If you have ever seen High School Musical you are aware of the magic of Disney Channel Original Movies. It is an emotional roller coaster from start to finish. The thrill Disney Channel Original movies can bring does not stop at this highly successful trilogy, though. Disney Channel Original Movies have offered an enchanting experience for decades. Here are some real gems you may have forgotten about.
1. Cadet Kelly
This movie is just a delight. Hillary Duff plays a girl who is required to transfer to military school. The plot focuses heavily around her and Cadet Captain Jennifer Stone's crush on the Cadet Major, Brad. The real story lies in the relationship between the cadet and her step father, though. They bond together to find her injured dad even if it means sacrificing everything her step father cares about.
2. Motorcrossed
It's kind of like Mulan but with motorcycles and it doesn't involve fighting in a war to save China. It does however, involve disguising one's gender in order to perform in the place of an injured family member and basically telling the patriarchy to shove it. In Motorcrossed, Andi Carson takes the place of her twin brother in a significant dirt bike race that could win their family money and sponsors. To do so, she disguises her gender and poses as her brother whilst simultaneously swallowing her feelings for a fellow rider.
3. Brink!
The exclamation point is a part of the title of this movie and that is all you need to know. It is an epic tale of a group of "soul skaters" (skaters who skate for fun) who compete against sponsored skaters (who skate for profit). The thing about this movie is that the main character, Andy "Brink" Brinker is literally everything I have ever aspired to be. I'm a highly uncoordinated female who has never even attempted to skate, but this teenage skater is responsible for shaping me into the person I am today. He's a guy who sticks to his values, is ultimately loyal to his friends, and just radiates cool.
4. Eddie's Million Dollar Cook Off
This movie is basically High School Musical. The protagonist, Eddie, has always played baseball, and he excels at it. His dad is the coach and pushes him to eat, sleep, and breathe baseball. However, Eddie also has a passion for cooking, despite his dad's wishes, and his big cook off is the same day as the big game. Eddie has to make a decision between who everyone wants him to be and who he is. His friends and even his father end up being supportive and help him finish the cook off.
5. The Thirteenth Year
One of the popular kids in school starts growing scales every time he touches water. He eventually learns that his mother was a mermaid and instead of getting zits and a deep voice during puberty, he turns into a fish.
6. Now You See It...
This movie is about a teenage boy, Danny, who enters a magic competition. The catch is, Danny's magic is actually real. His mentor throughout the competition is also a sorcerer and ends up trying to kill Danny out of hunger for power. The movie had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
7. The Luck of the Irish
A popular high school basketball star named Kyle finds himself shrinking, growing pointed ears, and basically transforming into a leprechaun. Basically, he's attacked by an evil leprechaun, disguised as a carnie, who steals his lucky coin. He has to fight the leprechaun in order to get his life back to normal and get his family's luck back.
8. Max Keeble's Big Move
Max Keeble is a seventh grader who finds out he is moving. He decides to be reckless and lash out against teachers, bullies, and anyone he wants because he views these actions as harmless considering he will not be present to receive the ramifications. However, as soon as he acts out, he learns his family actually is not moving and he has to deal with the consequences of his actions. I have seen this one a million times and it never gets old.
So, while Disney Channel Original Movies have had low points (The Cheetah Girls was an absolute nightmare and I am so glad that craze is over), there have been some iconic tales that surfaced in the depths of these underrated pieces of art.
