The Slumber Party

Last updated
The Slumber Party
The Slumber Party Promotional Poster.jpg
Promotional poster
Genre
Based onThe Sleepover by Jen Malone
Written by
  • Eydie Faye
Directed byVeronica Rodriguez
Starring
Music byJoseph Shirley
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
ProducerMatthew Spiegel
EditorJesse Gordon
Running time82 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Disney Channel
ReleaseJuly 27, 2023 (2023-07-27)

The Slumber Party is an American coming-of-age comedy television film directed by Veronica Rodriguez. The film stars Darby Camp, Emmy Liu-Wang, Alex Cooper Cohen, Valentina Herrera, Dallas Liu, and Ramon Rodriguez. [2] It premiered on July 27, 2023, on Disney Channel. [3] [4] It received generally positive reviews from critics.

Contents

Plot

Megan is a 14-year-old girl who is afraid of trying new things. She hangs out with her confident friend Paige and birthday girl Anna Maria, the latter of whom is going through family troubles involving her divorced parents and soon-to-be step-siblings including Veronica, a goofy and overconfident girl. The four girls decide to have a sleepover at Anna Maria's house to celebrate the day before her birthday, which just so happens to also be the day of her father's wedding, something that irritates her, especially when he insists on taking her hiking. Anna Maria's younger sister Penny wants to join the others, but they kick her out. For the night, Veronica invites Mesmer, a hypnotist, who in actuality is a desperate actor. With nothing better to do, the girls agree to have him hypnotize them.

The next morning, Megan wakes up to discover that her left eyebrow has been shaven off and she is wearing the hoodie that belongs to her crush Jake Ramirez, whose house has been TPd. There are baby ducks in the bathtub, Veronica's clothes are on backwards and she is wearing long fingernails, and Paige has literal blood on her hands. Anna Maria is missing and Penny appears to be somewhat ignorant as to what happened as well. Not wanting to let Anna Maria's mother know that they cannot find her, they decide to go looking themselves. Believing that the ducks came from school, the girls hire Paige's older brother Mikey to help sneak them in. Upon returning the ducks, save for one, they find Anna Maria's shoe. The group escape the Principal and drive out to discover that the shoe has paint on it matching the school colors of their rival Hillside.

Mikey drops the girls off at Hillside where they are confronted by the marching band who demand the return of their mascot float Hedgie, showing them video footage of the girls stealing it. They promise to give them back something of theirs if they return it. The girls cannot remember where the float is, but Veronica figures out that Mesmer is working at the Onion Festival. The girls sneak in to try and see him, but end up in the middle of an onion eating contest with Veronica winning, and lose Mesmer. With no other option, the girls go to see Jake who reveals that he has Hedgie in his garage. The girls and Jake ride the float down the street and deliver it to the marching band who reveal that they simply had Megan's outdated phone.

Jake reveals that Penny was the one who filmed their escapades and Paige and Veronica go and torture her dolls to get the truth, while Megan and Jake admit their feelings for each other. Penny admits that Anna Maria left a note for them, but she took it out of spite. The note reveals that Anna Maria went hiking on her own without her dad and the girls find her asleep on a bench with tampons up her bloody nose. Anna Maria admits that she is afraid of change and her expanding family, but the girls comfort her and get her ready for the wedding. Anna Maria makes peace with her family, as Veronica reveals that she is seeing Mikey, much to Paige's chagrin. As the girls privately celebrate Anna Maria's birthday, they run into Mesmer again who gives them trigger word to reawaken their memories, "Freshman". The girls suddenly remember everything that happened last night.

The credits reveal that Paige accidentally hit Anna Maria in the nose, explaining the blood, and that Jake was present when his house was TPd, bonding with Megan right away.

