Judy Moody et son été pas raté

I feel kind of sorry for this movie and the people involved in it, because it didn't really ask to be made.

I suspect they saw the success of Wimpy Kid and thought they'd ride that band wagon except this time...she's a girl.

I'd love to see more girls like this in the movies but this time round we just don't have a good vehicle for them.

I was aware of this character when I was 10 in 2003 though I never read her. I think they really reached into the barrel for her. This is like the eighth book in her franchise so I guess they were desperate to find one that could hold a feature length runtime.

It should have been a TV show if anything and I can feel how it could have worked in this format with its fourth wall breaks and fragmented structure. Even the Wimpy Kid movies tied themselves together by exploring a particular relationship (best friend, brother and Dad respectively).

But this has no real focal point, there isn't enough drive because there is not conflict beyond just Judy having a good time. it doesn't have enough whimsy or imagination to its gags to justify the formless nature of its plot, if you can call it a plot.

I like Judy and how she's written. She's the androgynous little girl that cinema has been needing and she's plays very well, it's just that this whole movie came from a bad place creatively. It was made under pressure by some spare screenwriters under the mandate of cigar biting executives.

Any fondness I have for this movie is a fondness for Judy herself.

The main reason I was interested in this movie is because of Heather Graham; I know this is a children's movie but you know children don't go to the theaters by themselves and don't buy tickets by themselves so I assumed filmmakers would keep in mind that adults are going to be in the theater as well; unless I suppose it's aimed at the DVD market.

The manic energy that comes from kids is there but really nothing more. The movie centers around Judy Moody who decides to quantify the quality of her summer break with points for doing daring things only to find that her friends are racking up more points by virtue of exotic locales and exotic camps. Aunt Opal (Graham) is there for the summer to look after the kids and she's a guerrilla artist (and let's leave it at that).

The setup does promise an interesting look at various things like friendship - the cool friends who aren't there against the not so cool friend who is there; the relationship between the free-spirited Aunt Opal and Judy; or Judy's relationship with her brother who she seems to detest or the fact that their parents can't afford to get her to expensive camps and trips. But, unfortunately, it really doesn't do any of that - it just consists of kids of running around clumsily enacting one part after another of the story. This is where the adults would be annoyed - the story, characters going absolutely nowhere for an hour in the middle of the movie.

If you're going to see this with your kids, there is some redemption at the ending and have to brave through the middle parts. As for Heather Graham, I wish she was more in the movie; she barely even registers among all the chaos.

Nine-year-old, Makai Weber Colvin, a KIDS FIRST youth film critic reviewed the new "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer" movie and couldn't have been more glowing in her comments: I liked this movie because it has a lot of fun and action in it. The super-silly mix of animation and live action, is the perfect way to tell this story, it makes you feel like you're actually there having fun with the characters. Jordana Beatty plays the part of Judy Moody, a young girl with a really wild imagination. When her summer plans get turned upside down, Judy starts a "Thrill Contest" with her three best friends. Unfortunately, all Judy's thrills get spoiled, until she joins her brother Stink on the hunt for Big Foot, who's been seen around their town. I really liked Aunt Opal, played by Heather Graham, because she's like a kid in a grown-up body. She makes every scene exciting. Judy's teacher, Mr. Todd, (Jaleel White), is every kid's dream – he's charming and makes learning a joyful adventure. If your summer is getting boring, or if you want to make it even more fun, check out "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer" when it comes to a theater near you. I suggest this movie for kids of all ages and even most parents will like it. I give it five-out-of-five stars. Catch Judy Moody to make your summer a "Not Bummer."

After a decade I finally got around to watching this movie. There's nothing terrible about it it's just that nothing happens. There's no drama or conflict just kids messing around. The ingredients for a good movie seem to be there but nothing quite comes together. Five out of 10 - a halfway rating for a half effort movie.

Judy says it also.

Thus, this movie is just amazing entertainment ! In the soup that's American TV (see « errand of angels » for more details), the advantage is that highly original movies just stand out easily !

So, when i was zapping channels in my hotel room, I spotted it immediately and my first impression lasted until the final credits. As « Max Keeble's Big Move », the movie is great as it really grasps what's to be a child ! Here, it's about the summer vacation and it's true that for all the kids who stays at home, this time can be dull and that finally school is better ! It's also accurate as it tells that the world seen trough child's' kids is just a endless source of thrills, surprise and fun ! You rejoice absurd club with your friends, everything can happen in your bedroom, your garden turns into a jungle and the city is a faraway country ! The movie also benefits from an amazing young cast, totally into their characters and the story ! I don't know if « Judy Moody » is an adaptation but the movie gives me interest to read her adventures so and i'm waiting for another screen adventure in Paris as they told us !