Sonny with a Chance: Sonny's Big Break (Volume 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)From the writer and producer who has worked on popular animated titles such as "The Fairly Odd Parents", "Danny Phantom" and "Family Guy" comes the Disney Channel series "Sonny with a Chance" starring pop star Demi Lovato.
The series started airing on February 2009 and I have to admit that among the Disney Channel shows that I have watched with my son, "Sonny with a Chance" is actually quite enjoyable and highly entertaining.
The series revolves around an Internet star named Sonny Munroe (Demi Lovato) who is from Wisconsin. She and her mother Connie (Nancy McKeon, "Facts of Life") move to Hollywood for Sonny's first major television role, to be part of the popular sketch comedy show "So Random!". Joining her on the show is the diva Tawni Hart (Tiffany Thornton), the comedic best friends Nico (Brandon Smith) and Grady (Doug Brochu) and the youngest member of the group, and also quite odd at times, Zora (Alllisyn Ashley Arm). Along with the show's producer Marshall Pike (Michael Kostroff), the group comes up ideas for their sketch show for the week and trying to maintain their grades in school.
But all is not easy for Sonny, which she soon discovers. Her castmate Tawni who likes all the attention to her self is not so thrilled she has to share the show with another girl and also, the cast of the teen drama "Mackenzie Falls" led by actor and teen hearthtrob Chad Dylan Cooper (Sterling Knight) have been at war with the cast of "So Random!". Testing Sonny's allegiance since she is a big fan of Chad but now part of a show despised by him and his castmates.
For "Sonny with a Chance: Sonny's Big Break Vol. 1', the series comes with the following episodes which are not in broadcast or production order. Here are spoiler-less summaries:
* EPISODE 1 - SKETCHY BEGINNINGS - Sonny joins the cast of "So Random!" and meets her castmates for the first time.
* EPISODE 2 - WEST COAST STORY - Sonny meets actor Chad Dylan Cooper (who she admires) of the teenage drama "MacKenzie Falls" but quickly learns of the rivalry between the cast of "So Random!" and "MacKenzie Falls".
* EPISODE 5 - CHEATER GIRLS - Sonny and Tawni have a great idea for a sketch for "So Random!" but because of Sonny's bad grade in a class, she is pulled off the show unless she shows improvement.
* EPISODE 3 - SONNY AT THE FALLS - Chad Dylan Cooper and the cast of "MacKenzie Falls" come up with an idea to get back at "So Random!" by causing friction with Sonny and her castmates.
"Sonny's Big Break Vol. 1' also comes with a bonus episode:
* UNAIRED EPISODE - SONNY IN THE MIDDLE - Sonny buys Nico and Grady a video game chair as a present for their birthday but the guys get into an argument over who will play in the chair that their friendship becomes torn and each of them look towards Sonny to be their new best friend. As of this time, this episode is only on this DVD and has only been shown on Delta flights and has not aired on television yet.
VIDEO & AUDIO:
"Sonny with a Chance: Sonny's Big Break Vol. 1' is presented in full screen (1:33:1) and audio is presented in Dolby Digital Stereo Sound (and also includes the Spanish language track). Subtitles are in Spanish.
It's important to note that "Sonny with a Chance" is the first Disney Channel Original Series to be shot and aired in High Definition. It would be great to see Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment possibly release the whole series on Blu-ray in the near future.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
"Sonny with a Chance: Sonny's Big Break Vol. 1' includes the following special features:
*
* A BONUS EPISODE - The DVD comes with an episode titled "Sonny in the Middle".
* Demi's Big Break - (3:28) Before Demi Lovato did "Camp Rock" and became a big pop star, she auditioned for "Sonny with a Chance" in July 2007. This clip features Demi auditioning for the role.
* Mackenzie Falls Season Finale Cliffhanger - (7:03) Literally the cliffhanger finale starring Chad Dylan Cooper and fellow cast members.
* Dylan & Cole Sprouse: Blu-ray is Suite - (5:57) A promotion for Disney's Blu-ray featuring the Sprouse twins and Kim Rhodes (who plays their mother Carey on their show).
JUDGMENT CALL:
When I first watched "Sonny with a Chance", I was actually quite impressed. Personally, the whole show based around a sketch comedy was quite intriguing, especially since I grew up watching shows like "You Can't Do that on Television" and it helps that one of the executive producer's for the show also was involved with a real sketch comedy show "All That". The characters are fun and wacky and the rivalry with another teen show also makes up for interesting storylines for the show.
So, as an adult watching this comedy series, I was highly entertained. As for children, my son absolutely loves the show and the fact that the cast has many hilarious moments definitely keeps the series fun and entertaining from beginning to end.
For the most part, I think fans of "Sonny with a Chance" or the stars of the show will enjoy the DVD. If I had one thing to nitpick, its the fact that other DVD releases include two bonus episodes, for this release, you only get one.
But other than that, I really enjoyed the series and of the majority of the teen or children comedy shows that I have watched and reviewed, "Sonny with a Chance" is high on my list for recommendation!
Parents looking for a safe and hilarious show for their children or fans of Demi Lovato or the cast members of the show, "Sonny with a Chance: Sonny's Big Break Vol. 1' is highly recommended!

