Disney Channel = The Tween Channel
Do you agree?
Sometime in the last decade, the folks at Disney Channel figured out the power of pre-teens. They realized that if they pt a few great shows on the air with really appealing young celebs, most people aged 7 to 12 will watch. And watch, and watch. And then buy, buy, buy! Over the years, they've done a great job of creating programs and characters that really resonate with their target audience, providing positive role models and messages about life. Such a great job, in fact, that doesn't it sometimes feel like Disney Channel is its own universe?
That universe comes together in three "crossover" episodes of "Wizards of Waverly Place," "The Suite Life On Deck," and "Hannah Montana" that are now available on one DVD titled "Wizards On Deck With Hannah Montana." In case you missed it, these episodes show us what kind of chaos takes place when the Russo kids take a teen cruise on the S.S. Tipton...which Miley Stewart also happens to board on her way to a concert in Hawaii. It's really fun to see characters from the different shows interacting with one another. Actually, when you look at them as one group, you can kind of recognize the "roles" that kids often play in real life. You've got The Flirt, The Class Clown, The Princess, The Annoying Little Brother, The Cool Big Brother, The Loyal BFF. Then you've got characters like Alex, Bailey, and Miley, who are the ones we're supposed to identify with most. When you see them all in the same "universe," who do you connect to?
The DVD has only a few bonus features, the best of which is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of these episodes and how the Disney Channel stars relate to one another as friends (now that's a group date we'd like to see!).
If you're really into the Disney Channel shows, this DVD might be a good one for your collection. We're not sure how often viewers will really watch it, especially since it doesn't offer much beyond what you saw on the TV broadcast. To see more of your favorite characters hanging out and getting into trouble together, you might want to check out some of the fan fiction websites online ("Fan Fiction" is when you write a story using the characters and world of an existing TV show; super fun!).
IML's Rating: B
