How to Build a Better Boy | |
---|---|
![]() Promotional poster | |
Genre | Comedy Romance Science fiction Teen |
Written by | Jason Mayland |
Directed by | Paul Hoen |
Starring | |
Theme music composer | Kenneth Burgomaster |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Producers | Adam Kossack Robin Schorr Dan Seligman |
Cinematography | David A. Makin |
Editor | Don Brochu |
Running time | 109 minutes |
Production companies | Princessa Productions, Ltd. Schorr Pictures |
Original release | |
Network | Disney Channel |
Release | August 15, 2014 |
How to Build a Better Boy is a Disney Channel Original Movie directed by Paul Hoen and written by Jason Mayland. It stars China Anne McClain, Kelli Berglund and Marshall Williams. [1] The first images were shown during a promo for Disney Channel's Summer 2014, while the first promo aired on June 27, 2014 during the premiere of the Disney Channel Original Movie, Zapped . The film premiered on August 15, 2014. [2]
Mae Hartley and Gabby Harrison are intelligent tenth graders. Mae has a crush on a jock named Jaden and thinks that he is going to invite her to the Homecoming dance. However, she is publicly humiliated by Nevaeh, a mean cheerleader girl who is already going with Jaden. In her embarrassment, Mae claims that she already has a boyfriend. To cover the lie, Gabby offers to program a virtual boyfriend for Mae using computer software known as X-17, which they believe is used by Mae's father, Dr. James Hartley, to design high definition video game characters for his company. Gabby successfully creates a virtual boyfriend according to Mae's direction, and Mae names him Albert.
The software goes haywire and short circuits James' computer. Mae's brother Bart agrees to fix the computer if Gabby will go to homecoming with him. The next morning, Albert actually arrives at school and becomes popular among the students. Albert is able to speed read and throw/kick harder than normal humans. Bart and Gabby learn that she created a robot soldier and hacked into the Pentagon to do so. They also learn that James actually works for the Pentagon. General McFee discovers the X-17 prototype robot soldier, who is Albert, is missing.
Later that day, Albert asks Mae to Homecoming. Feeling overwhelmed, she tries to explain to Albert that she does not feel like she deserves to be his girlfriend. Gabby and Mae talk privately. Gabby thinks the whole thing is getting out of hand and Albert is coming between them. Mae eventually agrees to go with Albert to the dance.
At the Hartley house, Bart and Gabby witness Zephyr, Weevil and Pox, members of the international arms dealer group Black Sigma, breaking into the house in search of the prototype soldier. During a school football game, Gabby unsuccessfully tries to warn Mae about Albert being a robot soldier, but the two get into an argument. Albert is chosen to play in the game and helps the team stage a comeback. Army soldiers led by McFee arrive at the game following an EMP-caused power outage caused by Black Sigma that short circuits Albert's wiring.
The Black Sigma members are captured by the army and Albert begins a global mission to fight danger. Mae and Gabby are told by McFee that they must forget about Albert's existence. Mae is upset, but she believes that Albert will still arrive for the homecoming dance, and James is surprised when he does. McFee tells James that the army has known all along that Albert would return for the homecoming dance. McFee plans to retrieve Albert, but James convinces him to wait until Albert completes his mission, which is to kiss Mae at the dance. McFee and the army lead a mission to make the night perfect for Albert and Mae, which includes stuffing the ballot box to make them the homecoming king and queen.
Nevaeh tries to ruin Mae's night but is dumped by Jaden in the process. When Mae is crowned homecoming queen, she feels conflicted, while Nevaeh is disappointed. Jaden tells Gabby and Bart that he originally intended to ask Mae to homecoming, but was not brave enough to do so. Gabby and Mae reconcile.
Mae and Albert dance, but as he attempts to kiss her, she backs away and reveals that even though the moment is perfect, it does not feel right. Mae realizes she wants a relationship with a real boy who is not perfectly manipulated. Albert is impressed by her emotional depth. He points out that the army is here to retrieve him, and Mae fulfills his request to initiate his self-destruct after he tells her that it is what he wants. Albert bids her goodbye and begins to pulsate with lights. Gabby, Mae, and the guests watch as Albert breaks out of the venue through the ceiling and is destroyed.
Bart covers and thanks Principal Fragner for the 'awesome special effects'. The party continues, and Jaden asks Mae out. She tells him she will reply later. Mae and Gabby are excited that Jaden told Mae how he feels, but Mae says no boy will get in the way of their friendship. However, Gabby reveals that she has changed her mind about boys and is now dating Bart.
