DCOMmentaries

Disney Channel has made a frenemy out of us with this movie...yikes

Frenemies (January 13, 2012)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer (TV director, Nurse Jackie, House of Lies, Chicago Med, Bosch, Made for Love, Yellowjackets)

Written by Alexa Young (only credit), Dava Savel (Dinosaurs, Ellen, That’s So Raven, Sonny with a Chance, Raven’s Home, Bubble Guppies), Wendy Weiner (The Talent Show, Dating Rules from My Future Self - this was last credit)

Starring: 

Bella Thorne as Avalon Greene (Shake it Up, The Duff, Famous in Love, Paradise City, music videos)

Zendaya as Halley Brandon (Shake it Up, Spider Man, KC Undercover, The Greatest Showman, Dune, Euphoria Challengers, music videos)

Mary Mouser as Savannah O'Neal / Emma Reynolds (voice of Eloise, NCIS, Body of Proof, Cobra Kai)

Nick Robinson as Jake Logan (Jurassic World, Melissa & Joey, Love Simon, Love Victor, Maid, History of the World: Part II)

Stefanie Scott as Julianne Bryan (A.N.T. Farm, Jem and the Holograms, The Girl in the Woods)

Connor Price as Walker (Cinderella Man, Murdoch Mysteries, Being Human, X Company) 

Jascha Washington as Kendall Brandon (Da Boom Crew - this was last credit)

Dylan Everett as Lance Lancaster (How to Be Indie, Wingin’ It, Degrassi: the Next Generation, Pure)

Kathryn Greenwood as Lisa Logan (George & Martha, Wind at My Back, My Big Fat Greek Weddings 2 & 3, character actor)

Doug Murray as Roger O'Neal (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Family Biz, Miss Sloane, Blues Clues)

Synopsis: Bella Thorne and Zendaya Coleman, who play Rocky and CeCe in hit Disney Channel series Shake It Up, star in this Disney Channel Original Movie. It is a comedy about three pairs of friends whose relationships go from good to bad and back again. Several couples fall out over girls, boys and work. Can all these couples settle their differences and be friends again?

Fun Facts: 

Bella & Zendaya were on a show together at the time of this movie’s filming

Based a Book

Next Movie: Radio Rebel

Al & Val make a documentary about their feelings on this movie... Tune in to find out what they were

Geek Charming (November 11, 2011)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Jeffrey Hornaday (Teen Beach Movie & Teen Beach Movie 2)

Written by Robin Palmer (novelist), Elizabeth Hackett (Hallmark type movies), Hilary Galanoy (exact same as Elizabeth Hackett)

Starring: 

Sarah Hyland as Dylan Schoenfield (Modern Family, voice actor)

Matt Prokop as Josh Rosen (HSM 3, stopped in 2013)

Sasha Pieterse as Amy Loubalu (Pretty Little Liars)

Jordan Jedediah Nichols as Asher Dumentz (stopped in 2011)

Vanessa Morgan as Hannah Mornell (The Latest Buzz, My Babysitter’s a Vampire, Finding Carter, Riverdale)

Lili Simmons as Lola Leighton (Bone Tomahawk, Banshee, Ray Donovan, Power Book IV: Force)

David Del Rio as Ari (The Troop, Maggie)

Jimmy Bellinger as Steven (character actor, Liv & Maggie, Blockers, Not Dead Yet)

Lilli Birdsell as Sandy Rosen (character actor, Palm Springs)

Andrew Airlie as Alan Schoenfield (character actor since 1990 - Fifty Shades franchise)

Kacey Rohl as Caitlin Raven (The Killing, Hannibal, Arrow, The Magicians)

Andrea Brooks as Nicole Patterson (Hallmarkey movies, When Calls the Heart)

Synopsis: Dylan Schoenfield, Woodlands Academy's top girl,accidentally drops her fashionable and very expensive handbag into the mall fountain. She is surprised when film geek Josh Rosen retrieves it for her. However, in exchange for him rescuing her bag, Dylan has to agree to be the subject of Josh's documentary. Dylan hopes the film will help her campaign to become Blossom Queen and claims that winning is her main goal in life.

