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bettysak
Reviews
Zoey 102 (2023)
Nice tribute to the fans but eh
When I first heard about this movie I was excited! I didn't remember much about the original series,as it had been YEARS since I had watched it, but I do remember it being one of my favorite shows as a kid. After hearing that a childhood favorite of mine was returning, I decided to rewatch the series again. Watching as an adult now, each episode that ended left me with the same feeling... This sure isn't as amazing as I thought it was when I was younger, but there is still something that keeps me invested. I couldn't quite figure out what that was. Maybe the concept? The storylines? The characters? Or maybe just the idea of nostalgia? Whatever it was, it was enough to get me hyped for the reboot. I think for me, knowing that there was some sort of potential in the original is what kept me looking forward to the drop of the new movie. I was thinking since years had passed maybe they had time to reflect on what worked and what didn't work back in the day, and use all of that knowledge to their advantage now that it is 2023 and things have evolved. The trailer was super underwhelming, and I was thinking to myself, if this the best you have to highlight from the entire film maybe it's not going to live up to what I had hoped for it...Still, I gave it a fair chance... and it left me with the same feeling I had after watching the original series again. The acting wasn't spectacular,(specifically Zoeys character who is the MAIN star in the movie),the jokes are hit or miss (and the ones that miss are either repetitive jokes we've seen before or cringe) there seems to be a lack of plot,outside of Zoey and Chases relationship, and overall the ending was super predictable. I know this isn't a theater film, but I still wish there had been a little more to this movie than what there was. I do appreciate all the little references to the original series, and I get the concept, but I just feel like we didn't really get to see these characters go through something together and come to a solution that teaches a lesson and builds their character. It was so focused on Zoey and Chase that it left me feeling disappointed. Don't get me wrong I know a lot of Zoey 101 fans love the whole relationship drama, and I tend to get invested in it myself, but we know at the end of the movie these two characters are going to end up together. I just really wish there had a been a bigger plot,something outside of their relationship and something less predictable. I always wanted these two together as a kid but for the sake of interest in the movie, and the element of surprise, I wish they hadn't have ended up together at the end just to make it feel a little more real. The subplot with Zoeys job was a bit uninteresting and didn't feel like a big enough problem to make into an entire movie out of. Plus I feel like Zoey really backstabbed Quinn during an important time of her life and was super selfish during the whole movie, and she didn't even face any major consequences from anything that she did to hurt anyone. And her agreeing to the promotion at the end was a bad move. She definitely should've stuck to quitting her job if they wanted to make a statement and get a message across. I feel like after everyone easily forgave Zoey for LYING to them the entire time and ruining her best friends wedding, and Zoey being so quick to forgive her boss for belittling her and treating her like garbage, the only message we get out of this is that it's okay to betray people close to you because everything will work out in the end and you'll still get your way! It's also hard for me not to compare this to iCarly, because they are both Nickelodeon shows that have made a comeback in recent years. Although probably not a fair comparison,because iCarly was a better quality show to begin with, the acting in iCarly is just SO much more believable than in Zoey102. I genuinely feel what the iCarly characters are feeling and it just brings so much more magic to what you're watching when the actors and actresses hit their marks. I can't fully feel for characters who obviously look like they are reading a script. The drama in iCarly is superior, and I know if they ever made a new iCarly movie that the plot would be HUGE and engaging,instead of just one dull main plot about a relationship or a job. The characters would go through something super challenging and the twists and turns wouldn't be predictable. The jokes are genuinely funny in iCarly where as they feel overused and worn out in Zoey102. Overall, there was enough to keep me watching for the entire movie, but knowing the potential it had and what could've been done with it, I'm left with the same feeling I had after revisiting the tv series of Zoey101. Wishing I could tweak it myself to make it way more worth watching. That being said, there is still just something...some hint of something that is there and because of that I will probably keep tuning in to any future Zoey 101 reboots just out of curiosity and in hopes that maybe one day they will actually take advantage of the shows potential and turn it into something as magical as I know it could've been. But so far it hasn't truly worked. 5/10 may even be a bit generous but I still want to believe they'll get it right one day!