Cast

Production

On September 27, 2022, it was announced that Disney Branded Television had begun production on a film titled The Slumber Party, based on the book The Sleepover by Jen Malone. Filming began that same day Atlanta, Georgia. [8]

Veronica Rodriguez was set to direct the film, with Eydie Faye set to write the screenplay. [9] Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Stephanie Sperber, Jennilee Cummings, Jake Fuller, Tony Hernandez, and John Hodges were set to serve as executive producers. [10]

On June 7, 2023, Tituss Burgess and Paula Pell joined the cast of the film as Mesmer and Principal Petersen, respectively. [11]

Release

The Slumber Party premiered on July 27, 2023, on Disney Channel. [12] It was released on July 28, 2023, on Disney+. [13]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 6 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.60/10. [14]

Natasha Alvar of Cultured Vultures described The Slumber Party as a PG-rated take on The Hangover, stating that while the film's premise is not entirely original, it remains entertaining and features several comedic set pieces. Alvar appreciated that the film portrayed its characters as authentic tweens, contrasting with many high school stories that depict teenagers as behaving like adults. The romance subplot between Megan and her crush, Jake Ramirez, was described as sweet and believable. [15] Guillermo Kurten, Blair Marnell, and Rick Marshall of Digital Trends included The Slumber Party in their "Best movies on Disney+ Right Now" list of August 2023, calling it a "delightful coming-of-age comedy." [16]

Tessa Smith of Mama's Geeky rated the film 3.5 out of 5 and highlighted how The Slumber Party was inspired by The Hangover but remained suitable for families, saying it avoids uncomfortable or awkward content, focusing instead on a fun coming-of-age story filled with hilarious adventures and a heartwarming depiction of friendship. Smith noted that the film accurately portrays the dynamics of teen female friendships, with the girls interacting in a genuine and relatable manner. [17] Stephanie Morgan of Common Sense Media gave The Slumber Party a grade of three out of five stars, complimented the depiction of positive messages and role models, citing friendship and the importance of going outside the comfort zone, and described the film as a "sweetly innocent take on The Hangover ." [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paige O'Hara</span> American actress

Paige O'Hara is an American actress, singer, and painter. O'Hara began her career as a Broadway actress in 1975 when she portrayed Della in The Gift of the Magi. In 1991, she made her motion picture debut in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, in which she voiced the film's heroine, Belle. Following the critical and commercial success of Beauty and the Beast, O'Hara reprised her role as Belle in the film's three direct-to-video follow-ups, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997), Belle's Magical World (1998), Belle's Tales of Friendship (1999), and for cameo appearances in Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) and Once Upon a Studio (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauren Collins</span> Canadian actress (born 1986)

Lauren Felice Collins is a Canadian actress, best known for portraying Paige Michalchuk on Degrassi: The Next Generation. She has also had supporting roles in the films Take the Lead (2006) and Charlie Bartlett (2007). In 2013, she appeared in multiple episodes of the sketch comedy Kroll Show, as well as a recurring guest role in the fourth season of the FX series The Strain (2017).

<i>Stepsister from Planet Weird</i> 2000 American TV series or program

Stepsister from Planet Weird is a 2000 American science fiction comedy film that was released as a Disney Channel Original Movie on June 17, 2000. Directed by Steve Boyum, it stars Courtnee Draper, Tamara Hope, Lance Guest, and Khrystyne Haje. The film is based on the book of the same name by Francess Lantz. The plot follows a teenage girl (Draper), who discovers that her mother's fiance (Guest) and her own future stepsister (Hope), are actually strange aliens from another planet hiding out on Earth.

"Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner" is the seventh episode of the second season of the American mystery television series Veronica Mars, and the twenty-ninth episode overall. Written by Diane Ruggiero and directed by Nick Marck, the episode premiered on UPN on November 16, 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Testa</span> American actress

Mary Testa is an American stage and film actress. She is a three-time Tony Award nominee, for performances in revivals of Leonard Bernstein's On the Town (1998), 42nd Street (2001) and Oklahoma (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under the Sea</span> 1989 song

"Under the Sea" is a song from Disney's 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid, composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman. It is influenced by the calypso style of the Caribbean which originated in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as reggae, which originated in Jamaica. The song was performed in the film by Samuel E. Wright. The track won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1989, the first for a Disney film since "Chim Chim Cher-ee" from Mary Poppins in 1964. Additionally, the song won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media in 1991.

