Halloweentown

Halloweentown! One of the movies I remember growing up with as a kid, this film has a certain nostalgic value to it. This film is also one of Disney's earliest DCOM's or "Disney Channel Original Movie" which later spawned a multitude of films that only went down in quality over the years, even by Disney Channel standards. 

The movie centers around Marnie Cromwell, who has a love for Halloween and all the weird things that come with it. However, her mother seems to have the opposite mindset in regards to it. After a visit from her eccentric grandmother, Aggie, Marnie and her siblings follow her home to Halloweentown after they find out that Marnie is a witch.

However, not all is alright in Halloweentown as an evil force is changing the citizens. When Aggie and their mother (who followed close behind) are captured, the kids have to band together to set things right and use a powerful spell to banish the dark force. Along with some help from new friends, as well their mother and grandmother.

The story itself is pretty basic, and a lot of fluffy fun. I certainly remember enjoying it a lot more when I could only see it once a year, and back when it was newer and therefore more exciting at a younger age. The film hasn't really aged well, much like most t.v shows of the 80's and 90's which only become more corny the older we get. With that being said, nostalgia is a powerful force and only helps reinforce the fond memories of this film.

While it is quite enjoyable as a whole, some of the digital effects and dialogue is rather poor. The acting is quite tolerable, save for Debbie Reynolds as Aggie Cromwell who is extremely fun and a highlight of the film. The character of Marnie certainly hits quite a few annoying notes, especially in the beginning of the film. Thankfully, in the latter half of the film she does start to grow out of that, and by the second film is a much stronger character with less annoyances. While it may not be an excellent film, it is definitely a staple in my viewing around Halloween and can be quite charming.

3/5