Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Slow story for Zack and Cody fans only.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Prince and the Pauper
What's the Story?
Tom Canty (Dylan Sprouse) lives alone with his gruff grandpa (Ed Lauter), who recruits him every weekend to help with his landscaping business. He'd rather be in the school's acting group, and shows off his funny voices to classmates to prove it. Look-alike Eddie Tudor (Cole Sprouse) lives in a trailer on a movie set with his bustling producer-mom (Dedee Pfeiffer) and is the big star in the movie franchise Spy Teen. In between takes, he torments everyone with bratty behavior. When Tom sneaks on the set, Eddie invites him to hang out and try on his fancy Spy Teen duds. The resemblance is amazing, and a switcheroo plan is born. Then, without warning, the movie shoot moves an hour away and takes a surprised Tom with them. The two have their work cut out for them to get back to their own families and lives.
Is It Any Good?
This movie is a very long 92 minutes, especially for anyone not into the Sprouse twins' The Suite Life of Zack and Cody TV show. Both the story and acting are mediocre kid-TV quality, and the pace is like a TV episode in slow motion, with only one boat-chase scene to shake it up.
Too bad they didn't try a little harder, especially since tweens are so celeb-aware/entranced and could take away some more grounded ideas about life as a kid star. Instead, the ideas are lost in a drone of bickering with adults who don't believe the boys when they claim to be someone else. And there's a "guess what, you're his dad" moment tacked on to add a certain something the wasted 92 minutes really could have done without.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about who has it better: child celebs or regular kids. Would you like to spend your day on a movie set away from everyone your own age? Would you miss sports, friends, and hanging out at the movies? Do you think all kid celebs have big heads like Eddie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 4, 2008
- On DVD or streaming : February 4, 2008
- Cast : Cole Sprouse , Dylan Sprouse , Kay Panabaker
- Director : James Quattrochi
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Sony Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Book Characters
- Run time : 92 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mild thematic elements.
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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