"Poor Unfortunate Souls" is a song from the Walt Disney Pictures animated film The Little Mermaid. Written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken and performed by Pat Carroll, "Poor Unfortunate Souls" is sung to Ariel by Ursula the Sea Witch. In a style that combines Broadway theatre with Burlesque, Ursula uses the song to seduce Ariel into trading her voice for the chance to temporarily become human.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tituss Burgess</span> American actor and singer (born 1979)

Tituss Burgess is an American actor and singer. He has appeared in several Broadway musicals and is known for his high tenor voice. He is best known for starring as Titus Andromedon on the Netflix comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015–2020), for which he received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He was also featured in Schmigadoon! (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paula Pell</span> American comedy writer, producer and actress

Paula Pell is an American comedy writer, producer, and actress. She is best known for her work as a writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2020. For her work on SNL and 30 Rock, she has been recognized with a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program and six Writers Guild of America Awards. In 2019, Pell was honored with the Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence.

<i>Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt</i> American comedy television series

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is an American sitcom created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, starring Ellie Kemper in the title role. It premiered on March 6, 2015 on Netflix and ran for four seasons, ending on January 25, 2019. An interactive special premiered on May 12, 2020.

<i>The Girl on the Train</i> (2016 film) Film by Tate Taylor

The Girl on the Train is a 2016 American mystery psychological thriller film directed by Tate Taylor and written by Erin Cressida Wilson, based on the popular 2015 debut novel of the same name by British author Paula Hawkins. The film stars Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, Haley Bennett, Justin Theroux, Luke Evans, Allison Janney, Édgar Ramírez, and Lisa Kudrow. The film follows an alcoholic divorcée who becomes involved in a missing person investigation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titus Andromedon</span> Fictional character on tv series "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"

Titus Andromedon is a main character on the Netflix original series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, portrayed by actor Tituss Burgess.

<i>Catfight</i> (film) 2016 American film

Catfight is a 2016 American black comedy film directed and written by Onur Tukel and starring Sandra Oh, Anne Heche, Alicia Silverstone, Amy Hill, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Ariel Kavoussi, Craig Bierko, Tituss Burgess, and Dylan Baker. The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2016, before being released in a limited release and through video on demand on March 3, 2017, by Dark Sky Films.

<i>Bizaardvark</i> American comedy television series

Bizaardvark is an American comedy television series created by Kyle Stegina and Josh Lehrman that premiered on Disney Channel on June 24, 2016. The series ran for three seasons consisting of 63 episodes, airing its final episode on April 13, 2019. The series stars Madison Hu, Olivia Rodrigo, Jake Paul, DeVore Ledridge, Ethan Wacker, Maxwell Simkins, and Elie Samouhi. In addition to the series' regular episodes, the series has aired shorts under the title of Bizaardvark Shorts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slumber Party (song)</span> 2016 single by Britney Spears

"Slumber Party" is a song recorded by American singer Britney Spears for her ninth studio album, Glory (2016). It was written by Mattias Larsson, Robin Fredriksson, Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter, and produced by Mattman & Robin. The duo was also responsible for vocal production alongside Mischke Butler. The song was released as the second single from the album on November 16, 2016. A remix version featuring vocals from American singer Tinashe was sent to US contemporary hit radio on November 22. A reggae-pop and R&B track, "Slumber Party" features brass, marimba, syncopated synths, percussion and a horn section in its instrumentation. Lyrically, the song was described as an ode to fornicating and making sex tapes. In it, Spears evokes one-night stands, the ritual of sleepovers with friends and the teenage game seven minutes in heaven.

Central Park is an American musical animated sitcom created by Loren Bouchard, Nora Smith and Josh Gad for Apple TV+, using the same art style as Bouchard's previous series Bob's Burgers. The series premiered on May 29, 2020, and revolves around a family living in Central Park in New York City who must save it from a greedy land developer.

