Fun Size
by Rebecca Hillary
Starring Victoria Justice, Johnny Knoxville, Jackson Nicoll and Chelsea Handler. Written by Max Werner. Directed by Josh Schwartz. Produced by Michael Beugg, Bard Dorros, Steve Golin, Paul Green, David Kanter, Samson Mucke, Lisbeth Rowinski, Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz.
Josh Schwartz, creator of Gossip Girl and The O.C., isn't necessarily known for his wholesome portrayal of family and friendship, but he is known for portraying it a little more realistically. These families aren't all board games and vacations – they have flawed complex relationships (Gossip Girl practically invented what it means to be a 'frenemy'). That's why this party movie for teens isn't just crude, foul-mouthed rubbish, but a more accurate representation of how teens behave and interact with each other. It's a movie that teens can appreciate and have fun with while getting to the heart of the story which is about the mending of a family.
Wren's (Justice) family hasn't been the same after the death of her father – her mom's dating a 26-year old and her little brother is an unruly prankster. And she's patiently awaiting the moment when she gets to leave for college and start her own life – but until then she has to wait it out. And unfortunately, when she's invited to a Halloween party by her biggest crush, she has to turn it down to babysit her little brother, Albert (Nicoll) for her mother (Handler), who's spending the evening with her boyfriend. Things spiral when Wren loses Albert in a haunted house and enlists two nerds and her best friend to help her find him. Along the way, life lessons are learned and themes of friendship, love and family are presented.
As Nickelodeon's first PG feature, Fun Size may be a little mature for kids and have some questionable parts, but its heart is in the right place, putting a positive spin and emphasis on family and friendship. While Wren may not have the perfect relationship with her mom and brother, they're still a very important part of her life and she learns to appreciate them. Any mature content is used for the purpose of humor, which is the film's strong suit and sets it apart from others aimed at the same audience – it features unexpectedly colorful performances from a new generation of comedically gifted young actors. —Rebecca Hillary
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