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Phantom of the Megaplex
By Rich Phippen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Mildly creepy Disney TV movie has some positive themes.
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Phantom of the Megaplex
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What's the Story?
PHANTOM OF THE MEGAPLEX finds Pete (Taylor Handley) -- a teen working at his local multiplex -- diligently taking care of business while his boss, Shawn (Rich Hutchman) sucks up to the owner. On the night of a big movie premiere, Pete is more stressed than usual as he tries to keep order despite a number of strange occurrences -- from a popcorn machine that won't stop churning out popcorn to theater screens breaking down. As things go from bad to worse, it falls to Pete -- along with his little brother Bryan (Jacob Smith) and sister Karen (Caitlin Wachs) -- to figure out who is behind the chaos.
Is It Any Good?
Based (very) loosely on The Phantom of the Opera, this straight-to-TV Disney movie, with its limited budget, but surprisingly decent cast, is actually rather watchable. Handley proves to be an engaging lead, and while most of the adults are phoning it in, he and his supporting cast of teens and tweens make the most of their screen time. Young Smith is given a little more than he's perhaps capable of dealing with, although his scenes with veteran actor Mickey Rooney do shine.
But beyond that, it's ultimately rather lightweight. While it celebrates movie-going culture and features positive messages about working hard and looking after family, it's over-reliant on slapstick comedy and a Scooby-Doo-style "whodunit" plot. It's family friendly and fun, but is also entirely forgettable.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the scarier moments in Phantom of the Megaplex. Which scenes did you find most frightening? Why do some people like being scared? Did you feel scared after the movie had finished? How much scary stuff can kids handle?
How does Pete develop an understanding for a better work-life balance? Why is it important for us to make time for things other than work?
Discuss going to multiplexes to watch movies. How does it compare to watching a movie at home?
Talk about how some of the customers in the movie responded to the various mishaps. Were they right to be so angry? Is that how people would -- or should -- respond in real life?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: November 10, 2000
- Cast: Taylor Handley , Corinne Bohrer , Caitlin Wachs
- Director: Blair Treu
- Studio: Disney Channel Original Movies
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Character Strengths: Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time: 89 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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