Eddie's Million Dollar Cook Off (2003)

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Honestly, I never cared for the movies produced by the modern Disney channel (I think they're calling it Zoog? Whatever that means.). In fact, I haven't really liked most of the more recent theatrical films from the Disney company. They seem to have gone way downhill since Walt died, though there have been signs that they are returning to form lately. Movies like Sky High, Pirates, and even The Game Plan was a minor improvement over the countless number of sub-par attempts they have been making since the late 80's. And now we have this. Yet another family sports comedy featuring a kid as the lead, just another sandlot wannabe. Or is it? Yes, the plot is cliché and tired, and yes, the film itself is endlessly predictable--especially how it ends. But somehow it manages to pull itself away from what seemed like inevitable mediocrity. The film itself had a sort of charm to it that really added to the viewer's enjoyment of what would be an otherwise pointless mess of cliché. That and Taylor Ball, best known for playing the part of Brian on the sitcom Still Standing. He times his lines just well enough that he actually makes some rather silly lines of dialog work. He manages to make a character out of one of the most tired cliché vehicles in the book. and for that, I praise him. Taylor Ball saved this movie from being a total failure. It is a wonder why he doesn't get more work.-Ryan out.

Didn't really watch the movie but while my kids were watching and I was reading the paper I heard them using the song "Soul Food" which is from Leon Russell's 1967 album, Asylum Choir that he did with a guy named Marc Benno. For those who never heard of Leon, check him out - he should be in the Rock and Roll hall of Fame for his contributions during the early years with such folks as the Beach Boys, Joe Cocker and as a solo artist. Weird.....I am a huge Leon fan and the last place I would have expected to find his songs - let alone this one is a Disney movie. Great choice Mr. Director...... well i see I need ten lines of text so here goes.. this is the tenth line!!!!!!

First things first, I am so NOT one for Disney Channel Original Movies, I find them extremely annoying and most of them feature fantasy creatures or non-realstic scenarios. BUT, on Friday July 18th I sat and watched Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off and I loved it, that's right, I loved an original movie and I'm not afraid to admit it! I mean Taylor Ball is a great actor (not to mention good looking), that sounds so cliche, but have you seen the other movies, I know you don't think those kids are good actors, but Taylor is totally believable and does his job with ease. Orlando Brown, ok he annoys me but I'm warming up to him, I mean he wasn't always being silly like the line "Yeah well I don't think you making Eddie chose between having friends and cooking is helping either D.B." that was really well acted and I think he could have a future in other things, not just disney channel shows and movies. Reiley McClendon, I love Reiley, this kid is so adorable, and he's really funny too. And Rose McIver (Hannah) I had no idea she was a Kiwi, you couldn't even tell she's terrific at an American accent, she's definately going to go far. OK, only three things bugged me about this movie 1. NO ONE, would make fun of a boy for cooking! The boys are better at Home Ec. then us and they like it too, no one makes fun of them. 2. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FOOD FIGHT!!!! I have never been in or seen a real food fight, they are nonexistant, you would be in SO much trouble, no one I repeat no one! really has school food fights! 3. The girl who plays Bridgette SUCKS at an American accent, alright she can not do it, I don't know why they hired her, she wasn't fooling me for a second. My favorite scene is when Eddie goes over to talk to Bridgette and D.B. comes over and is like "What are you doing." and Bridgette goes "We're talking about the cook-off." and Eddie goes "No we're not." and Bridgette's all "Yes we are." and Eddie says "She's crazy." then D.B. says "Is something going on between you two." and Eddie's all "With me and Bridgette? Get real!" I LOVE that part it's so hilarious, and later on when Eddie goes "They're carrots, whatever you do to them they're going to taste like carrots." and the another funny thing is at the end when Eddie goes "I GOT LEMON!!" it's so lame, like out of context, it's freakin hilarious. So if you, like me, lost faith in the Disney Channel a long time ago, be not afraid, watch this movie, it's fun, not too silly, and has an actual message sorta. And if all else fails, it will make you laugh.

Maybe I'm just in the wrong age bracket to really get into this film. But for the most part I found it dull and boring. I found myself flipping the channel quite often to see what else was on. That said, I have watched and enjoyed several other recent Disney Channel Original Movies, so it's not just I'm anti-Disney.Taylor Ball did a good job as the lead and Orlando Brown did a good job with his supporting part. The other boy (whose name I don't know) who played his friend was pretty good as well. But some of the other acting left a lot be desired. I particularly thought the girl who played Bridget was not a great actress.The plot was contrived. I couldn't understand why the whole school would get so worked up about him liking cooking. They might make fun of him, but if he really was the star baseball player I doubt they would have gotten angry with him like that. And I found myself not caring at the end what would happen, even though I knew they would eventually win the baseball game.And like others have said, the baseball games were quite unrealistic.Not a bad movie, just not great. It sends a good message to kids about pursuing your dreams and doing what you like to do, but the message itself comes across pretty heavy handed.