This is the kind of film that if you’re an adult, you will either hate or loath, but if you’re a pre-teen girl you’ll love it so much you’ll probably want to see it ten times at the cinema and then watch it another million times on DVD… whether or not you’re family want to watch/endure it.
Judy Moody (Jordana Beatty – Superman Returns, TV’S Legend Of The Seeker) is looking forward to the best summer of her life :- a summer of thrill points. But then her two best friends, Rocky (Garrett Ryan – TV’S RCVR & The Young And The Restless) and Amy (Taylar Hender – TV’S Good Luck Charlie & Special Agent Oso) announce they are going away for the summer, leaving her with (let’s be honest her friendship group’s loser), Frank (Preston Bailey – Happy Cabin Song, TV’S Funny Or Die Presents…) and her Big Foot-besotted brother, Stink (Parris Mosteller – Specifically, TV’S Worst Week). Then her mothers announce they are going away as well so it is looking like a real bummer summer, but then in steps the free spirited, Aunt Opal (Heather Graham – Scream 4, The Flying Machine), maybe it’ll not be such a bummer summer.
As far as kid’s films go Judy Morris & The Not So Bummer Summer isn’t so bad. Director, John Schultz (Aliens In The Attic, The Honeymooners) tries hard to keep the energy of the film at 11 and while it works for most of the film, earol on it does seem to be a bit in-your-face. In his defence though Schultz doesn’t let the ‘zany’ get in the way of the story… and to the screenwriters’ credit the story works, and they don’t treat the pre-teen audience as if they have no intelligence. The screenwriters even find an easy way to show the kids’ some morals without making it look like they are trying to jam it down the throats of the audience. Sadly though, I can also see a lot of adults growing increasingly bored with the film.
The leads in Judy Moody & The Not So Bummer Summer do a magnificent job. Aussie Jordana Beatty does a wonderful job, even better when you consider that she has to put on an American accent for the entire film. Her young co-star Parris Mosteller really announces himself as someone with a bright future while Heather Graham reminds Hollywood that she is still around and also very capable of anything that is thrown at her… please take note producers as it is sad to see one of her caliber doing small roles.
Judy Morris & The Not So Bummer Summer will be lapped up by kids but will divide adults. Some will see it as a fun time that will offer a couple of laughs while others will see it as a dull waste of time, the one thing I do know though is that pre-teens will love it!
Year: 2011
Director: John Schultz
Stars: Jordana Beatty, Heather Graham, Parris Mosteller, Preston Bailey, Garrett Ryan, Taylar Hender
Classification: G
Runtime: 92 mins
Rating: 
Available on DVD/Blu-Ray from 4th April 2012