Loved the books, by Tim Federle. The movie, not so much. Way (way way) too Disney-fied. The books had depth. It was about an awkward boy getting it all wrong as he tries so very hard to get it all right, to find a place for himself in a world which doesn't seem to have a place for him. The film doesn't dig down. It goes for the cheap laughs and the kind of syrupy fakeness you see in 1980s sitcoms. There are about a thousand product placements. Even the play Nate is auditioning for (ET: The Musical) is changed to "Lilo and Stitch" (a Disney production). In the film Nate doesn't sing an historical Broadway song. He sings "Let It Go". Also from a Disney film. The one saving grace is that the kid, Rueby Wood, has a few really decent musical numbers. It's the only time I really enjoyed myself. Unfortunately, the whole thing is poisoned for me. This should be a film about a seventh grader figuring out who he is. Instead it becomes a 93 minute ad for Disney. So, blech. Read the books.
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