Fun Facts: 

• Based on a Novel
• Sarah & Matt had been dating for years when they filmed this
• Released on 11/11/11

Next Movie: Frenemies

Al & Val are joined by Val's brother-in-law and resident Gen-Zer, Colin, to break down the banger that is Lemonade Mouth

Lemonade Mouth (April 15, 2011)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Patricia Riggen (TV director - The 33)

Written by April Blair (Jane by design, Reign, You, Wednesday, All American-creator/show runner), Mark Peter Hughes (novelist)

Starring: 

Bridgit Mendler as Olivia White (Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Squeekual, Wizards of Waverly Place, Good Luck Charlie, music videos, Undateable, Father of the Year, Merry Happy Whatever)

Adam Hicks as Wendell "Wen" Gifford (Titus, Jonas, Zeke & Luther, Pair of Kings, Freakish)

Hayley Kiyoko as Stella Yamada (Scooby Doo, Wizards of Waverly Place, The Fosters, Jem & the Holograms, CSI: Cyber, Five Points, music videos)

Naomi Scott as Mohini "Mo" Banjaree (Life Bites, Terra Nova, The 33, Aladdin, Soft Voice, Anatomy of a Scandal)

Blake Michael as Charles "Charlie" Delgado (Dog with a Blog, stopped in 2019)

Nick Roux as Scott Pickett (Jane by Design, stopped in 2018)

Chris Brochu as Ray Beech (Vampire Diaries, character actor)

Tisha Campbell as Miss Jenny Reznick (character actor since 1977 - Rags to Riches, Martin, My Wife and Kids, Rita Rocks, The Protector, Dr. Ken, Inside Job, Harley Quinn) 

Christopher McDonald as Principal Stanley Brenigan (character actor since 1978 - Grease 2, Thelma & Louise, Dutch, Happy Gilmore, Flubber, The Skulls, Perfect Storm, American Pie, Family Law, Harry’s Law, Hacks)

Synopsis: Five high-school students form a music group and prepare to compete against a popular rock band.

Fun Facts: 

• Based on a novel 
• Adam Hicks wrote the rap part of Determinate
• Naomi Scott and Nick Roux dated in real life

Next Movie: Geek Charming

Al & Val travel to King Arthur's Court (reborn) and try to solve the mystery of who is King Arthur and who is out to get him

Avalon High (November 12, 2010)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Stu Gillard (Scream Team, Full Court Miracle, Going to the Mat, Twitches,Twitches Too, Charmed, 90210)

Written by Julie Sherman (Hallmark Movies / Christmas TV Movies), Amy Talkington (only written 2 things since Avalon), Meg Cabot (final writing credit)

Starring: 

Britt Robertson as Allie Pennington / King Arthur (Swingtown, Life Unexpected, Under the Dome, Tomorrowland, Girlboss, For the People, Big Sky, The Rookie: The Feds)

Gregg Sulkin as William Wagner / Knight (Wizards of Waverly Place, Faking It, Runaways)

Joey Pollari as Miles / Merlin (The Inbetweeners, American Crime, Love Simon)

Devon Graye as Marco Campbell (character actor)

Molly C. Quinn as Jennifer / Guinevere (Winx Club, Castle)

Christopher Tavarez as Lance Benwick / Lancelot (small resume)

Steve Valentine as Mr. Moore / Mordred (character actor & voice actor - Don’t Look Under the Bed, Teen Beach Movie, Wizards of Waverly Place movie, Crossing Jordan, I’m in the Band)

Don Lake as Mr. Pennington (character & voice actor & writer - Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration, Zootopia, Space Force)

Craig Hall as Coach Barker (character actor - The Strip, Outragious Fortune, A Place to Call Home, Neighbours)

Alison Bruce as Coach Miganov (Being Eve, Mercy Peak, Top of the Lake, Golden Boy, The Gulf, SHortland Street)

Synopsis: When Allie transfers to Avalon High, she soon realises that her new classmates are reincarnations of King Arthur and his court, and she must defeat traitor Mordred.

Fun Facts: Based on a novel by Meg Cabot, who also wrote The Princess Diaries

Next Movie: Lemonade Mouth

Al and Val are rejoined by their pal, Zach, to head back to Camp Rock for the final jam! Listen to hear whether they win against new rival, Camp Star!

Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (September 3, 2010)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Paul Hoen (Luck of the Irish, Tru Confessions, You Wish!, Eddie’s Million Dollar Cookoff, Read it and Weep, CGOW, Dadnapped, How to Build a Better Boy, ZOMBIES 1-3)

Written by Dan Berendsen (Up Up and Away, Scream Team, Eddie’s Million Dollar Cookoff, Stuck in the Suburbs, Halloweentown High, Twitches, Twitches Two, Hannah Montana movie, Wizards of Waverly Place the movie, Cheetah Girls: One World, Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Regina Y. Hicks (Sister Sister, Jump In!, Camp Rock, Girlfriends, showrunner on The Upshaws & Central Park), Karin Gist (Jump In!, Camp Rock, Girlfriends, showrunner on Mixed-ish, Our Kind of People, Mike)

Starring: 

Demi Lovato as Mitchie Torres (Camp Rock 2, Barney & Friends, music videos, Smurfs)

Joe Jonas as Shane Gray (Camp Rock, Jonas, music videos) 

Nick Jonas as Nate Gray (Camp Rock, Jonas, music videos, Smash, Scream Queens, Kingdom, Midway, Jumanji 2)

Kevin Jonas as Jason Gray (Camp Rock, Jonas, music videos)

Alyson Stoner as Caitlyn Gellar (Camp Rock, Cheaper by the Dozen, Suite Life, Ghost Time, Kingdom Hearts, Phineas & Ferb, music videos)

Daniel Fathers as Brown Cessario (Camp Rock, Murdoch Mysteries, Snatch show, character actor)

Anna Maria Perez de Tagle as Ella Pador (Camp Rock, Hannah Montana) 

Jasmine Richards as Margaret "Peggy" Dupree (Camp Rock, Naturally Sadie, Overruled, RedaKai, Bomb Girls, stopped in 2013)

Jordan Francis as Barron James (Camp Rock, Da Boom Crew, Carl^2, Connor Undercover, A Christmas Serenade)

Roshon Fegan as Sander Loyer (Camp Rock, Shake it Up, Greenleaf, Dragons: Rescue Riders)

Meaghan Martin as Tess Tyler (Camp Rock, 10 Things I Hate About You show, Awkward, Kingdom Hearts)

Daniel Kash as Axel Turner (character actor)

Chloe Bridges as Dana Turner (Freddie, The Carrie Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, Maggie)

Maria Canals-Barrera as Connie Torres (Camp Rock, The Tony Danza Show, Justice League, The Proud Family, Wizards of Waverly Place, Cristela)

Arisa Cox as Georgina Farlow (Big Brother Canada)

Synopsis: Mitchie and her friends, including top rock group Connect Three return to Camp Rock for another great summer of music, dancing and fun. However, when big-money, state-of-the-art Camp Star opens across the lake, it lures away many instructors and campers - putting the future of Camp Rock in jeopardy.

Fun Facts: 

Kevin Jonas once received 43 birdhouses in one day by Camp Rock fans.

Chloe Bridges, who plays Dana in this film, was up for the part of Mitchie in Camp Rock (2008) that eventually went to Demi Lovato.

1,500 lucky fans were invited to be extras in the Camp Stars scene

Next Movie: Avalon High

Al & Val are BACK after a summer break and ready to be uber critical about Den Brother.
Enjoy a recap of our summers. Den Brother chat starts at 34min.

Den Brother (August 13, 2010)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Mark L. Taylor (Actor - The Other Me & Eddie’s Million Dollar Cookoff)

Written by James Krieg (Clueless show, Scooby Doo, LEGO properties, 2 other random TV movies) & Michael Horowitz (Burn Notice, The Gifted)

Starring: 

Hutch Dano as Alex Pearson (Ramona & Beezus, Zeke & Luther) 

Genevieve Hannelius as Emily Pearson (Leo Little’s Big Show, Sonny with a Chance, voice acting)

Vicki Lewis as Dina Reams (voice & character actor - NewsRadio, Three Sisters, Finding Dory)

Kelsey Asbille Chow as Matisse Burrows (One Tree Hill, Pair of Kings, Teen Wolf, Fargo, Yellowstone)

