I like that this movie came out in 1999, we people might have been fearing about the future when everything collapsed in 2000. If you are reading this blog post after 1999 then, congrats you've made it! If you are reading this from before 1999, uhhhh Time traveler?
I think "Smart House" is one of Disney Channel's most remembered and iconic movies and for a movie with technology in it, it's not dated at all really as much well things do date it because of time marching on. "Smart House" premiered on June 26 1999 starting Ryan Merriman (who later on was on "Luck of the Irish") and Katie Volding , who was also on "Brink". They play brother and sister Ben and Angie Cooper who live with their widower father (because Disney) and that plays more intothe movie's plot because it has too. Fun fact: This movie is directed by LeVar Burton. (Yep THAT Levar Burton)
I haven't mentioned the most important actor yet, so stay tuned. That's not to say that Ryan's character isn't important either. The main of point of this movie is not really the house, strange really, because it's called "Smart House" you'd think that the house is the most important part. Ben is a 13-year-old boy who after the death of his mother decides to take upon himself to "take care of the family".
The movie does start with the house who is voiced by the one, the only Katey Sagal, she does a great expressive monotone voice. Yes, that's a sentence I just wrote. (You typed it!) They also have Jessica Steen in this movie, whom you know from "Heartland" (thanks Canada). She is the inventor of the smart house named Sara Barnes. There's a contest for a family to win the house, why? Maybe she likes giving things away for tax purposes. Meanwhile, the movie does a good job of showing us the viewer, how Ben takes care of things around the house filling in as role of his passed on mother.
You see through his interactions with his sister, especially that role. There's a dog in the movie played by an actual dog. The Dad, who also played the dad on Home Alone 3, is a busy working man because he's a single and ready to mingle? (What?) The reason why I say that is Angie does want him to date and find a new Mom, while Ben is more not wanting that. I did say that Ryan Merriman played in "Luck of the Irish" so of course he plays basketball in this movie because BASKETBALL.
BASKETBALL SHIRT /Copyright Disney
Sara has a pet rat, this is important information for later. Since this 1999, dial up exists and there's a reference to the line being tied by the internet. (So, yeah) Also, Ben is trying to make sure his dad doesn't find a new lady to marry. (this is also important information) Now Sara and two other people I really don't care about since, they'll be gone soon pick the winner, gee I wonder who this winner will be. (That family from "Quints"?) The house's name is PAT, also important. There's a bully character because 90's or something. (Yawn)
The father sees Sara's picture in the newspaper and thinks she's beautiful.(This is for the plot) Now there's a tour of the house. One of the best features of the house is green screen vision or blue screen whatever. The family decides to move in the house, but with the idea that if anything doesn't work out they'll go back home. This movie remembers c'est la vie by B*Witched , do you remember it?
B*Witched seems confused here /Copyright Disney
Angie says to Ben she thinks their father is in love with a beautiful woman, fine that's my line , but you know Sara, because yes. (thanks for that) Ben doesn't like that idea one reason is that he doesn't want the memory of his mother replaced. He explains that is why doesn't go out for BASKETBALL (our running gag ) and be with his friends making sure the family runs smoothly. He wanted to win the house because he doesn't want Mom II: The second Mom.
Love House/ Copyright Disney
The movie goes through the first part where the it shows how the house helps the family, blah blah, I need this movie to have the part where it goes wrong. The bully is still annoying and unnecessary to the movie. Oh look something went wrong with the smoothie maker had a glitch and that means the father wants Sara to come by and this makes Ben find out about the main control room of the house. He doesn't want to get to know Sara. (Because TENSION) Ben is grumpy.
more after the jump
