Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer

After a decade I finally got around to watching this movie. There's nothing terrible about it it's just that nothing happens. There's no drama or conflict just kids messing around. The ingredients for a good movie seem to be there but nothing quite comes together. Five out of 10 - a halfway rating for a half effort movie.

The main reason I was interested in this movie is because of Heather Graham; I know this is a children's movie but you know children don't go to the theaters by themselves and don't buy tickets by themselves so I assumed filmmakers would keep in mind that adults are going to be in the theater as well; unless I suppose it's aimed at the DVD market.

The manic energy that comes from kids is there but really nothing more. The movie centers around Judy Moody who decides to quantify the quality of her summer break with points for doing daring things only to find that her friends are racking up more points by virtue of exotic locales and exotic camps. Aunt Opal (Graham) is there for the summer to look after the kids and she's a guerrilla artist (and let's leave it at that).

The setup does promise an interesting look at various things like friendship - the cool friends who aren't there against the not so cool friend who is there; the relationship between the free-spirited Aunt Opal and Judy; or Judy's relationship with her brother who she seems to detest or the fact that their parents can't afford to get her to expensive camps and trips. But, unfortunately, it really doesn't do any of that - it just consists of kids of running around clumsily enacting one part after another of the story. This is where the adults would be annoyed - the story, characters going absolutely nowhere for an hour in the middle of the movie.

If you're going to see this with your kids, there is some redemption at the ending and have to brave through the middle parts. As for Heather Graham, I wish she was more in the movie; she barely even registers among all the chaos.

In spite of a mediocre reception, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer is a thoroughly delightful children's movie that brilliantly captures the spirit of the best-selling Judy Moody books. What must be taken into consideration is that this is not a "Mass Audience" movie, but a movie for fans of the book series and for anyone who is tired of seeing the same cookie-cutter family film with the same cookie-cutter jokes as the last twenty summer family films.

Jordana Beatty shines as the spunky, red-haired Judy who is determined to not have a bummer summer, aided by quirky little brother Stink and eccentric Aunt Opal. It is an admittedly simple plot, but an enjoyable one, complimented by great acting (a breath of fresh air for anyone who is a bit tired of the Disney Channel style of child acting) and wonderfully whimsical visuals.

In short, Judy Moody is a children's movie, not a surprise when one considers that it is based on a children's book series. In an age when so many "children's" movies contain off-color jokes and inappropriate content that might amuse the adults but mean very little to children, it's nice to find a children's film that can truly be called a children's film. It's a thrilladelic movie for a "non-mass" audience!

I really enjoyed watching this Fantastic successful family movie,it was great fun and never got bored with it.The acting was brilliant and the kids were so cute and so funny that I wished I had kids like them,this is not exaggeration at all.

Judy Moody is a cuddly kid in 3rd grade and this exceptional year she plans her extraordinary summer vacation with her best cute friends Rocky and Amy.So Judy packed all her things with her including candy,toys and kids stuff and invited her friends to accompany her in this outstanding Summer Vacation.Unfortunately for Judy Her first friend Rocky is going to circus camp to learn to tame lions,determined Judy didn't despair she talks to Amy who is also busy this summer but in something else traveling to Borneo with her mom to save a lost tribe. Alas for the lovely Judy she could not help but stay home with her troublesome little brother Stink and second best friend Frank Pearl.

Poor little beautiful girl Judy while she was dreaming of having a whale of time swimming in the sea,having fun ,eating ice cream & playing with her best friends,things turned out quite the opposite for her.

But this is not the end of the world for the gorgeous Judy,she suddenly hears that her parents will spend the Summer Vacation in California and Judy can go with them & stay with her Aunt Opal, whom she has never even met!

Nevertheless beautiful, smart,strong and cute Judy went To California but what she doesn't know is that she has to face there one of the most pleasant and unexpected surprises she has never ever seen which will positively change her mood in a funny mysterious way you'll detect its splendor in this masterpiece Guaranteed entertaining family movie.

Judy says it also.

Thus, this movie is just amazing entertainment ! In the soup that's American TV (see « errand of angels » for more details), the advantage is that highly original movies just stand out easily !

So, when i was zapping channels in my hotel room, I spotted it immediately and my first impression lasted until the final credits. As « Max Keeble's Big Move », the movie is great as it really grasps what's to be a child ! Here, it's about the summer vacation and it's true that for all the kids who stays at home, this time can be dull and that finally school is better ! It's also accurate as it tells that the world seen trough child's' kids is just a endless source of thrills, surprise and fun ! You rejoice absurd club with your friends, everything can happen in your bedroom, your garden turns into a jungle and the city is a faraway country ! The movie also benefits from an amazing young cast, totally into their characters and the story ! I don't know if « Judy Moody » is an adaptation but the movie gives me interest to read her adventures so and i'm waiting for another screen adventure in Paris as they told us !