Production began in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, [3] and was filmed at North Toronto Collegiate Institute primarily.[ citation needed ] It is directed by Paul Hoen, executive produced by Robin Schorr and Adam Kossack, co-executive produced by Dan Seligmann and written by Jason Mayland. [3]
The film was originally released on Watch Disney Channel on August 11, 2014. It premiered on August 15, 2014 on Disney Channel in the United States and Family Channel in Canada. Ariana Grande's music video for "Break Free" also aired on Disney Channel during the movie as well as new episodes of Dog With a Blog and Girl Meets World following and preceding the movie. [4] Disney Channel (Netherlands & Flanders) has an airdate of September 6, 2014. Disney Channel (UK & Ireland) has a release date of September 19, 2014. [5] The film aired in Turkey on Moviemax Family on November 22, 2015.
The August 15, 2014 premiere airing of How to Build a Better Boy on Disney Channel drew 4.6 million viewers. [6]
American singers China Anne McClain and Kelli Berglund recorded the song "Something Real" from the movie. It was released as a digital download in 2014 by Walt Disney Records. [7]
Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directing – Children's Programs | Paul Hoen | Nominated | [8] |
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Youth | China Anne McClain | Nominated | [9] |
Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior is a 2006 Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) starring Brenda Song and Shin Koyamada. The voice of Hadley Hudson is also featured. Koyamada plays a Chinese monk who visits the title character. Wendy is a Chinese-American teenager played by Song, claimed to be the reincarnation of a powerful female warrior. She is also the only person who can prevent a spirit of an ancient and evil Chinese dragon named Yan-Lo, voiced by Hudson, from destroying the world.
Paul Hoen is an American film director and producer. He is best known for his directorial work with Nickelodeon and Disney Channel, especially his direction of Disney Channel Original Movies. He has directed and produced projects such as The Cheetah Girls: One World (2008), Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (2010), Zombies (2018) and Zombies 2 (2020) and Zombies 3 (2022)
Ashley Spencer Taylor Villegas Argota is an American actress and singer. She is known for her roles on television, such as Lulu on the Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson, VP, and Kelly on the Nickelodeon sitcom Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures.
China Anne McClain is an American actress and singer. McClain's career began when she was seven years old, portraying Alexis in the film The Gospel (2005), and then China James in Daddy's Little Girls (2007). She then received recognition for starring as Jazmine Payne in the television series Tyler Perry's House of Payne and as Charlotte McKenzie in the film Grown Ups (2010); and became internationally known for starring as Chyna Parks in the Disney Channel television series A.N.T. Farm (2011–2014), and as Uma in the Disney Channel films Descendants 2 (2017) and Descendants 3 (2019). She also voiced Freddy in Descendants: Wicked World. In 2018, McClain began starring in The CW superhero series Black Lightning (2018–2021) as Jennifer Pierce / Lightning. She also reprised her character Jazmine Payne on OWN's revival of The Paynes (2018).
Sierra Aylina McClain is an American actress and singer. As an actress, she was first recognized for her role as Sierra in Daddy's Little Girls (2007). She had her breakthrough as Nessa Parker in Empire (2016–2018), and is also best known for starring as Tanya Clifton in the television series Mindhunter (2019). Her film roles have included starring as Tosha in the films Honey: Rise Up and Dance (2018), and as Carina in Shrink (2009). She is currently starring as Grace Ryder in 9-1-1: Lone Star (2020–present).
Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman is an American actress and singer. She has received various accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022.
A.N.T. Farm is an American teen sitcom that originally aired on Disney Channel from May 6, 2011, to March 21, 2014. It first aired on May 6, 2011, as a special one-episode preview and continued as a regular series starting on June 17, 2011. After airing as the preview of the series, the pilot episode "transplANTed" later re-aired after the series finale of The Suite Life on Deck. The series was created by Dan Signer, a former writer and co-executive producer of The Suite Life on Deck and creator of the YTV series Mr. Young. In mid-November 2010, Disney Channel greenlit the series, with production beginning in early 2011. The first promo was released during the premiere of Lemonade Mouth.
