DCOMmentaries

We had so much fun with our special guests, Mallory & Evan from Pop Capsule Podcast that we had to split the episode into two parts! Part 2 will be out in two weeks!

How to Build a Better Boy (August 15, 2014)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Paul Hoen (Luck of the Irish, Tru Confessions, You Wish!, Eddie’s Million Dollar Cookoff, Read it and Weep, Jump In!, CGOW, Dadnapped, Camp Rock 2, Let it Shine, Cloud 9, ZOMBIES 1-3)

Written by Jason Mayland (Space Chimps, Eureka)

Starring: 

China Anne McClain as Gabby Harrison (A.N.T. Farm, Descendants-verse, Black Lightening, House of Payne)

Kelli Berglund as Mae Hartley (Lab Rats, The Goldbergs, Heels)

Marshall Williams as Albert Banks / X-17 (Glee, When Hope Calls, Hallmark Christmas movies)

Matt Shively as Bart Hartley (True Jackson: VP, Winx Club, The Real O’Neals, The Purge, American Housewife, Total Badass Wrestling, Players, Lopez vs. Lopez)

Ashley Argota Torres as Nevaeh Barnes (True Jackson: VP, Bucket & Skinner’s Epic Adventures, Lab Rats, The Fosters)

Noah Centineo as Jaden Stark (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, The Fosters, T@gged, Black Adam, The Recruit)

Ron Lea as General McFee (character actor - Street Legal, Wind at My Back, Doc, Orphan Black, Murdoch Mysteries)

Roger Bart as Dr. James Hartley (Bram & Alice, Singing voice of Hercules, The Producers, American Gangster, The Event, Desperate Housewives, Political Animals, Easy to Assemble, Revenge, Trumbo, Episodes, Graves, Good Trouble)

Synopsis: Two tech-savvy teenagers unknowingly use military software to program robotic boyfriends with ideal qualities when they grow tired of the high school boys around them.

Fun Facts: 

Ashley Argota Torres and Matt Shively previously co-starred in the series True Jackson, VP (2008), which aired on Disney Channel's rival network, Nickelodeon.

Al & Val Zapped you all to listen to this one! You must obey! (Lol jk)

Zapped (June 27, 2014)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Peter DeLuise (Stargate: SG1, RL Stine’s Haunting Hour, Parked, Garage Sale Mystery, Hallmark movies, When Calls the Heart)

Written by Leslie Margolis (only credit), Billy Eddy & Matt Eddy (Bad Hair Day, Teen Beach 2, Monster High 1 & 2, Eureka)

Starring: 

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

Chanelle Harquail-Ivsak as Rachel (Radio Rebel, RL Stine’s Haunting Hour, Incredible Crew, The Blechley Circle: San Francisco)

Spencer Boldman as Jackson (Lab Rats, Welcome to Chippendales)

Emilia McCarthy as Taylor (Max & Shred, Zombies 1-3, Skymed)

Adam DiMarco as Adam Thompson (Radio Rebel, Arctic Air, The Magicians, The Order, The White Lotus)

William Ainscough as Ben Thompson (Seed, Ready Jet Go!)

Aleks Paunovic as Ted Thompson (character actor - iZombie, Van Helsing, Hawkeye, Snowpiercer)

Lucia Walters as Jeannie Stevens (character actor - Life Unexpected, Ties That Bind, Christmas Hallmark movies, Hailey Dean Mysteries, Virgin River, Goosebumps)

Jedidiah Goodacre as Tripp (Descendants, The Originals, The Order, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Marry F*ck Kill, F*ck Marry Kill)

Louriza Tronco as Yuki (Make it Pop, The Order)

Samuel Patrick Chu as Charlie (Radio Rebel, Level Up, RL Stine’s Haunting Hour, iZombie - stopped in 2019)

Synopsis: A bright student and talented dancer struggling with changes in life, including a new family and school, finds a phone app that magically allows her to control boys.

Fun Facts:  Based on novel "Boys are Dogs" by Leslie Margolis.

Next Movie: How to Build a Better Boy

Al & Val are on Cloud 9 after this super sporty movie!

