Le Journal de Jaimie

Okay, so I just watched this movie on Disney channel and I think it was pretty awesome. Normally, I don't like Disney channel movies, but this one is the best I've seen. It left an impact on me. It teaches you to just be yourself and don't let anybody get to you. Be yourself and you'll do fine. This movie even almost made me cry and I hardly ever cry, so for it to actually do that is pretty amazing. It left me shaking and only the really good movies with great meanings do that to me. I really liked that song "Outside Looking In" By: Jordan Pruitt. I also like the song her brother sang at the end. Does anybody know if it's a real song (as in is it out in stores)? And how I can find it? I really want to listen to it again. Oh and I thought Nick Whitaker (The guy who plays her brother) is quite cute. This movie is certainly going in my favorites and I can't wait to watch it again tomorrow. What's your opinion on it?

For as long as I can remember, I've been addicted to Disney movies whether they were animated or on the Disney Channel. I remember waiting every month for the latest Disney Channel film to premiere and throughly enjoying each new film. Though I cannot pin-point exactly when it started happening but slowly Disney Channel movies began taking a turn for the worst and I stopped watching them as I grew older; no doubt they were still entertaining for little kids but one of the things I always enjoyed (and still do) about Disney is that they masterfully appeal to both children and adults, not to mention those inbetween. The first Disney Channel movie I watched in as long as I can remember was "High School Musical" and my faith in the channel was instantly renewed. But this review is not about "High School Musical", but about Disney's latest film "Read It and Weep," the first Disney Channel film since "HSM" that actually caught my attention.

"Read It and Weep" follows the (mis)adventures of a high school freshmen, Jamie, who is always on the outside looking in. True, she's got three great friends, a cool but strange older brother and loving parents but Jamie wants something more. She wants the hottest boy in school, Marco, to notice her and wants to be able to stand up against Sawyer and her gang of "Populars" for once. But, seeing as Jamie will never be able to get up the guts to do these things, she creates the character Is to live out these wishes for her. Is (short for Isabelle) is the girl that every other girl wants to be and every guy wants to date; in short, Is is perfect. Not only can Is climb the rope in gym class and get the guy, but she can also "zap" away any problem that gets in her way. Accidentally, Jamie turns in the story of Is to her English teacher and the "novel" ends up being published in the school newspaper because making it all the way to the Bestseller list. Suddenly Jamie (or rather, Is) finds herself sky-rocketing in popularity; Sawyer and the "Populars" actually want to be friends with her and Marcco is starting to look her way. But slowly, things start to get out of control, especially when Is begins to manifest herself as a more permanent part of Jamie's life and prompt Jamie to wonder how much of Is is just a character and how much of Is is in herself. Jamie faces the age-old dilemma of choosing between what she thinks she wants and what made her happy before, leaving a good message for all tweens who watch the film.

As an 18-year-old, I found certain things about the film bothersome that wouldn't even enter the mind of the tweens and younger children who watch it, so I know I'm simply nitpicking. The fact that Jamie's novel is so successful in such a short time is highly impossible, though enviable, but the plot is bearable given the fact that it's a light-hearted kid's film and the intended audience wouldn't care too much about all the steps it takes to earning that sort of career and popularity. The story is cute (based upon the pre-teen novel "How my Private Journal Become a Best Seller -sorry if that's not the exact title) and the characters are warm, though Jamie is slightly obnoxious at times. The real winner of the story, however, is Is (played by Danielle Panabaker, Kay's older sister) who doesn't get as much screen time as she should. Panabaker Sr. plays her character with a comfortable ease, no doubt feeding off the fact that she's used to upstanding her younger sis (though Kay has a promising career in front of her in the children's movie set, if I'm not mistaken) and is enjoyable the entire time.

For the intended audience, "Read It and Weep" offers a very important lesson: you don't need to be superhuman to be happy and content. Being yourself is just as fine as being like Is. While most children's films will force their messages down the throats of the kids watching, "Read It" manages to work the meaning into the story without making it painfully obvious.

As with any children's movie, the story is sub duded, written for a child to understand and enjoy (though this is one of the first Disney Channel films I remember where two of the characters actually kiss; there was only a peck on the check in "HSM." The little romance between Jamie and her background best guy friend was more then enough to keep me interested) but still manages to capture the attention of any age group. Even at the age of 18, I found the movie adorable and entertaining, something I would watch again given the chance.

While "Read It and Weep" is no "High School Musical", it is certainly a movie to stand with "HSM" when it comes to turning around the quality of Disney Channel movies. If Disney continues to make films like "Read It and Weep", which smartly appeal to kids, teenagers and older teens like myself, then they were be right back on track with the old films they used to make "back in the day." "Read It and Weep" certainly deserves a viewing, no matter your age and, if nothing else, will leave you with a hint of a smile on your face.

This movie is pretty good. I've seen it so many times and have always thought this movie was among the best "O.G" disney movies. Now that I've seen it again as someone who is older now, it's...eh. It's got the generic disney channel flick vibes. The mean clique, the "cute" boy, and many more. It's worth a watch but just know it is a bit cliché. But I love that the plot will go on to be unique. You don't see too many movies where the main character accidentally becomes a best-selling author. So summary, it's got some overused tropes in it, but it's got a good message at the end and it's a great movie that lots of teens might relate to.

Jamie Bartlett (Kay Panabaker) is a teen under the thumb of popular girl Sawyer Sullivan (Allison Scagliotti). Her journal's alter ego Is (Danielle Panabaker) is everything that she isn't in real life. While watching TV with her friends Harmony (Alexandra Krosney) and Lindsay (Marquise Brown), she accidentally sends her entire journal rather than just the homework assignment. Then her journal becomes a best seller, and things get complicated.

The Panabaker sisters are good actresses. However the material is sub-par. It is strictly second rate Disney TV movie. The story is not realistic to the point of being very cheap and fake. Overall the acting is good, but the story is cutesy. The message of staying true to your friends is a good one. I just wish it was done with a better movie.

When i sat down on my friend's couch with a bowl of ice cream & turned the TV on, i never expected to find a new favorite movie. Read It and Weep is, in my book, one of the finest of all DCOM movies (and lets me honest, Disney has been feeding us a lot of trash recently). i thought the plot, though predictable, was funny, honest, and amusing. it had this sweet and sour feel, like you cant decide whether you want to hug the characters or smack them. it really expressed the ups and downs of popularity and fame, as well of the hardships of high school. and nick whitaker's singing ("Lenny" was his name, in the movie) blew me away, & made me want to know if he really sings and/or plays in the real world (i would buy his album!).

If you're looking for a deep, thought-provoking, lets-ponder-the-universe type of movie, keep looking. in fact, what made you think you could find that on the Disney channel anyway?? try USA, TNT, or Court TV.

But if what you want is a fun, hilarious, quite nearly tear-jerking movie that makes your heart bubble and your sides ache, look no further.

You've found it in Read It and Weep. -Krista C.