Although I'm above the average age that watches the Disney Channel (at 21), I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie. Maybe because most of my favorite Disney actors are in it (and they usually don't get the attention they deserve), but otherwise, I thought the plot to be silly and fun to watch, which is exactly what a Disney movie is supposed to do. I watched both Spectacular! and Dadnapped and Dadnapped was by far the better movie (and of course, Disney has one of the best marketing teams right now, going against Nickelodeon on the same night to get better ratings). Kids of all ages can enjoy the silliness of this movie while enjoying the performances of their favorite actors from favored t.v. shows. And of course, the only thing that I was disappointed in was the missing kiss, but I can understand the producers cutting it out. Overall, I was amused, which is all I ask for from Disney.
This is and feels like a made for TV movie...flat acting, simple plot and plenty 'fade to black' scenes for commercials to be inserted. Having said that, the movie was OK. The plot may be a bit hard to grok for younger viewers, but the arsenal of visual gags, goofy situations, and general messy and slimey mayhem (lots of colorful sludge is thrown about) are sure to please. The acting is exaggerated (especially by the villans), but story and heroine are redeeming: believe in yourself, know that your parents love you even if they don't always show it in ways you obvious to you. My 5 and 7 year olds loved the movie, but they couldn't exactly say why. My guess? The slime-fest at the end where the bad guy gets slimed by an army of angry teens.