Should you’re like me, and also you grew up within the 2000s watching Disney Channel, then you definately’re effectively conscious of the phrases DCOM. Should you’re like a few of my coworkers who did not share this expertise and do not know what the hell which means, it’s a “Disney Channel Authentic Film.” Basically, a DCOM is a TV movie made for the Disney Channel.
Whereas most Disney movies can soar to new heights or bomb intensely, DCOMs are at all times type of in that gray space. As somebody who grew up watching them fairly persistently, there have been undoubtedly just a few that stood out greater than the others – like the Excessive College Musical films and others, which we’ll get into in a bit – however there was one I by no means realized was so dang good till years later – till now, actually.
So, in honor of its fourteenth anniversary, I’m going to inform you why it is best to watch Lemonade Mouth.
As I stated at the start of this text, I’m an enormous fan of DCOMS, and I’ve been since I used to be a toddler.
Honestly, DCOMs are a few of the finest methods to get a toddler into a selected style of film with out scaring them an excessive amount of or exposing them to too many grownup themes. For instance, one of many finest Halloween movies that I’ve watched for a very long time was Twitches and Twitches Too, each DCOMs. We might additionally line up Halloweentown in there as effectively, and people films – all of which allowed me to go on love the finest fantasy films or made me lean extra in the direction of the finest horror films as I bought older.
One other nice instance could be the HSM movies, as I discussed earlier, but additionally the Camp Rock films, and even Teen Seaside Film—heck, even Descendents. They not solely have distinct genres that separate them from different movies but additionally characteristic catchy musical moments that made me love trendy musicals—and take a look at previous musicals as effectively!
TV films can actually range in high quality, however to me, DCOMs have a tendency to remain proper within the center – the place it’s not going to win any awards any time quickly, nevertheless it’s watchable, enjoyable, and one thing that anybody can take pleasure in. Nevertheless, there’s one movie from fourteen years in the past that I’ve come to understand is so freaking good and is healthier than the remaining.
However I Didn’t Notice Simply How Good Lemonade Mouth Is Till A lot Later
I do know – with a reputation like Lemonade Mouth, you most likely by no means would have guessed. However this movie hits onerous.
Each time anybody thinks of any DCOM film, they at all times consider the plain – lots of which I discussed above. Or they consider older movies from the early 2000s, like Luck of the Irish, Below Wraps or Zenon. However nobody brings up Lemonade Mouth, a minimum of not within the common dialog. And for years, I didn’t both.
I do know I loved the film as a child, however I not too long ago rewatched it for enjoyable and didn’t notice simply how unimaginable it truly is. Like, critically. Out of most DCOMS, this one has some darkish themes that youngsters can perceive, superb music, and a lot extra. Let’s get into it.
The Forged Is All Tremendous Proficient
The forged of Lemonade Mouth may be very proficient. I imply, it’s a DCOM film, so after all, there are actors from different Disney mediums on this movie, like Bridget Mendler from Good Luck Charlie or Hayley Kiyoko from her visitor time in Wizards of Waverly Place.
However someway, regardless of coming from completely different backgrounds, all of them actually work collectively and promote this group of misfits who come to type a band that takes the city – and later the world – by storm.
Now, years later, many of those actors are off doing unimaginable issues. Mendler doesn’t act anymore, however she graduated from MIT and has created her personal area firm—that’s proper, a area firm. Naomi Scott has continued into films and has appeared in lots, together with Jasmine within the live-action Disney remake of Aladdin and her newest hit, Smile 2. Hayley Kiyoko has additionally continued appearing however has since stepped into her singing profession.
This whole forged is unimaginable, and it took me years to lastly determine that out.
The Music Slaps So Onerous
Yeah, the music in Lemonade Mouth is definitely higher than Excessive College Musical, and I stand by that. I can’t be asking questions at the moment.
No, however I feel on a private degree, the music of Lemonade Mouth pertains to much more folks. The story itself affords a number of delicate matters that many children would most likely relate to, which mixes in with the music as effectively, and that makes for nice songs that each kids and adults can hook up with.
Even now, years later, “Determinate” remains to be drilled into my mind, each the singing half and the rap half. “Anyone” turned an anthem of my youth, and now, I’m simply realizing how intently I relate to that tune. There’s a lot that goes into it that I am keen on.
The Idea Itself Is Additionally A Nice One
Lemonade Mouth was a recipe for fulfillment from the beginning. The idea is inherited from one of many finest 80s films, The Breakfast Membership—put a few misfits and strangers in a room collectively for a number of hours and see what occurs.
However this time, they arrive out as a band, making music that they by no means would have imagined would result in one thing as nice as it’s.
Nevertheless, it goes past simply strangers assembly and turning into bandmates after which mates. It dives deeper into the house lives of every of the band members, how they bought to the place they’re now, and what the music that they play means to them. It dares to go to locations that the majority DCOMs don’t usually do, and that’s one thing that I’ve to provide them props for.
I Want Extra DCOMs These days Had been Like This
DCOMs these days aren’t… essentially nice. Granted, I’m additionally not a toddler anymore, so perhaps I simply don’t get it, and I’ve aged out of that point the place I can correctly take pleasure in a DCOM.
However I don’t know. Lemonade Mouth—in addition to loads of older DCOMS—felt like one thing each children and fogeys might take pleasure in, one thing that anybody of any age might discover happiness in. I distinctly keep in mind watching these movies with my mother, and never simply because she needed to take care of me that night time—as a result of she preferred them too.
Trendy-day DCOMs try to both imitate what got here earlier than them with edgy topics or seem to be money grabs with no actual which means behind them. And as a former DCOM child, that’s unhappy, and I want it will return to the best way it was.
Gosh, I really feel so previous saying that. “Again in my day…”
Both means, Lemonade Mouth is a kind of movies that basically does stand the check of time. I didn’t notice it was so good till now. I’m totally going to suggest it to actually anybody I come throughout—and should you haven’t seen the movie, it’s accessible on Disney+.