Mail Order Monster

Bullying is prevalent these days. Loss is hard to discuss with children. An if you're like me, entering a family that is already established but the parents have split or passed away, it can be hard to figure out your place.

This film covers all of that but in a way that's easily digestible for the kids. The girl in the film is outstanding and portrays so much of the emotions of her character without words. We see her character's struggle.

The adult actors are amazing as well. They are all believable in the relationships with each other and there is a great chemistry between them all.

The story is well written and directed. It's a relatable film that viewers will connect with on many levels. Great for children and adults.

Having lost her mother in a tragic car accident 3 years previously, a young girl named "Samantha 'Sam' Pepper" (Madison Horcher) lives with a feeling of guilt that she indirectly caused it by creating a disturbance in the back seat resulting in the fatal crash. As might be expected in someone that young, Sam essentially shut everyone out at the time which then alienates her from her best friend "P. J." (Emma Rayne Lyle) who was also in the car when the fatal crash occurred. Because of this aloofness, P. J. takes it personally and 3 years later has developed into a bully who now delights in tormenting Sam mercilessly in school. For her part, Sam does her best to put up with it. Unfortunately, after one particularly bad day, Sam becomes overwhelmed with emotion and, as a result, she decides to order a monster robot from a magazine to somehow get back at her tormentor. What she doesn't realize, however, is that the robot becomes hardwired into believing that both "P. J." and Roy's new fiancé "Sydney Hart" (Charisma Carpenter) are bad--and this causes problems for everyone involved. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this movie had a decent plot and also featured an outstanding performance by Madison Horcher. The main problem I had with it concerned the rather cheap-looking robot which was simply too ridiculous to be taken seriously. Now, I realize that this was a family movie and things needed to be toned down to a certain extent. But having said that, I thought the director (Paulina Lagudi Ulrich) overdid it to a great degree and I have rated this movie accordingly. Slightly below average.

This movie is so great! It is sweet, funny and tackles many current issues for families and kids. It is also different, something you haven't seen before- so I think kids of all ages will enjoy it!

This is a beautifully told story with a stellar and fantastic direction. This film dives into very important topics as well as being a very fun movie to watch with the family. I highly recommend this film!

The story is well written, and the cast are superb in their portrayal of such loveable, recognizable characters. It is a soft sci-fi , kid-friendly film with contemporary, and yet timeless concepts. Although the subject matters and heavy material leans a bit dark toward the end, the director never crosses the line from G/PG entertainment. It can, at times, feel a little too sugary, but in away that is part of "Mail Order Monsters" charm.

The special effects are done nicely, blending graphic novel animation with both practical and CGI on a level that inhances the overall family friendly vibe. The creature design and concept is equal to comic con excellence that can even draw in older sci-fi fans. Overall "Mail Order Monsters" is a great kid flick that will hit home with families and especially preteens into some sci-fi fantasy movies.