Jett Jackson: The Movie

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Jett Jackson: The Movie
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Jett Jackson: The Movie is a wholesome Disney TV movie spin-off from the TV series The Famous Jett Jackson with messages around gratitude, teamwork, integrity, and more. Teenager Jett (Lee Thompson Young) is a positive role model who balances school with being a successful actor in a secret agent TV show. After an on-set accident, he and his character switch worlds and learn important lessons about appreciating what they have. Jett is not the only good role model. A diverse collection of characters -- both in terms of gender and ethnicity -- display good communication and show respect to others. Jett's parents are separated but both remain loving, supportive, and good influences on him. The movie features some comic book violence brawls with adult henchmen being defeated by teens, as well as scenes of bullying. One plot features the villain destroying cities and their ruins are shown. During one scene, a character stays in a burning building. Later on, a character is pronounced dead and covered with a sheet. The science fiction body swap element is quite subtle so might be confusing for younger viewers.
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What's the Story?
In JETT JACKSON: THE MOVIE, teenage actor Jett Jackson (Lee Thompson Young) vows to quit his job. But after an accident he switches roles with his on-screen secret agent character, Silverstone. Jackson then has to take on the villainous Dr. Kragg (Michael Ironside), while Silverstone gets to grips with regular teenage life.
Is It Any Good?
A high concept body swap movie that blurs lines between reality, fantasy, and dreams, this is an ambitious slice of children's science fiction. And for the most part, Jett Jackson: The Movie holds it together. Lead actor Young plays the dual roles of serious agent and conflicted actor confidently and differently enough that we keep up with who's who. Sometimes extra curveballs fly in, such as a dimension jump section in which the action delves into a third wacky world that's black and white and has a giant eye in the sky. It stirs the pot of confusion and turns up the heat, but despite being sometimes dizzying, it's always brimming with good energy and is heaps of fun.
Add to that a sweet love story that bubbles under and concludes triumphantly, and a snarling villain in Ironside's Dr. Kragg, and Jett Jackson: The Movie delivers a whole load of family-friendly fun. The diverse casting is a huge positive, too. Coming after 47 episodes of the TV series, all directed by the movie's helmsman Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum / Free Guy), the world of Jett Jackson comes fully formed. Even if you've not seen the show, the actors and crew present the action so confidently you'll never feel lost despite its twists and turns.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the positive messages in Jett Jackson: The Movie. Which characters showed communication, gratitude, integrity, and teamwork? Why are these such important character strengths to have? Can you think of a time when you've demonstrated these traits?
Jett Jackson and Silverstone learn a number of life lessons throughout the movie. What were they? How might they apply to real life?
Did you find any of the violence too extreme for a movie like this? Which scenes in particular? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Talk about the casting of the movie. How did having a diverse cast impact the story? Why is representation in media important?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: June 8, 2001
- Cast: Lee Thompson Young, Lindy Booth, Michael Ironside
- Director: Shawn Levy
- Studio: Disney Channel Original Movies
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, High School
- Character Strengths: Communication, Gratitude, Integrity, Teamwork
- Run time: 100 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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