Troop Zero

Troop Zero is a well-made family drama/comedy released on January 17, 2020 by Amazon Studios. It was released by Big Indie Pictures, Escape Artists, and Amazon. The screenplay was written by Lucy Alibar, known for Beasts of the Southern Wild, and directed by the duo of Bert & Bertie, who most recently co-directed, Dance Camp (2016).

It stars Mckenna Grace, as Christmas Flint, a social misfit with her head in the clouds. Jim Gaffigan plays the role of her father, Ramsey Flint, a local attorney, who like his daughter is also a peculiar character that often accepts payment from his clients in the form of "I-owe-you's". Viola Davis plays, Miss Rayleen, Ramsey's paralegal assistant who oftentimes acts in a motherly role to Christmas. Allison Janney is Miss Massey, a troop leader for a local troop of Birdie Scouts that has a history with Miss Rayleen. Mike Epps rounds out the cast as, Dwayne Champaign, a friend/client of Ramses, who brings humor and lightness to the role.

Troop Zero is set in rural Georgia in 1977 and Laura Fox, who designed the production of the film really did a wonderful job of teleporting the audience back to this period with colorful and rich sets filled with nostalgic items that have today become memorabilia and picturesque settings backdropped against the tall Georgia pines and Southern Live Oaks that the area is famous for. The rural south American setting adds another element to the film that doesn't really percolate to the point of becoming a pseudo-character in the movie, but I felt like the events probably couldn't happen in too many other places.

Grace's character, Christmas, is the sort of character that many love rooting for because she's a likable underdog with a bright smile and a quirky personality, and it's through this that the film's directors are able to string along a touching coming-of-age story that offers many solid supporting performances. Notably, all of the child actors perform exceptionally, either as supporting Birdie Scouts or rival scouts in the climactic competition to see who will be recorded on NASA's Golden Record.

Troop Zero is definitely worth a watch, it'll remind you of the power of imagination, self-belief, perseverance, sacrifice, family, friendship and love.

I did not think I would love this movie. I watched it because I loved the peformance of Mckenna Grace in the movie Gifted. I enjoy trying to follow young actors that I think will grow into stardom. Grace in these two roles looks like she is on target for that type of career. The movie will remind you of a Wes Anderson or Watitie film two great directors.I was afraid the movie was taking the turn of being PC correct in every aspect of its characters. But it does so without shoving it in your face, Davis is powerful in her troop leader role as is the whole cast. I was teary eyed a few times in this touching depiction of a young girl full of Hope surrounded by nothing in her world that called for it. So she reached beyond and found other misfits like herself and it makes for a fine film. If you like Grace here check out Gifted. Rich

My husband and I absolutely loved this from the very beginning. The girls are cute, the story is great and even the interactions were fun. I think most of the negative reviews were people that didn't grow up in the 70's and didn't ever experience being teased or left out of the group. I totally related to this film and loved the s#$&* out of it!

Great movie. Makes you feel things and think about life and how you treat people. Simple movie and set. Great cast too.

A quirky tale of kids aiming high in their scouts' troop, Troop Zero isn't the world's most original film, but that doesn't mean it can't be a delightful watch. Sweet and heartwarming with a dash of inspiring drama throughout, this is a really lovely movie that blends engaging characters with upbeat and pleasant emotion.

While it's never quite on the offbeat or surprisingly touching level of the likes of Moonrise Kingdom, Troop Zero is an impressively likable watch that's appropriate for younger viewers, and just as captivating for adults.

It's not an ode to the nostalgia of childhood as you may expect, but it's a film that really engrosses you in the lives of its characters, from its ambitious young misfits to a handful of surprisingly complex adult characters, particularly in the form of Viola Davis.

In that, Troop Zero isn't just a throwaway, Disney-esque kids' movie, but a genuinely engaging comedy-drama, brought to life with both sobering drama and wonderfully heartwarming emotion, not to mention a collection of great performances.

Viola Davis stars in the lead adult role as the woman who seeks to help a group of children achieve their dreams, but is troubled by failures in her own past. Throughout, Davis does a great job of blending a warm, almost motherly quality with genuine gravitas, and while the film's main focus is squarely on the fates of the children, she proves an enthralling supporting lead throughout.

But the real standout here is young Mckenna Grace, who is an absolute joy as Christmas Flint, the young misfit with dreams of speaking to aliens and travelling to outer space. Not only is she utterly adorable throughout, but also holds her own against legendary actors like Viola Davis in the film's more dramatic moments, impressing with engrossing emotional resonance alongside her boundless lovability.

Add all that together, and Troop Zero is an effortlessly likable film, with pleasant humour and engaging drama across the board. It's not a purely easy-going watch, and impresses with engaging and complex emotion at times throughout.

However, it's a wonderfully sweet, kind-hearted and uplifting tale of big dreams and doing what you love. It may not be the touchingly nostalgic tale to childhood it perhaps could have been, but with charisma, laughs and a big heart all the way through, it's a film that will easily put a big smile on your face.