
Cadet Kelly
Review created: 08/03/06(updated 08/17/06)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.
This is an excellent movie for adults to watch with children. Parents can comment on the values explored directly and indirectly in the film. Adults forget what the world of 14-year-olds is like, particularly when they are uprooted from everything familiar and forced to start over.
The movie focuses on the theme of discipline as a means to success using the backdrop of military school. Hilary Duff gives a superb performance as measured against her subsequent film efforts in silly and childish roles. Here, she actually demonstrates an acting manner worthy of praise. As the free-spirited Cadet Kelly, Duff portrays the typical teenager who needs to focus on goals, objectives and skills to begin making the transition into the adult world.
Christy Carlson Romano gives a super performance out of character as the inflexible Captain Stone, who lives her life strictly by the book. Her "mean-girl" persona is guided by the rigid discipline military life demands, unlike the mean-spirited characterization of teens in recent films.
By the end of the movie, each girl has learned to accept and incorporate the strengths of the other to better herself and to become more tolerant of the differences in other people.
A wonderful musical soundtrack and sound effects make this a joy to watch. Don't be surprised if some of the scenes remind you of Hoosiers, High Noon, the DI, Full Metal Jacket, as well as Legally Blonde and Private Benjamin to name a few. There is some very good "borrowing" of technical aspects from quality films. Note the use of lighting in the gym during the early drill team demonstration. The look is not typical Disney.
Only adults who have read The Red Badge of Courage and Frederick Douglass will see these elements in the transformation of Kelly as she moves ever so slightly toward adulthood. Fortunately, Disney still allows her to make mistakes as is typical of youngsters.
The flaws and imperfections in the budding competence of Kelly make her respected and lovable. And isn't that what we want for all of our children as they make their way to adulthood?
Review ID: 10000000001492915

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