Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38525 in DVD
• Brand: Alice
• Released on: 2008-07-29
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• ESRB Rating: Teen
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 90 minutes

Amazon.com
Still mourning the death of her mother a few years back, Alice McKinley finds her life seriously disrupted when her father Ben buys a store and moves her and her older brother Lester to a new town. In the painful throes of adolescence, Alice has a rough time adjusting to her new school, especially after she gets the stern Mrs. Plotkin as her core teacher. Feeling shy and isolated, Alice frequently escapes into a vivid fantasy life that occasionally gets her into hot water. But with a little unexpected help from Mrs. Plotkin, Alice learns not to judge by appearances or jump to conclusions. More importantly, she confronts her father over his inability to accept their loss and move on into the future.

Amazon.com
Finally, a film that explores the challenges and insecurities facing middle school girls minus an overabundance of attitude. Alice Upside Down, based on the book The Agony of Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, is the story of Alice (Alyson Stoner), an insecure 6th grader who's mother died several years ago who's just moved to a new town where she'll be entering middle school. A magnet for embarrassing moments, Alice's first meetings with her neighbor Elizabeth (Parker McKenna Posey) and soon-to-be-classmate Patrick (Dylan McLaughlin) are hardly omens of a smooth introduction to middle school. Worse yet, the first day of school finds Alice enrolled in nightmare teacher Mrs. Plotkin's (Penny Marshall) homeroom class, at odds with the school principal, and saddled with a derogatory nickname that threatens to stick. Like many adolescents, Alice deals with her self-doubt by fantasizing about encounters in which she's confident and popular and by shutting out her father Ben (Luke Perry) and her older brother Lester (Lucas Grabeel). As Alice struggles to find her place in middle school, she matures both emotionally and socially and her relationships with her family, friends, and teacher Mrs. Plotkin begin to change and grow in positive ways. What's so refreshing about Alice Upside Down is that the film truly captures the insecurities of being an 11-year-old about to enter middle school without the abundance of teen attitude so popular in contemporary films. Alice is the adolescent every parent hopes for--she's a real, likeable kid who's changing and maturing into a strong young woman. (Ages 7 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

Stills from Alice Upside Down (Click for larger image)

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Customer Reviews

Great cast but a bit slow
This is a movie about a girl who has to start life over again in a new town just as she enters the most awkward time of life -- middle school. Her mother passed away when she was five and she doesn't have any maternal role models.

The cast has a lot of potential to put together an outstanding movie. I have watched Alyison Stoner grow up on Disney as "Mike's spunky (and smarter) sister" on the quickie "Mike's Supershort Show". She has developed into a fine young actress and obviously has a lot of talent in terms of acting, singing and even dancing. Lucas Grabeel of High School Musical fame is given a better opportunity to be a likable character and show his talent.

In a way, this movie reminds me of a tragic version High School Drama Queen with Lindsey Lohan. You watch as everything goes wrong for Alice and after awhile, you just wish SOMETHING would go right... And if the stuff that went wrong was somewhat funny, it would be easier to take. But very little of it is funny... just sad.

It tries to involve too many themes and does none of them justice. You find yourself feeling like you came in in the middle and missed critical pieces. Like what happened to her mom? Who is the lady they left behind in Chicago and why does the dad want to get away from her when she clearly was a help to Alice? Lucas' character gets caught dating 2 girls at the same time but we didn't even realize that he was dating one of them so that scene just seemed out of place. The dad starts dating an old high school friend but once again, that never gets fully fleshed out and doesn't really seem to be relevant.

Despite the shortcomings, I would still recommend the movie -- particularly if you have a tween-ager. I started watching this movie with my son who just started sixth grade today and his experience was pretty similar to Alice's. Kids won't be bothered by the continuity stuff but they will be able to relate to the awkwardness and the feeling that nothing ever goes their way. And, in the end, Alice does finally find her way so the movie ends on a high-note.

A Light Family Film With A Few Heavy Issues
"Alice Upside Down," based on the "Alice" series of books from Phyllis Reynolds Naylor explores the ups and downs of being a pre-teen girl. Alyson Stoner ("Camp Rock," "Mike's Super Short Show") portrays Alice McKinley, a young girl who's mother died when she was five and has grown up with her big brother Lester (Lucas Grabeel of "High School Musical") under the guidance of their widowed father, Ben (Luke Perry, "Jeremiah," "Eight Seconds," "Beverly Hills, 90210").

Moving into a new town can be tough for a young girl, especially if she's a tomboy with a wild imagination. Alice feels that she can't do anything right and always seems to end up in embarassing situations. She dislikes her new teacher, has a tough time making friends and doesn't understand why girls think her brother is cute. Lester seems to have adjusted to his new home quite nicely. He's in a band, has a few girls after him and his grades are decent enough. Ben has also adjusted to his new digs. His music shop is a success and he's started a relationship with an old friend.

While this sounds like a typical Disney Channel or Nickelodeon film, there are some tough issues that are addressed. Ben struggles with the loss of his wife. He also battles his relatives over how to properly bring up his children. Alice deals with all of the normal problems that face young teens and pre-teens, but her mother's death weighs heavy on her as well. She is desperate to fit in, but her male-driven upbringing makes her stick out like a sore thumb. She also has a problem of forming an opinion of people before actually getting to know them. This especially comes into play when a supposed villain becomes a best friend.

The cast is excellent. The youngsters in the film do a fine job. There's a slight "Babysitters Club" vibe running through the whole picture, and they convey this with ease. Two of the adults should be easily recognized. One is the aforementioned Perry and the other is the wonderful director/actress Penny Marshall. Marshall's role is a bit limited, but her character is key to the development of the story.

What's best about this film is the fact that the adults face up to their problems without the usual "all is lost" mentality. The kids act like kids, and respond as expected. Alice does act a bit older than she really is, but she's the voice of reason for the young audience. She actually gives some solid advice to younger viewers.

This DVD comes with two brief and very unnecessary interviews with Stoner and Grabeel. They basically answer questions culled from the pages of "Bop" and "Tiger Beat." Also included is a brief featurette on the many costumes that Alice dons during the film and trailers for upcoming films.

While the heavier issues in this film might be depressing, this film is primarily lighter fare. The bond between Ben and his children is nice to see on film and I'm glad that teachers are shown in a positive light. Also, the kids aren't strung out on drugs or having sex every five minutes.

Overall, "Alice Upside Down" is a positive film about dealing with day-to-day issues for junior high kids. It's not the most moving film out there and the humor is primarily geared towards the pre-teen set, but your entire family should enjoy this film. Recommended to anybody with kids aged six and up.

A Heart Warming Movie that will Touch You
This is a movie based on the books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. If you've read the books you know that Alice's mother died of leukemia when she was five. The books take Alice through the third grade on up. However, it's not necessary to have read any of Ms. Naylor's series to enjoy this movie that went straight to DVD. I don't know why, because I liked it. I liked it a lot.

I read a professional review that said this movie didn't really have an audience, that it was too grown up for children and that because it was released for young adults older folks wouldn't like it. Hooey, that what I have to say about that.

The move opens with Alice, her father, played by Luke Perry, and brother Lester, moving to another town. Alice has to say goodbye to her old home, with it's memories of her mother and her friends. Dad's bought a music store in the new town and Alice is the new girl in school and she doesn't seem to fit in. She makes blunder after blunder, but, of course, in the end things work out for her.

I particularly liked the way Alice steps out of character and talks to the audience. I loved Penny Marshall's work in front of the camera just a much as I love her work behind it. This is a heart warming movie that really touched me and if you have a heart, it'll touch you too.