Cloud 9 (January 17, 2014)

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, Camp Rock 2, Let it Shine, How to Build a Better Boy, ZOMBIES 1-3)

Written by Justin Ware (The Pool Boys, Bloodsucking Bastards, Hell Den)

Starring: 

Dove Cameron as Kayla Morgan (Descendants 1-3, Liv & Maddie, Dumplin, Schmigadoon, Big Nate, music videos)

Luke Benward as Will Cloud (Minutemen, Girl Vs. Monster, We Were Soldiers, Because of Winn Dixie, Dear John, Good Luck Charlie, Girl Meets World, Criminal Minds)

Mike C. Manning as Nick Swift (Youthful Daze, Money Heist, Days of Our Lives, The Bay)

Kiersey Clemons as Skye Saylor (Austin & Ally, Dope, Extant, Transparent, Neighbors 2, Hearts Beat Loud, Angie Tribeca, Easy, Lady and the Tramp, Antebellum, Zach Snyder’s Justice League, Fairfax, The Flash, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters)

Amy Farrington as Andrea (Hatching Pete, SWAT, character actor)

Patrick Fabian as Richard Morgan (Twitches, Twitches Too, Joan of Arcadia, Better Call Saul)

Andrew Caldwell as Sam (Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja, iZombie, Henry Danger, The Matrix: Resurrections)

Dillon Lane as Burke (Bucket and Skinner's Epic Adventures, I Think You Should Leave)

Victoria Moroles as Pia (Teen Wolf, Liv & Maddie, Plan B, Never Have I Ever)

Jeffrey Nordling as Sebastian Swift (Working Girl, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Quiz Show, D3: The Mighty Ducks, Melrose Place, Once and Again, Providence, Flight 93, Flicka, Dirt, 24, Desperate Housewives, Sully, Nashville, The Man in the High Castle, Big Little Lies, Walker, So Help Me Todd)

Kenda Benward as Madeline Morgan (Dadnapped, stopped acting in 2018)

Carlon Jeffery as Dink (A.N.T. Farm - stopped acting in 2020)

Synopsis: A girl who frequently snowboards is forced to train with a guy, an ex-champion of the sport, after an unexpected event. However, she has to prove to him that she is a true professional.

Fun Facts: 

Shaun White and Asheley Tisdale are executive producers

Next Movie: Zapped

Al & Val make a splash with Teen Beach Movie! We love a meta musical!

Teen Beach Movie (July 19, 2013)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Jeffrey Hornaday (Geek Charming, Teen Beach 1&2 - no credits past 2015)

Written by Vince Marcello (Teen Beach 1&2, Kissing Booth 1-3, An Unforgettable Year), Mark Landry (Teen Beach 1&2 are basically his only credits), Robert Horn (Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure, Suite Life Movie, Teen Beach 1&2, 13: The Musical)

Starring: 

Ross Lynch as Brady (Teen Beach 1&2, Austin & Ally, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, music videos)

Maia Mitchell as McKenzie (Mack) (Mortified, Trapped, Teen Beach 1&2, The Fosters, Good Trouble)

Grace Phipps Gillam as Lela (Teen Beach 1&2, Z Nation)

Garrett Clayton as Tanner (Teen Beach 1&2, character actor)

John DeLuca as Butchy (Teen Beach 1&2, character actor)

Chrissie Fit as Cheechee (Teen Beach 1&2, General Hospital, Pitch Perfect 2&3, voice & character actor)

Suzanne Cryer as Aunt Antoinette (character actor, Silicon Valley, All Rise)

Barry Bostwick as Big Poppa (character actor, Rocky Horror, Spin City)

Kevin Chamberlin as Dr. Fusion (character actor, Ghostwriter, In & Out, Lucky Number Slevin, Jessie, The Prom)

Steve Valentine as Les Camembert (character actor & voice actor - Don’t Look Under the Bed, Avalon High, Wizards of Waverly Place movie, Crossing Jordan, I’m in the Band)

Jordan Fisher as Seacat (voice actor, Archibald’s Next Big Thing, HSMTMTS, Turning Red, The Flash)

Synopsis: Two young surfers are swept away by a huge wave, finding themselves acting out a real-life version of the 1960s film `Wet Side Story'. When their presence derails the movie's intended plot, they must set things right in order to return home.

Fun Facts: 

Prior to the opening credits, the premiere of the Teen Beach included a dedication to beach party film legend and original Mouseketeer Annette Funicello, who passed the same year as Teen Beach Movie's premiere following a long, valiant battle against multiple sclerosis. The dedication read, "In memory of Disney Legend Annette Funicello, the world's most beloved beach movie star.”

This is the only Disney Channel Original Movie that was released in 2013, making it the first time this has happened since 1997 with Under Wraps (1997).

Next Movie: Cloud 9

Creators & Guests

These girls vs this monster of a movie! Whew! But we had fun along the way!

