurring in the 1970's or 80's from vehicles to decor, only to also have modern cell phones.

Fourth, it looks super low budget, like a student film. Student filmmakers generally have only a few thousand dollars to work with or less, so they utilize friends and families homes and local locations, without a budget for an art department to set the look. I've seen multiple student shorts during film school that look higher budget than this movie.

Fifth, poor acting from beginning to end.

Sixth, poor screenplay and story. Apparently this movie is a book adaptation. I never read the book, but I hope it was better than the adaption to film, because it was just a poor story.

Seventh, the worse cinematography I've seen in anything released under the Disney license since some of the 1970's Disney movies, when framing shots and scene choices were still in there infancy.

Unfortunately, it's just not that good of a movie. Not very funny, lots of predictability, some of the scenes presented a stereotypical systematic racial overtone about black students that was completely unnecessary.

I am giving it two stars, only because its not the absolutely worst movie I've ever seen, but it's down at the bottom.

The mouse must of been out of town when Disney produced The Slumber Party.

This movie is based on a middle school book called The Sleepover by Jen Malone, but it is a Disney family friendly remake of the movie The Hangover (2009). The new Disney+ original movie The Slumber Party (2023) was ok, but it could have done better in making this concept work, especially when they could have gone a bit weirder or crazier when it comes to this.

The acting in the movie was fine but annoying from time to time when it comes to the many, many random things that happen in the movie. Some of the girls have personal problems involving their parents marrying someone else, having a stepsister, or having a crush on someone that I did not care that much about. The main character Megan has a crush on a boy she knows, and I did not think it was built up that much to make it believable when they get together in the end.

The weird things that happened were too random, and made no sense, especially since we do not see what they did until we see little clips in the credits on what happened that night. The hypnotist that hypnotizes them was not in the movie that much, other than slight appearances at locations wherever the characters go. The comedy in the movie was not that funny, and there were random things that had no part in the plot that did not work and were not that funny when they were trying to make it funny.

I am sure kids might like this movie, but it was not for me; if you want to watch something with this premise, I suggest watching the movie The Hangover (2009) to get more out of this premise. If you want kids to experience the movie The Hangover (2009) but family friendly, and without any of the extremes of that movie, then watch The Slumber Party (2023). Not a terrible movie, but not something that is worth watching right away.

If this movie looks familiar to you it's because it is. Remember the Hangover movies? Which by the way is now streaming on Netflix. Disney copied that one and made it teenage style. They need to come up with ideas that hasn't been done before. It's a fun movie though- the mother hiring a hypnotist that told them there was a trigger word that they would remember everything they did the night of Anna Maria's birthday party. Megan wanted to try something different to get out of her comfort zone. Well tee peeing the neighbor's house took definitely accomplished that. It took me back to my teenage years when we used to do that. If you are a teenager or just a teenager at heart you'll like this movie. I would stick with the Hangover though.

I love The Slumber Party. It is a heartwarming Disney film that brilliantly captures the essence of teenage friendships and the journey of self-discovery. With its enchanting storyline and captivating moments, the movie celebrates the power of friendship while encouraging viewers to break free from insecurities, making it a genuinely empowering cinematic experience.

The storyline follows best friends Megan (Darby Camp), Anna Maria (Valentina Herrera) and Paige (Emmy Liu-Wang) at a sleepover celebrating Anna Maria's birthday before high school begins. However, things take an unexpected turn when Anna Maria's soon-to-be stepsister is included, causing tensions among the girls. The night takes a magical twist when the party entertainer, Mesmer, hypnotizes them and leads them on a hilarious and life-changing adventure that makes them put aside their self-consciousness and embrace their true selves.

This heartwarming Disney film is a delightful and empowering experience for youth and family audiences that offer valuable life lessons and an enchanting adventure. The Slumber Party weaves a captivating tale of friendship and self-discovery through the remarkable performances of Megan, Anna Maria and Paige. The film's nostalgic sets and locations immerse the audience in the world of teenage camaraderie; while the imaginative costumes, complemented by an impressive soundtrack, add depth to the characters. Mesmer's hypnotic scenes and seamless special effects contribute a touch of magic, all masterfully directed. A standout moment is when the girls steal a hedgehog car float, showcasing youthful rebellion and friendship, leaving viewers exhilarated. The Slumber Party delivers an enchanting cinematic experience, celebrating the power of friendship and the joy of embracing one's true self. The film is uplifting and leaves viewers with a heartwarming feeling at the end, reminding us that true friendships and self-acceptance can lead to extraordinary and magical adventures.

The message of The Slumber Party is about the power of friendship, self-discovery and embracing one's true self as the girls learn to break free from their insecurities and support each other through the challenges of adolescence. There are no concerning elements present in the movie, making it a delightful and family-friendly film.

I give The Slumber Party 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It releases July 27, 2023 on Disney Channel and July 28 on Disney+. By Hanadie K., KIDS FIRST!