Return to Halloweentown dvd - EU Jacksonville 10/25/07

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scared past silly

by kellie abrahamson
kabrahamson1@aol.com

Let’s get this out of the way right up front: I am not the target demographic for any of the Halloweentown movies. Sure, I’ve seen bits and pieces of a couple, but I’ve never actually sat through an entire installment of the series until the fourth film, Return to Halloweentown, which is now available on DVD.

      Marnie Piper (Sara Paxton) is now enrolled at Halloweentown’s Witch University, a prestigious school that’s filled with the magical elite. Marnie, a descendant of the ultra-powerful Cromwell family, soon becomes the target of the Sinister sisters, a trio of wicked siblings who play pranks on the teen legacy to prove that they rule the school. Meanwhile the group known as The Dominion is plotting to use Marnie’s magic and bloodline to take over Halloweentown.
      The Return to Halloweentown DVD is dubbed “The Ultimate Secret Edition” for apparently no other reason but to add a few more words to the cover. Extras on the disc are nearly nonexistent. Fans get a single 6 minute featurette called “Behind the Scenes Spooktacular.” Here we get a very brief look at some of the visual effects and hear from the cast members and crew about the making of the film. Admittedly Return to Halloweentown is no High School Musical, but I’m sure fans would have appreciated a bit more effort on this release. Hopefully Disney will do right by them in the future.
      Return to Halloweentown is almost impossible to follow without knowing a bit of the back story found in the first three films, so if you’re planning on picking this DVD up for the tween in your life be sure they are familiar with the series. Having seen many Disney Channel Movies over the years, this one struck me as the most forgettable, especially compared to monster-smash-mega-hits like High School Musical and The Cheetah Girls. Still, Return to Halloweentown managed to get 7.5 million viewers when it premiered, making it the 5th highest rated DCOM ever, so it’s gotta be doing something for the kids! Snag this perfectly seasonal DVD for your Halloweentown fan and I’m sure they’ll thank you for it. Just be sure to grab a good book for yourself so you won’t too bored while they watch!

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