That was an excellent one.

Don't Believe the Hype

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

Normally I like kid shows and enjoy childish funny things. But there are multiple annoying things about this movie, but the worst of all is the main character's introduction of herself where she proclaims a passionate stand against good food that looks nice. She very "boldly" refuses to eat the beautiful version of a tomato sandwich prepared by her mother's chef, because it's open face, appears to have some other elements added (probably basil), and because there is a tomato carved to look like a rose on the plate. Instead, she insists on eating a regular sandwich that is just plain sliced tomatoes. The chef responds by saying that she has the food appreciation of a two year old, and the viewer who is perhaps meant to side with her, or somehow identify with her on this, rather tends to agree more with the chef... she does seem to have the appreciation for good food that a two year old has. Actually, some babies have more appropriate willingness to eat what's put in front of them. This character is supposed to be what, like in middle school and she's acting this way? Extremely bratty, ungrateful, immature behavior. Right at the beginning. The quote that she and the nanny say also doesn't contextually make any sense, but is used as a way to make a point against the chef and to make the point that she won't eat his fancy sandwich. Later her father also doesn't want to eat an orange because it's sliced into the shaped of a bird, and so the orange gets thrown away and the father opts for a banana. This is frustrating because it seems to be depicting that the chef is somehow being silly by expecting them to eat food that he's spent time on, when he is just doing his job and doing what he loves, and they are literally throwing food away. Since I grew up in a 3rd world country, I find that somewhat atrocious. These scenes gave me a strong and unshakable sense of the main character being extremely over privileged and spoiled. This made the rest of the show harder to get into, since I wasn't able to identify with the main character at all. Rather than being introduced as a character with moral integrity, who cares about real issues like world hunger, or something like that, or even wanting to make the world a better place for those around her, she is instead introduced as a spoiled brat who protests having to eat anything that looks nice or has flavor complexity.

While I feel the original Harriet the Spy tops this remake. I do think this was an enjoyable made for television movie. Not totally cringe worthy and some good moments for Miss Stone, who I believe is one of the better teen actors today.She keeps her performance real, and while the story is not anything new, it's entertaining and fun for teen/tween girls.Disney seems to be lacking in new and fresh entertainment. I would like to see something original and fresh from the people who work for the mouse in the near future. Bring back some of the original Disney Channel movies that the whole family could enjoy together.My daughters enjoyed this movie and are fans of Miss Stone, so I gave it a five out of ten on their behalf.

Suffice it to say that the usual Canadian suspects funded this thing directly and indirectly, and got the usual result, a pile of trash. I feel worst for the young actors who now have this indelible stain on their records. It's probably not their fault.My only further comments are about the absolutely ridiculous ending. I didn't like the movie before the ending, but I dropped my rating from a 6 to a 5 based on the ending.1. Teacher accuses student of violating the "privacy" of the school blog. If anyone actually believes you can put something on the internet and keep it "private", they aren't too bright.2. Teacher cancels blog, and is overruled by ... students? No teacher with that weak a spine would still be around at her age. Class is not a democracy.3. Teacher says nothing about the real violation of privacy, the actual illegal breaking, entering, trespass, and theft carried out by her student Harriet.4. The liar Harriet is rewarded, by good luck, and still doesn't come clean about it.

The Magic Kingdom always tries to give their young teen players a chance at the spotlight. In the case of Harriet The Spy: Blog Wars the chance comes to Jennifer Stone best known as being the Bohemian sidekick of Selena Gomez in Wizards Of Waverly Place.Jennifer and an all Canadian supporting cast filmed this item in Toronto and Hamilton and the film is about two competing teens for the chance to become the class blogger. Jennifer's a bright and intelligent young lady and her dad Doug Murray is a film producer and she writes well. But her rival Vanessa Morgan is the future prom queen with the popularity to match. Guess who's got the advantage?But Jennifer's not without resources, her dad happens to be producing a film starring the current teen heartthrob Wesley Morgan. Nothing sells a blog like celebrity dirt and for young teenage girls, dirt on an idol is catnip to the feline.Harriet The Spy: Blog Wars will never rate high among the Disney made for television projects, but Jennifer Stone and the cast perform well enough and the predictable story is easy to take. I've the feeling though that Ms. Stone is capable of better.