Lemonade Mouth

I was always a true Disney kid- I grew up with Lizzie McGuire, That's So Raven, Kim Possible, etc. But it all went down-hill when Disney Channel brought in Hannah, WIzards, HSM, Camp Rock- and the rest of the corny, cheesy, to sweet and somehow everyone can sing buzz that children lap up. Lemonade Mouth is- if you pardon the pun- a sip of icy lemonade on a hot day. It's got a good moral, the music is more rock'n'roll and indie then the kiddie pop they normally generate, the actors are amazing and there are some good twists. Mendler and Hicks have incredible on-screen chemistry; flirty, innocent and cute without being all annoying. The up-and-rising Disney stars show how unlike others, they can act and sing in this romantic comedy more aimed at teenagers then eight-years. Think a sweeter, organic Glee.

With the kids from High School Musical now grown and some of them even leaving the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney Studios had to get a fresh group of musically talented young folks for a new musical film. The result is Lemonade Mouth.

Which is the band that a group of kids who serendipitously sent to the same detention for violating one of martinet principal Christopher McDonald's dumb rules at the same time. That kind of coincidence would tell most people including these kids that there is some karma at work here and that they've got to form a band.

The main thing that Lemonade Mouth is supposed to do it does well, that is give Bridgit Mendler a showplace for her singing talents. I guess it's kind of a tossup between Mendler and Demi Lovato to see who will be the next Miley Cyrus for Disney. Lovato has some great comic ability, but as for singing I think Mendler has it over her. In any event she's also got a nice wholesomeness about her that I hope she neither loses and that just might give her career some staying power.

The songs aren't bad either and Christopher McDonald who usually does quite serious roles shows some hidden talent for comedy. The kind of principal you love to hate. Maybe Lemonade Mouth might just get a few more viewers than those who normally frequent the Disney Channel.

Five disparate high school kids are sentenced to detention in the basement. Principal Brenigan (Christopher McDonald) uses corporate sponsorship to support only the sport teams. He relegates all the other groups into the basement. Miss Reznick (Tisha Campbell-Martin) is the music teacher who is facing funding cuts. Stella (Hayley Kiyoko) is the rebellious new girl who is the least successful of her family. Olivia (Bridgit Mendler) is the awkward loner who is hiding some devastating family secrets. Mo (Naomi Scott) is dealing with a selfish boyfriend and her conservative East Indian father. Charlie (Blake Michael) is the drummer forced to live up to his soccer star older brother. Wen (Adam Hicks) is angry that his father is moving on with a young girlfriend. The five new friends form a new band to compete in the local talent contest.

I like all five young actors and their characters. With that, the movie can survive the cheesiness and the standard tropes. The music from the five is good enough. The story is hitting all the traditional kiddie movie ideas of rebelling against the system. Christopher McDonald and Tisha Campbell-Martin fall victim to the need for adults to act wacky in kiddie movies. The young actors and their characters' journeys save this from being a bad Disney TV movie.

This movie has heart, good characters, and some catchy songs. Better than most DCOMs!

This is the last greatest Disney Channel Movie. The songs are just perfect the story is interesting and different from other Disney Channel movies. The cast is great and knows what they are doing. And it isn't too kids like movie but more for teens. This definitely is Top 10 Disney Channel movie for me.