I was going to see the new Tom Hanks film today but went and saw this one instead. I don't know, I guess sometimes its good for a middle-aged person like me to do something that brings out the inner child in him. I'm glad I did because this movie is a lot of fun. I saw a heartwarming sight in the theatre, there was a grandmother and her two grandkids watching it. Its nice that there are films you can take your children to and not have to cover their ears or their eyes at certain points. It was good to forget for a while about the problems in the world like the war on terror, my upcoming retirement from the military and the Casey Anthony verdict and just have a few good laughs at a wonderful, simple story about a cute, spunky little girl who just wants to have a "cool" summer (I had a hard time decoding some of the "kid" lingo in the film, they should have subtitles for old fogies like me). I remember the last summer I felt nostalgic about was the summer of 1980 when I was 12. As with all kid movies, they have to throw in a little gross humor like the vomiting on the roller coaster or that disgusting ingredient that gets mixed in with their lunch. A little charmer named Jordana Beatty really shines as Judy and Heather Graham also does a great job as her lovable slightly daft Aunt Opal. The most positive thing about this film SPOILER is how Judy dreaded her Aunt coming to stay at the beginning but they bonded so well and in the end she realized that meeting her and coming to love her aunt was the "coolest" thing of all. Thats a message parents who take their kids to see the film should discuss with them afterwards. The only negative thing I wanted to mention is the fact that Jaleel White is in the film. He was Steve Urkel on Family Matters as a kid. He was televisions first African American nerd! I found him utterly repulsive and annoying As a kid and feel the same way about him as an adult!
