With Jim Sabatini

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer

Rated: PG
Reviewed by: Chris
Release date: June 10, 2011	Released by: Smokewood Entertainment Group

      Based on Megan McDonald's book series, elementary school girl, Judy Moody (Jordana Beatty) is positive that her summer break from school is going to be the worst, most boring vacation yet.   So, she goes about trying to make it the best time ever!
 
       Her parents leave her and her brother "Stink" with her airhead Aunt Opal (Heather Graham) while they go to the West coast to see their family.   Opal acts about as old as her wards, so Judy's prospects for some excitement have increased.
 
       Judy makes a chart where she outlines dares that she wants to accomplish and gives each a thrill point.   She has a few adventures, but all of them backfire.
They have a wild roller coaster ride, a hunt for Big Foot and a few crazy driving mishaps  along the way.
 
        Judy is very excitable and only interested in herself, which is usually true for most kids.   However, this character yells most of her dialogue.   She shouts, carries on and is not a very pleasant kid.   Even the adults in the cast (including Jaleel White - T.V.'s Urkel) act like juveniles.
 
       We get the usual goop, bodily function jokes and all sorts of embarrassing silliness that shows up in most films aimed at youngsters.   Judy Moody is not a bad film and amongst one bombastic situation after another, there is a slight moral to the story.   I would  have liked a little less noise however, and a bit of charm once in a while.