David Lambert as Danny "Goose" Gustavo (Aaron Stone, The Fosters, Good Trouble)

Kelly Gould as Rachel (Lucky Louie, Rita Rocks, stopped in 2013)

Kiara Muhammad as Ursula (voice of Doc McStuffins)

Haley Tju as Tina (voice actor)

Maurice Godin as Jasper Pearson (voice actor, character actor, Life with Roger, Working) 

Debra Mooney as Allie Jacklitz (acting since 1976 - Tootsie, Dead Poets Society, Davis Rules, Kirk, Everwood, Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, Inventing Anna)

Rick Dano (real-life father of Hutch Dano) makes a cameo as Delivery Man

Synopsis: Suspended from his hockey team, a teenager (Hutch Dano) becomes a substitute leader for his sister's (G. Hannelius) Girl Scout troop.

Next Movie: Camp Rock 2

Al & Val agreed when the characters in Starstruck never could...this is not a good movie. But it's a good episode! 

*WE ARE TAKING JULY OFF! WE'LL SEE YOU IN AUGUST!*

Starstruck (February 14, 2010)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Michael Grossman (The Invisible Man, Buffy, Angel, Charmed, Zoey 101, Drop Dead Diva, Pretty Little Liars)

Written by Annie DeYoung (Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board, Return to Halloweentown, Starstruck) & Barbara Johns (Firefly Lane)

Starring: 

Sterling Knight as Christopher Wilde (Eve, 17 Again, MacKenzie Falls, Sonny with a Chance, So Random!, Melissa and Joey, In the Rough)

Danielle Campbell as Jessica Olson (The Originals, Runaways, Tell Me a Story, The Rookie)

Maggie Castle as Sara Olson (The Time Traveler’s Wife, Todd & the Book of Pure Evil, Arthur)

Brandon Mychal Smith as Albert Joshua "Stubby" Stubbins (Unfabulous, Phil of the Future, Sonny with a Chance, So Random!, Let it Shine, Get on Up, You’re the Worst, Four Weddings & a Funeral, Rise of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Chelsea Staub as Alexis Bender (Minutemen, Jonas, Fish Hooks, Baby Daddy, Archibald’s Next Big Thing)

Matt Winston as Alan Smith (Fight Club, Passport to Paris, Keeping the Faith, Kicking & Screaming, Little Miss Sunshine, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, character actor)

Toni Trucks as Libby Lam (Barbarshop, Ruby Sparks, Franklin & Bash, Seal Team)

Abbie Cobb as AJ (90210, Suburgatory, character actor)

Beth Littleford as Barbara Olson (Spin City, The Hard Times of RJ Berger, Crazy Stupid Love, Dog with a Blog, Love Victor)

Dan O'Connor as Dean Olson (character & voice actor)

Alice Hirson as Grandma Olson (Another World, One Life to Live, Dallas, Ellen)

Lauren Bowles as Sheri Wilde (Watching Ellie, True Blood, character actor)

Hugh Dane as Howard (The Office, character actor)

Sunkrish Bala as Dr. Sanjay Lad (Notes from the Underbelly, Castle, Good Trouble)

Synopsis: A Midwestern girl goes to Los Angeles with nothing more in mind than visiting her grandparents while her sister tries to meet her idol. One night she meets the rising Hollywood pop star. They go on an adventure around Los Angeles and start to like each other. When the girl returns home, the famous guy, on national TV, says he doesn't know her, and never met her.

Fun Facts: 

Sterling Knight only sang Starstruck. The rest of the songs were sang by Drew Ryan Scott, because Knight was cast late in the process and did not have time to learn all the songs.

Next Movie: Den Brother

Al and Val have a chat (/group therapy session) with Johnny Kapahala himself, Brandon Baker! Learn about how Brandon landed the role of Johnny, what he's been up to since, and how you can hire him to officiate your wedding!

Brandon Baker
Johnny Tsunami (1999)
Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board (2007)

Brandon's Instagram: @brandonbegood
The Cheeks (Brandon's band)

Creators & Guests

Al & Val have been whisked away to the Princes Protection Program! Listen in to come to their rescue!

