Max Keeble's Big Move

I say this with hesitation, for saying so may go to somehow doom and jinx it, and prevent future efforts that are for the overall good: Disney has finally realized that success in the movie business is not with the cinematic filth it has been peddling of late but with the movies Walt (as is Disney) sanctioned and produced.

I say the preceeding with hesitation, for saying so may go to somehow doom and jinx it, and because I wonder: Is "Max Keeble's Big Move" a fluke? Something that slipped through the cracks at Disney, something should not be?

No matter. Let me say this: I watched "Max Keeble's Big Move" and felt something wonderful growing in myself: Optimism, stemming from the Frank Capra school of Americana.

Understand: "Max Keeble's Big Move" is a stereotypical, cliche-ridden, predictable, goofy, silly, dumb movie.

But it does what movies like what Walt Disney once made are supposed to do: It entertained.

I digress: The story of Max Keeble begins thus: It is the first day of junior high school and he is at that point in a boy's life when hormones have begun their crazy dance inside his body. Which, contrary to what this may imply, is a good thing: When he sees Woodwind Girl (Zena Gray), these hormones allow him to understand strange feelings he has toward her.

Also, he likes junior high school, which is important. Not only to him but to the story and what will result. A bit of background, first, however: There are two bullies: One of them is named Troy McGinty (Noel Fisher), and the other is named Principal Jindraike (Larry Miller).

Troy is the two-dimensional bully often found in classic Disney b-flicks: He is taller than Max, he is blond, and he has a certain look about him: Billy Idol doing Gary Busey.

Principal Jindraike is the other bully here and, like Troy, is predictable in his actions and motives: Max rubs him the wrong way so he is going to make life for Max within the school unpleasant.

All under the guise of 'Education'.

Onward. Now all is going well for Max--he is beginning to make headway when it comes to his relationship with Woodwind Girl, he is making headway in his struggle against Troy, he is beginning to make headway in his campaign to prevent the principal from tearing down an animal shelter to build a stadium--and then bad things transpire: Max's father (Robert Carradine) tells Max's mother (Nora Dunn) that his job requires a massive life change:

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