LiamaniSegura – Credits Rolling

Sixteen years ago, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam premiered on the Disney Channel. A third film was in the works, but was ultimately scrapped due to what was going on with Demi Lovato at the time. Now, we return for another summer of singing, song writing, instrument playing and dancing fun. When Connect 3 (Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas) lose the opening act of their upcoming reunion tour, they go back to the place where it all began to discover the next big thing. A new crop of teens with a dream will do whatever it takes to be chosen.

I liked the first two Camp Rock films, but I wasn’t obsessed with them like I was with High School Musical. I basically just jumped on the bandwagon because I needed something to fill that void. They were entertaining and they catapulted Lovato and the Jonas Brothers to fame. As legacy sequels are currently all the rage, it was no surprise that this would be getting their own version of that. While I didn’t find it necessary whatsoever, it wasn’t as awful as I was expecting it to be. In fact, I enjoyed the nostalgia trip.

At the helm is Sage (Liamani Seguara) who attends the camp with her brother Desi (Hudson Stone). They befriend Callie (Brooklynn Pitts), Rosie (Lumi Pollack), Cliff (Casey Trotter) and Fletch (Malachi Barton). Though they appear different on paper, they actually have a ton in common and form a bond unlike any other. The acting chops could have been better, but most of them made up for it in their musical talents. The stand outs for me were Segura and Pollack who had lovely singing voices. I do wish we had had more backstory on some of the other characters to flesh them out and give them even more personality.

It was nice to have the Jonas Brothers back on screen together, especially in the way that made them household names. Their characters of Jason, Nate and Shane are definite parodies of themselves and they know it; the way they played into it this time around was appreciated. Other returning cast members included Maria Canals-Barrera as Connie, Mitchie’s mom, who is now running the camp and Mitchie (Demi Lovato) herself in a small cameo. Sherry Cola was along for the ride too, as Lark, Connect 3’s manager. She was a great addition to round out the cast.

Where the film lacked was in it’s story. It was basically a carbon copy of the first complete with covers of the same songs fans have grown to know and love. Whether or not these versions were better, I will leave up to you to decide. There were some original tunes, but none of them were particularly memorable. I also thought that things were wrapped up too quickly and neatly. The beef between Sage and Desi? Squashed almost immediately. Fletch’s deep, dark past? Brushed over with no repercussions. It just didn’t seem realistic.

Overall, despite Camp Rock 3 being the sequel nobody asked for, there were some amusing aspects to it. While I appreciated getting to know some new talent, I was more in it for the throwbacks to the earlier films and thought that that is where they excelled.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Once upon a time, Descendants was a beloved trilogy featuring Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson and Cameron Boyce. When the original films wrapped, fans weren’t sure what was going to happen to the franchise. In 2024, a spin off was born. Audiences were taken on a journey to Wonderland and were introduced to new characters such as Red (Kylie Cantrall), Chloe (Malia Baker) as well as the Queen of Hearts (Rita Ora) and Cinderella (Brandy). It was off to a shaky start and I was doubtful when the next film, Wicked Wonderland, was announced. But curiosity got the better of me and now here we are.

Picking up after the events of The Rise of Red, Red and Chloe are adjusting to life after their time traveling adventures. Although they got what they wanted: the Queen of Hearts is now kind and Cinderella is safe, there are still consequences for altering the timeline. Soon, a new foe makes himself known. Maddox Hatter (Leonardo Nam) is out for justice and when he captures the Queen of Hearts, it is up to Red, Chloe and their new friends to save her and Wonderland.

This film was more enjoyable than the last. I thought the storyline was more intriguing and the new characters were welcome additions. Red now has a sister named Pink (Liamani Segura) who came about due to the timeline change. As Pink is my happy color, I loved that there is now a character that perfectly encapsulates everything pink. We also got to know Hazel Hook (Kiara T. Romero), Captain Hook’s daughter and Luis Madrigal (Alexandro Byrd), Luisa Madrigal’s son. My only qualm with Luis was that he possessed the same magical powers as his mother, which if you have seen Encanto, does not align with the rules of magical powers. The hints of a romantic relationship between Red and Luis as well as Chloe and Hazel were apparent and they peaked my interest. I’d be up for more of them in the inevitable next instalment.

Where I couldn’t help but feel let down was just in the lack of magic. While the sets are a beautiful technicolor palette that is so appealing to my senses, it feels like something is missing. The acting is subpar at best and the songs are not as catchy as they once were. The only stand out for me this time around was the duet between Brandy and Ora and I wouldn’t be surprised if that was largely because they are so iconic themselves. I can’t remember any of the other ones.

Descendants: Wicked Wonderland was a step up from its predecessor. I was more invested this time around thanks to the interesting plot and the new faces. It will never hold a candle to the first three films, but perhaps it doesn’t have to. Maybe it can stand on its own. I’ll continue to watch, but I need to stop expecting it to be something it’s not.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5