The Thirteenth Year

Young Chez Starbuck is going through one interesting puberty, in his 13th year he's starting to grow fish scales and fins, especially when he's in the water. Which being a junior high school swimming champion he's in the water a lot.

It turns out that he was adopted, a baby left on his parent's boat, they run water tours from their sleepy Pacific coast village. The only one who young Chez can confide in is his friend Justin Jon Ross whose dad is the local eccentric and runs a salvage business. The dad is played by Brent Briscoe and he's seen mermaids in the harbor and has even done research on the subject, though where he would have got it, God only knows.

Disney channel features aren't any competition for Gone With The Wind or The Godfather, but The Thirteenth Year is definitely one of the silliest on record. There are so many holes in the plot on this one, I gave up counting. But I doubt this is the typical experience for MerMen in any case. Just why the infant that grew up to be Chez Starbuck was left on the boat was left unexplained.

I'm not sure I want to find out.

A friend sent me this movie because we both like mermaids. I thought it would suck, but I loved it! If there are any mermaid fans out there, you know how hard it can be to find mermaid videos without any porn. This is a great movie for teens especially who have an interest in movies. Plus the guy who plays Cody is kind of cute!!! Also if you've ever watched Full House you will reconize the father. Its Joey and he is really good in it. Now mind you, hes not as funny as when he was on Full House, but hes still pretty good.

Hey I remember turning on TDC and before I knew it I saw this kid that was in my Eighth grade Science and Math classes a couple years ago. He was a cool kid but I didn't expect this. I enjoyed the movie overall. Chez surpassed my expectations especially for a Disney channel original movie and a hometown kid. ***.5 /****.

I had heard about this movie like last year some time, but never bothered to watch it, or make an attempt to see any of it. Disney Movies, normally aren't too interesting to me, only cause I'm older than the subject matter. However, since my daughter has really taken to Playhouse Disney, we watch Disney alot more.

I'm 24 and found this movie to be a little older than it was portrayed...Not by much. The actor (Chex Starbuck), playing cody is almost 20, and he is playing a 13 year old. He does look the part; though. I found his acting to be fairly good as far as child actors go. Disney Channel movie typically have less than great young actors...With only a few really good one: (Ryan Merriman being one of them..A good one that is). Courtnee Draper (Sam), was also good, however, she tends to do this thing with her eyes in more dramatic scene's, and it is obvious she doesn't mean to do this....Kinda like George Clooney's lowering his brow thing (off the topic, nevermind). Dave Coulier was surprisingly good. I hated his character of Joey on Full House, and found him a better actor when not acting like a moron and a concerned father instead... a good switch....

I do feel a sequel is in order, and hope that The Disney Channel also feels that way. I am willing to write something for submission. After watching this movie yesterday, I have a few ideas. I love the fact of a MerMan and not a Mermaid theme...There are possiblities. And the Swimming aspect. I was a pro swimmer for 9 years on a league, so i could relate to the character of Cody. I never got into the Speedo thing though...That wasn't me!

Overall not a bad offering from Diseny channel....Still want a Sequel, though. I liked the characters enough to watch them again.

8 Out of 10

For reasons not entirely clear, a beautiful mermaid leaves her baby son with a goofy boater; happily, a nice couple picks him up instead. In this story, mermaids get fishy when they reach that certain age. Thirteen years later, the baby boy grows into typical teenager Chez Starbuck (as Cody). He takes an advanced swim class (the team looks high school), competes with Tim Redwine (as Sean), and gets a birthday kiss from Courtnee Draper (as Sam). Then, young Starbuck's palms get sticky. He makes friends with lonely nerd Justin Jon Ross (as Jess), who helps him in biology; in return, Starbuck promises he will teach young Ross to swim. Then, Starbuck's hands sprout scales... Cute.

**** The Thirteenth Year (5/15/99) Duwayne Dunham ~ Chez Starbuck, Justin Jon Ross, Tim Redwine