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Sonny Munroe takes Hollywood by storm in Sonny With A Chance, the fresh new comedy about a show within a show! In Volume One: Sonny's Big Break get to know Sonny from the very beginning with four hilarious episodes that will have the whole family laughing out loud! Plus, enjoy a bonus episode of the show, the Mackenzie Falls Season Finale Cliffhanger Short, and Demi's original audition! Demi Lovato (Camp Rock, Princess Protection Program) stars as Sonny, a Midwestern girl who gets her big break when she is invited to join the cast of the hit teen sketch comedy show So Random! Sonny can't wait to become friends with her castmates, but not everyone is thrilled to share the spotlight, so Sonny must rely on her quick wit, talent and good humor to get her through any challenge. Come along for the ride and share the excitement as Sonny lives her dream!

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Camp Rock (Extended Rock Star Edition) (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)After the huge Success of the High School Musical series, it appeared that musicals were "hip" again with the tween audience. With that idea in mind, Disney launched a new musical movie series in the summer of 2008 called "Camp Rock", starring Demi Lovato, The Jonas Brothers, Alyson Stoner, and Meaghan Jette Martin.
Did Camp Rock work? Absolutely! Although a bit more mean spirited and adult themed than the High School Musical series, Disney still pulled off a charming movie that while entertains, it also teaches valuables lessons to its target audience. The Disney Company has found another success with a new cast of actors and actresses. Demi Lovato is a great asset to Disney's already amazing cast of tween stars, and supporting cast members. Alyson Stoner and Meaghan Jette Martin held their own which proves they could carry any upcoming Disney Channel movies on their own.
The Camp Rock extended edition DVD contains the full screen version (1.33:1) of the film (for the wide screen version pick up Camp Rock Blu-ray edition) and a plethora of extra features including a behind the scenes look at the filming of the movie, along with music videos, sing a longs, and "Camp Rock Karaoke"
This film is a great addition to the latest lineup of classic Disney Channel movies, and if you still don't have your fill of Camp Rock after your finished watching the DVD, don't worry -- a sequel is already in the works.

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This summer is gonna ROCK! Get ready to sing and dance like never before with the electrifying Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock! Disney's exclusive DVD and Blu-ray disc explode with "Too Cool" bonus features including an extended never-before-seen ending and "How To Be A Rock Star" a sensational series full of tips and secrets from the Camp Rock cast to help make your real-life rock star dream come true! When Mitchie scores a job as a cook at Camp Rock her life takes an unpredictable twist and she learns just how important it is to be true to yourself. Join the platinum-selling Jonas Brothers and the hottest cast of performers at the coolest summer camp anywhere! Experience Camp Rock in a whole new way in this Extended Rock Star Edition packed with hit music hip dance moves and bonus features that will have your family singing dancing and rocking over and over again. Contains additional songs and footage not seen in theatres, including "Right Here", "SOS", "Good & Broken," and "Pumpin Up the Party".

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Princess Protection Program (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)What a great movie this was! Normally from a Disney Channel movie, you wouldn't expect it to be a blockbuster movie, but this movie is one of the best ones that Disney has had in a long time! Although it doesn't quite beat the Hannah Montana phoenominon, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato are very talented young ladies. It even adds on that these two girls are best friends in real life because they have a lot of chemistry together while acting in this movie. It's a great movie to watch with your girlfriends and fun for the whole family! There's comedy, romance, and drama. This movie has almost everything you could ask for and it teaches the moral lesson that you should always be true to yourself, it's okay to let your inner beauty show, don't judge too quicky, and most of all, best friends will always be there for each other and you should never let boys come between that. This was a very cute movie and I would give it five stars right off the bat!

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Get ready for a hilarious and heartwarming royal reality check in Princess Protection Program, the new smash-hit Disney Channel Original Movie starring Selena Gomez, Wizards Of Waverly Place, and Demi Lovato, Sonny With A Chance. Plus, this Royal B.F.F. Extended Edition DVD features an insider s look at the realities and responsibilities of being a real-life princess and lets you listen in as real-life best friends Selena and Demi dish about their lives on and off the set!The worlds of royalty and roughing-it collide when the lovely Rosalinda, Lovato enters the Princess Protection Program and moves in with her new cousin Carter, Gomez, a total tomboy. In an unexpected role reversal, Rosie learns how to act like an everyday girl and Carter finds her own inner princess. Once they discover what they have in common, they prove that best friends really are forever.

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