Princess Protection Program (May 20, 2009)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Allison Liddi-Brown (Alex Mack, Las Vegas, Army Wives, Friday Night Lights, CSI: Miami, Private Practice, Bones, Parenthood, Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, The Good Doctor)

Written by Annie DeYoung (Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board, Return to Halloweentown, Starstruck) & David Morgasen (Night Stand, Some of the Beach) 

Starring: 

Demi Lovato as Princess Rosalinda Maria Montoya Fiore/Rosie Gonzalez (Camp Rock, Camp Rock 2, Barney & Friends, music videos, Smurfs)

Selena Gomez as Carter Mason (Barney, Wizards of Waverly Place, Only Murders in the Building, music videos)

Tom Verica as Major Joe Mason (CPW, The Naked Truth, American Dreams, How to Get Away with Murder)

Sully Díaz as Queen Sofía Fiore (Spanish language shows)

Johnny Ray Rodríguez as General Magnus Kane (Crazy Ex Girlfriend)

Jamie Chung as Chelsea Barnes (Days of Our Lives, Big Hero 6, Once Upon a Time, Gotham, The Gifted, Lovecraft Country) 

Nicholas Braun as Ed (Minutemen, Sky High, 10 Things I Hate About You show, Poor Paul, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Succession)

Robert Adamson as Donny (Lincoln Heights, Hollywood Heights, The Young and the Restless, General Hospital)

Samantha Droke as Brooke (Horton Hears a Who, Poor Paul)

Kevin G. Schmidt as Bull (Unnatural History, Poor Paul, Young and the Restless, 

Molly Hagan as The Director (Miracle in Lane 2, Herman’s Head, Life’s Work, Unfabulous, No Good Nick, Walker)

Dale Dickey as Helen Digenerstet (True Blood, Hell or High Water, Vice Principals, Unbelievable, Palm Springs, Claws, A League of Their Own)

Synopsis: When her kingdom is threatened, a young princess is taken into the Princess Protection Program. She is relocated to rural Wisconsin, where she stays with a covert agent and his daughter, and must learn how to behave like a normal teenager.

Fun Fact: Originally Selena Gomez was cast as Rosie and Demi Lovato was cast as Carter. Later they decided to switch their parts and they were in fact both happier with the final casting.

Next Movie: Starstruck

Creators & Guests

Al & Val switch places and hide inside a chicken suit in Hatching Pete

Hatching Pete (April 24, 2009)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Stu Gillard (Scream Team, Full Court Miracle, Going to the Mat, Twitches,Twitches Too, Charmed, 90210)

Written by Paul W. Cooper (Little House on the Prairie, Murder She Wrote, after school specials)

Starring: 

Jason Dolley as Pete "The Chicken" Ivey (Complete Savages, Cory in the House, Read it and Weep, Minutemen, Good Luck Charlie)

Mitchel Musso as Cleatus Poole (Life is Ruff, Hannah Montana, Phineas & Ferb)

Tiffany Thornton as Jamie Wynn (Sonny with a Chance, singer, So Random!, stopped acting in 2015)

Josie Loren as Angela Morrissey (17 Again, Make it or Break It, The Mentalist, stopped acting in 2015)

Sean O'Bryan as Leon Ivey (Brother’s Keeper, Princess Diaries 1&2, Big Fat Liar, Raising Helen, The Middle)

Amy Farrington as Doris Ivey (SWAT, character actor)

Aramis Knight as Wendell Pate (Ms. Marvel, character actor)

Edward Herrmann as Principal Fred Daly (Gilmore Girls, character actor)

Brian Stepanek as Coach Mackey (Suite Life, Brian O’Brian, Kick Buttowski, Nicky Ricky Dicky & Dawn, Young Sheldon, The Loud House)

Synopsis: Pete is very inconspicuous at school, unlike his extrovert mate Cleatis who's happy to don a chicken suit and be the school mascot, but unfortunately Cleatis is allergic to the suit. When there's an uproar at the disappearance of the chicken, and Pete is forced into the limelight as the school's basketball reputation is at stake.

Fun Fact: Josie Loren (Angela) was in Jason Dolley's (Pete) show Cory in the House and she played Jason's love interest like in the movie Hatching Pete.

Next Movie: Princess Protection Program

Creators & Guests