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ARTICLE

DVD Review: Cadet Kelly
by R.J. Carter
Published: June 22, 2005

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Rating:

Country: USA
Release Date: June 28, 2005
Distributor: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Director:
· Larry Shaw
Cast:
· Hilary Duff
· Christy Carlson Romano
· Shawn Ashmore
· Gary Cole
Grade: A-

Kelly Collins (DUFF) is your typical teenaged chatterbox, whose main interest is in expressing her individuality. She takes after her father in that regard, a more-than-flighty man focused on making art and living for the moment. Kelly's mother, however, requires a little more structure than that. Not a lot -- she's no rigid disciplinarian -- but a little. Which explains why Kelly's parents haven't been married for some time now.

But there's a new man in mom's life: retired Army General Joe Maxwell (COLE). And when they get married and the General gets a new job as Commandant of the George Washington Military Academy, it means a move for the family -- and a new school for Kelly!

It's Private Benjamin all over again as Cadet Kelly takes to the military way of life like a duck takes to a barbecue pit. She quickly runs afoul of her unit's leader, Cadet Captain Jennifer Stone (ROMANO), who makes it her goal to make life miserable for Kelly. When Kelly and Stone find themselves in competition for the attentions of the same boy, Cadet Major Brad Rigby (ASHMORE) the sparks truly fly, ending in Kelly being court-martialed by Stone -- a court-martial that results in Kelly being sentenced (by no less than her stepfather!) to cleaning equipment for the drill team.

But it's this new assignment that serves as the turning point in this movie. George Washington's drill team has never placed higher than third, and that's when General Maxwell was a cadet on the team. Suddenly, Kelly finds her purpose: she'll try out for the drill team and help them win the trophy, making her stepfather proud and gaining the favor of Brad (the drill major.) And she might even make amends with Cadet Captain Stone.

A G-rated version of Stripes blended with Bring it On, this Disney TV movie is about as wholesome as they come. Duff is proving herself to be one of the reliable faces of the Disney movie industry; she's not the Annette Funicello of this decade (at least not yet) but she's definitely off to a good start. Romano also is a Disney stable, although more heard and less seen as the voice of Disney's favorite girl spy, Kim Possible. Coincidentally, Gary Cole voices the father of Kim Possible's father, Dr. Possible. And Ashmore, who's played both good guys (X-Men 2's Iceman) and bad guys (Smallville's 'Leech') maintains an aura of approachability and good humor from beginning to end.

Count on Cadet Kelly as one of far too few movies these days that the entire family can sit down and watch together.

DVD OPTIONS
Setup:	Caption on or off (English only) and DVD Registration.
EXTRAS:
Backstage Disney:	Under this submenu, you can turn on the audio commentary and also access a 3 minute featurette with Hillary Duff, Christy Carlson Romano and other actors discussing the process of learning the military rifle drills.
Games and Activities	This option takes the viewer to "Cadet Captain Stone's Drill Team Challenge," a game for 2 or more players, and "Party Planner" (for DVD-ROM).

SNEAK PEEKS: Chicken Little, Cadet Kelly (oddly enough), The Even Stevens Movie, Ice Princess, and the Halloween Town movies. The Sneak Peek menu also provides access to Get a Clue, My Scene Goes Hollywood, and W.I.T.C.H.

Grade
Movie: B-
Extras: A-

And then what?

Hilary Duff is currently filming "Material Girls" and "Cheaper by the Dozen 2."
Christy Carlson Romano is still voicing Kim Possible and will be seen in the upcoming "Campus Confidential."
Gary Cole is the voice of Doctor Possible, and has just finished filming on the television movie, "Wanted."
Shawn Ashmore has completed work on "The Underclassman."