<i>Spellbound</i> (2024 film) Upcoming film directed by Vicky Jenson

Spellbound is an upcoming American animated musical adventure fantasy comedy film directed by Vicky Jenson from a screenplay by Julia Miranda and the writing team of Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin. It features music composed by Alan Menken, who also wrote the songs with longtime collaborator and lyricist Glenn Slater. Produced by Skydance Animation, the film features the voices of Rachel Zegler, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Tituss Burgess, Nathan Lane, Javier Bardem, and Nicole Kidman. Set in the world of magic known as Lumbria, the story follows Princess Ellian (Zegler) who must break the spell that has turned her parents into monsters and split her kingdom in two.

<i>Annie Live!</i> 2021 musical television special

Annie Live! is an American musical television special that aired on NBC on December 2, 2021. It was a performance of the 1977 Broadway musical Annie, which is based on the comic strip Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray. The production was the fourth on-screen version of the musical following the 1982 theatrical film starring Carol Burnett and Albert Finney, the 1999 television film starring Kathy Bates and Victor Garber and the 2014 theatrical film starring Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx.

<i>Bachelor in Paradise</i> season 7 Season of television series

The seventh season of Bachelor in Paradise premiered on August 16, 2021. In June 2021, it was confirmed that David Spade, Lil Jon, Tituss Burgess, Lance Bass and others would serve as rotating guest hosts for the seventh season, replacing original host Chris Harrison.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Slumber Party: Fact Sheet". Disney General Entertainment Content Press. June 23, 2023. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  2. ↑ Hullender, Tatiana (July 24, 2023). "The Slumber Party Cast Preview The Chaos That Follows A Sleepover In New BTS Clip". Screen Rant . Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  3. ↑ Schwartz, Ryan (July 22, 2023). "The TVLine-Up: What's New, Returning and Leaving the Week of July 23". TVLine . Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  4. ↑ Jacobs, Meredith (June 23, 2023). "The Slumber Party Is Family Version of The Hangover — Watch Trailer (VIDEO)". TV Insider . Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Stivale, Shelby (June 27, 2023). "Disney Channel's 'The Slumber Party': Release Date, Full Cast". J-14 . Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  6. 1 2 Denise Petski (September 27, 2022). "The Slumber Party Coming-Of-Age Comedy Movie Based On 'The Sleepover' Teen Novel Ordered By Disney Branded Television". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 2022-09-27. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  7. 1 2 Grobar, Matt (June 7, 2023). "Tituss Burgess & Paula Pell Join Disney Original Movie The Slumber Party From Imagine Kids+Family". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Disney Branded Television Teams with Imagine Kids+Family for Disney Original Movie The Slumber Party". The Futon Critic . September 27, 2022. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  9. ↑ Gachman, Dina (September 1, 2023). "Five Children's Movies to Stream Now". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  10. ↑ Bharanidharan, Sadhana (September 28, 2022). "Imagine Kids+Family adapts The Sleepover for Disney". Kidscreen . Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  11. ↑ Manning, Luke (June 7, 2023). "Tituss Burgess and Paula Pell Join the Cast of Disney's "The Slumber Party"". LaughingPlace.com. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  12. ↑ Dick, Jeremy (June 24, 2023). "The Slumber Party Trailer Teases Disney's Family-Friendly Version of The Hangover". MovieWeb . Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  13. ↑ Kelley, Aidan (June 30, 2023). "7 Best New Movies & Shows on Disney+ in July 2023". Collider . Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  14. ↑ "The Slumber Party - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media. 2023-07-28. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  15. ↑ Alvar, Natasha (July 31, 2023). "The Slumber Party REVIEW - Don't Sleep on This". Cultured Vultures. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  16. ↑ Kurten, Guillermo; Marnell, Blair; Marshall, Rick (August 2, 2023). "The best movies on Disney+ Right Now (August 2023)". Digital Trends . Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  17. ↑ Smith, Tessa (July 26, 2023). "The Slumber Party Movie Review: A Fun Coming Of Age Story". Mama's Geeky. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  18. ↑ Morgan, Stephanie. "The Slumber Party Movie Review | Common Sense Media". Common Sense Media . Retrieved 2023-08-19.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.