Show: 13
Date: 12/29/08
Type: Video
Cast: Graham Phillips, Allie Trimm, Eric M. Nelson, Delaney Moro, Aaron Simon Gross, Malik Hammond, Al Calderon
Want to hear something weird? Pretty much all of this cast is younger than me. Eek. I wasn't blown away by the opening number, 13. It seemed a lot like something my Broadway Jazz would do. One thing I did find interesting is that there are the same actors that are in the show later, but they have different costumes and characters. I saw this in a backstage video but I learned that they all have character/stereotypes that are different than the characters they usually play. I think Allie's like a skater person or something, and I recall Delaney being goth.
I kind of like the Jewish jokes, they're pretty funny "It's like the Jewish super bowl" and stuff like that. Lamest Place In the World is okay. I don't really like Allie much but I guess she sounds okay. Although some of the other characters are much worse, Evan is the type that makes you loose your faith in humanity. The type of person who has popularity way too much on his mind and even at the end he's not much better.
I find Graham's acting fine-ish. It's not stellar or anything, but I guess it works for his character. His singing I like less, it sounds really like a kid at his Bat-Mitzvah not necessarily a good thing. I think its just because of how young he was.
I'm trying to put aside my dislike for Allie. I found her acting and singing okay. Sometimes she sounds a little whiny, especially when she's regularly talking. But I do think her voice is nice, except the notes that she couldn't hit-there were just a few.
The characters Lucy and Brett were both a little too stereotypical. I don't think anyone is one hundred percent like that. I could definitely see Eric being someone at my school, but the character not as much. He has one line "7:30. Or maybe you're not as useful as I thought" which I find just not realistic. It's Middle School, not the mob. As far as Lucy, I feel that girls have just a little more discretion at least when they're in middle school. But I wish they hadn't taken out the song "Opportunity" in this video, it's a cute song and I think Elizabeth sings it well.
As much as I dislike and disagree with Lucy and Brett, I think Kendra is so much worse. It's so painful to see someone so pathetic and empty-headed. Some of her lines and expressions are just way too stereotypical. Especially because she was wearing a cheerleader's uniform while saying them.
The show was said to be the people and characters you know from your years, but how exactly is a handicapped kid really that common? There were mentally handicapped people in my middle school than physically handicapped, but I guess it would have been really controversial to make Archie have a mental problem. Anyway, I think the character is pretty well played. As with Graham, Aaron's voice still seems quite young and unpolished. Some time and it'll probably be much better.
Since when do middle schools have football teams?
The song Getting Ready isn't exactly a favorite, I think Graham struggles a little. Eric on the other hand sounds really good, but his character is doing this disgusting tongue thing that makes me want to cry. But there is a cute bit of it where Lucy and Kendra are in a bedroom that is covered in Jonas Brothers and Zac Efron, it was cute. It kind of goes along with Archie's youtube comment. I like the relevance of it. But I must say, I can't stand that they call it The Tongue. It's like how in Bye Bye Birdie how they called it Going Steady. But the difference is, people really used to call it "going steady" nobody's ever called it "the tongue" we call it "first base"
The first time I heard "Any Minute" I didn't hear it in context and I thought it was some song about being in an Emergency Room (I realized I was wrong after a few lines) I think Eric sounds much better than Archie in this song, but god they should not be calling it The Tongue.
The end of the movie theater scene is sort of pathetic. I don't know what else to say. Pathetic and unrealistic.
When I was listening to Bad Bad News on the OBCR I could've sworn there were 1 or 2 girls singing. Apparently there's not. Just a kid with a scary voice. He hits this note that is...scary high. Like I don't know if many girls could achieve it. Too bad he'll probably loose the high ability when he gets older. One thing that bugs me is how much the shorter kid uses his hands to sing, he does it in Bad Bad News and It Can't Be True, and it's pretty annoying.
There's this one line "captain hook also had a powerful weapon...until he forgot which hand to wipe with." it's pretty amusing.
There's also a part where Patrice asks "What does CQTABAITIOE mean?" and Archie answers like it's as obvious as LOL.
Tell Her's really a nice song, and although he doesn't sing Eric is pretty funny in it. But it's a nice song with a nice message. Graham really does bring Allie down, though. Also I wish someone had told Allie that it's not a good idea to stand with your back to the audience.
I mentioned that I really liked Opportunity and was a little disappointed that it was taken out. Here I Come, on the other hand, wasn't a good song and Graham was not great in it, so that being taken out wasn't so bad.
I have to point out that the rumors Lucy was spreading in It Can't Be True would have never been believed because she kept changing them. Also I think it's stupid that she was calling people up when she already said that she had a facebook, so if you were to spread a rumor that's how it should be done.
I think the fight scene is also lame and unrealistic. If That's What It Is could be good but the vocals just aren't good enough in it. Actually I don't think good vocals would make it better. It's just too preachy and lame. I think the kiss is stupid and pointless. And A Little More Homework is so cheesy as well.
So I don't think I like this show much, despite how hard I've tried to like it. I think it's an inaccurate portrayal that's too preachy.
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