This movie WAS made for the Disney Channel…and then forgotten about by it. I don’t know of any other movies made under the Disney label omitted from Disney Plus (not counting Song of the South). Luckily I was able to find it, cut into a bunch of pieces but still complete, on YouTube.
How does it hold up to the other versions though? I’d rank it 3rd out of 4. Since I have yet to discuss those most recent two, I’ll leave them out of this post.
This lacks the physical zaniness of the first one, perhaps because they were working on a 90s TV movie budget. It does add some drama though, involving the daughter not liking her mom’s current boyfriend. Not particularly moving, but not bad.
What matters most is the comedy that transpires as the daughter tries to work at her mom’s office and the mom tries to get by at her daughter’s school. How they ended up switching and switching back is kind of handwaved, but we get some touching moments where the mom and daughter learn to understand each other better and even to love each other better.
The effect of the movie is helped by the two leads. Shelly Long became the butt of a lot of jokes for leaving Cheers in a failed attempt at movie stardom, but at least she eventually got this nice TV movie on her resume.
It seemed such a boneheaded move people are still trying to wrap their heads around it.
Meanwhile, it’s interesting seeing Gaby Hoffman back when she looked like a female…for that matter back when she looked human. She was a talented child actress.
I know the politically correct thing would be to praise her for not conforming to traditional standards of beauty but…wow.
In the “guy most people have seen in some minor role department” Andrew Keegan does a great job stepping into Marc McClure’s shoes as the daughter’s love interest.
Oh God…he thinks he’s God these days. He founded his own religion. A LOW-GRADE Kirk Cameron.
Edit: I just saw the movie actually aired on ABC originally, and I know 1995 was the year BEFORE Disney bought ABC. Still, shocked and disappointed that this isn’t on Disney Plus, considering Disney did make it.
Bottom Line: Solidly good time.
Up Next: Let’s get it out of the way.
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