"Calling All the Monsters" is a song performed by American pop recording artist China Anne McClain. It was produced by Niclas Molinder and Joacim Persson, who also co-wrote the song Johan rodhecita Alkenäs, and Charlie Mason, for the soundtrack, A.N.T. Farm (2011), the soundtrack to the Disney Channel television series, A.N.T. Farm. It was released as the album's second single on September 20, 2011 through Walt Disney Records. Musically, the song is prominent dance-pop and electropop that runs through a club oriented beat, and the lyrics are Halloween-themed, speaking of dancing with monsters.
A.N.T. Farm is the soundtrack album for the Disney Channel television series A.N.T. Farm. It was released on October 11, 2011 by Walt Disney Records. Most of the soundtrack features songs performed in the first season of the series by the lead actress China Anne McClain, as well as new songs performed by cast members Carlon Jeffery and Stefanie Scott, and China Anne and her two sisters, known as the McClain Sisters. The soundtrack was successful, spending five weeks on the Billboard kids chart in 2011. It sold 14,000 copies within the first week of release.
Sierra McCormick is an American actress. She first became known for participating in the game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (2007–2008) before making her acting debut with a recurring role as Lilith on the television series Supernatural (2008). She also starred as Scout Thomas on the comedy television series Romantically Challenged (2010), played Alice in the direct-to-DVD film Spooky Buddies (2011), for which she won a Young Artist Award, and received recognition for her role as Susan Kushner in the comedy film Ramona and Beezus (2010).
Lab Rats is an American comedy television series created by Chris Peterson and Bryan Moore that aired on Disney XD from February 27, 2012 to February 3, 2016. The series stars Billy Unger, Spencer Boldman, Kelli Berglund, Tyrel Jackson Williams, and Hal Sparks.
Thriii is an American girl group that was formed in 2005 by the sisters China Anne McClain, Sierra McClain, and Lauryn McClain. The group was also known as 3mcclaingirls in 2005–2009, McClain Sisters in 2010–2014 and just McClain in 2014–2015.
Kelli Berglund is an American actress. She is known for portraying Bree Davenport in the Disney XD series Lab Rats/Lab Rats: Elite Force and also guest starred in its spinoff Mighty Med. In 2014, she starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie How to Build a Better Boy, where she portrays Mae Hartley. Berglund starred as Carly Carson in the 2019 Starz television drama series Now Apocalypse. She has also played the lead in two sports-themed films set in Australia, 2016's Raising the Bar and 2018's Going for Gold. She stars as Crystal in the 2021 Starz drama television series Heels.
Sasha Nicole Clements is a Canadian actress. She is known for her role as Kiki Kincaid on the Teletoon sitcom Majority Rules!. She was cast in the 2005 fantasy The Snow Queen (2005). She also starred in the Disney Channel Original movie How to Build a Better Boy (2014), playing the role of Marnie.
Lab Rats: Elite Force is an American comedy television series created by Chris Peterson and Bryan Moore that aired on Disney XD from March 2 to October 22, 2016. The series is a combined spinoff of Lab Rats and Mighty Med and stars William Brent, Bradley Steven Perry, Jake Short, Paris Berelc, and Kelli Berglund.
American singer-songwriter China Anne McClain has released three soundtrack albums, four singles, one promotional single, and four music videos. McClain appeared on the A.N.T. Farm soundtrack album in 2011, which was on the Billboard 200 at number 29, with songs such as Taio Cruz's "Dynamite" and "Calling All the Monsters". In 2014, McClain had released "Something Real", along with Kelli Berglund, the main single of the Disney Channel original movie How to Build a Better Boy.
Descendants: Wicked World is an animated short-form series based on the Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants. It premiered on September 18, 2015 on Disney Channel, taking place in-between the events of the first film and Descendants 2. The series is the first Disney Channel Original Series based on a Disney Channel Original Movie. It picks up after the first film and introduces new characters from the Isle of the Lost and Auradon. Descendants: Wicked World ended on March 3, 2017. It received generally positive reviews from critics.
Descendants 2 is an American musical fantasy television film. It premiered as a Disney Channel Original Movie on July 21, 2017, and was simulcast on Disney-owned networks ABC, Disney XD, Freeform, Lifetime, and Lifetime Movies. It is the second installment in the Descendants franchise and the sequel to the 2015 film Descendants. The film stars Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, Mitchell Hope, and China Anne McClain. A third film, Descendants 3, premiered on August 2, 2019.
Descendants is an American media franchise centered on a series of Disney Channel musical fantasy films directed by Kenny Ortega and created by Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott.
Kylie Lorena Cantrall is an American actress, singer, songwriter and social media personality.