Girl vs. Monster (October 12, 2012)

IMDB Wikipedia

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

Written by Annie DeYoung (Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board, Return to Halloweentown, Starstruck), & Ron McGee (Rizzoli & Isles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawaii)

Starring: 

Olivia Holt as Skylar Lewis (Kickin’ It, I Didn’t Do It, Cloak & Dagger, Cruel Summer, Laid)

Brendan Meyer as Henry (Dinosapian, Mr. Young, Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462, The OA, Camp)

Kerris Dorsey as Sadie (Walk the Line, Brothers & Sisters, Moneyball, Ray Donovan)

Luke Benward as Ryan Dean (Minutemen, We Were Soldiers, Because of Winn Dixie, Dear John, Good Luck Charlie, Girl Meets World, Criminal Minds)

Katherine McNamara as Myra Santelli (Shadowhunters, Arrow, Walker: Independence)

Tracy Dawson as Deimata (The Gavin Crawford Show, Call Me Fritz - stopped acting in 2013)

Anna Galvin as Theodosia (character actor - Mr. Young, Loudermilk, Van Helsing)

Jennifer Aspen as Julie Lewis (character actor - Party of Five, Rodney)

Brian Palermo as Steve Lewis (character actor - Significant Others, Digimon Data Squad)

Synopsis: A tween discovers on Halloween that she is a 5th generation monster hunter. The monsters are out to stop her before she begins her calling.

Fun Facts: 

Olivia and Luke dated in real life

Only the 10th DCOM to be rated PG

Next Movie: Teen Beach Movie

Al & Val are joined by their pal and former cast member of Improvised DCOM to rap about Let it Shine. The only real question is who is hotter: Tyler James Williams or Courtney B. Vance?

Let it Shine (June 15, 2012)

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, Camp Rock 2, How to Build a Better Boy, ZOMBIES 1-3)

Written by Eric Daniel (Back on the Strip) & Don D. Scott (Barbershop 1 & 2 & The Neighborhood showrunner)

Starring: 

Tyler James Williams as Cyrus DeBarge/Truth (Little Bill, Everybody Hates Chris, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Dear White People, Abbott Elementary)

Coco Jones as Roxanne "Roxie" Andrews (Good Luck Charlie, Grandma’s House, Five Points, Bel Air)

Trevor Jackson as Kris McDuffy (Eureka, Grown-ish, music videos)

Brandon Mychal Smith as Lord of da Bling (Starstruck, Sonny with a Chance, So Random!, You’re the Worst, Rise of the TMNT)

Dawnn Lewis as Gail DeBarge (A Different World, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, prolific voice actor)

Nicole Sullivan as Lyla (Buzz Lightyear: Star Command, King of Queens, Kim Possible, MadTV, DC Superhero Girls)

Courtney B. Vance (The Hunt for Red October, Dangerous Minds, The Preacher’s Wife, Space Cowboys, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Photograph, Uncorked, Lovecraft Country, 61st Street)

Algee Smith as Da Boss (Euphoria)

Chloe x Halle Bailey as Choir Members (Halle: Grown-ish, Little Mermaid, The Color Purple - Chloe: Grown-ish)

Synopsis: A teenage boy hides his rapping from his family and friends. When his best friend uses his lyrics to get close to a girl he has feelings for, he must battle to win her affection while struggling against pressure from his father.

Fun Facts: Names all map to Cyrano de Bergerac

Next Movie: Girl vs. Monster

Val watches 2006's 13 Going on 30 for the very first time! Does she like it? Does Allie enjoy her 800th viewing? Listen to find out!

Al & Val podcast on a podcast in our podcast episode of Radio Rebel

Radio Rebel (February 17, 2012)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Peter Howitt (Johnny English, Laws of Attraction, The Fixer - also an actor)

Written by Danielle Joseph (novelist), Erik Patterson & Jessica Scott (RL Stine’s Haunting Hour, Hallmark movies)

Starring: 

Debby Ryan as Tara Adams (Suite Life, Muppets Most Wanted, Jessie, Sing It, Insatiable, Velma)

Merritt Patterson as Stacy DeBane (Percy Jackson, Ravenswood, Hallmark movies)

Adam DiMarco as Gavin (Arctic Air, The Magicians, The Order, The White Lotus)

Sarena Parmar as Audrey Sharma (How to Be Indie, Tokens, Pretty Hard Cases)

Nancy Robertson as Principal Moreno (Corner Gas, Hiccups)

Allie Bertram as Kim (Mako Mermaids)

Atticus Mitchell as Gabe (My Babysitter’s a Vampire, Young Drunk Punk, Killjoys, The Hardy Boys)

Martin Cummins as Rob Lynch-Adams (Kyle XY, Shattered, unREAL, Away, Riverdale, When Calls the Heart)

Synopsis: A shy girl comes into her own when she takes a job as a mystery DJ for her high school radio station. When the school principal threatens to expel the mystery DJ, she has to find the courage to reveal her identity and to stand up for her own convictions.

Fun Facts: 

Based on Shriking Violet

Nearly every single person in this was in RL Stines Haunting Hour

Next Movie: Let it Shine

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