Recess: All Growed Down (2003)

Truly Dreadful Film

Redundant and unnecessary.

Admirable film.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

I would have preferred it if the entire DVD was all new material instead of showing flashbacks Recess episode focusing on the kindergarteners that I'm sure we've all seen already on TV more than once; when it does finally get to the never-before-seen part it's basically Gus making up this big far-fetched and fabricated lie about how he was actually in the same kindergarten class as his friends when they were all 5 years old at Third Street School, but then had to be taken out the same day he came and did not return until the age of 9 when the gang were in the 4th grade. He also claimed that he had completely different personality as a little kid and so did all his friends plus classmates until he changed their behavior and made them who they are as bigger kids; I frankly don't believe any word that came out of Gus's mouth during his story since it would make handful of plot holes in the Recess show so there's no way I could ever be convinced that any of it could ever be true, Gus saying that he was at a certain place at some point in time when he was not and saying that he acted a certain way when he never did. But if I had to say something nice about the DVD it would be that even Gus's story was obliviously made up on the spot it's still was interesting for the most part and very original to say the least;also the animation is very colorful and vibrant and the characters are all very cute a little kids, especially T.J. and most especially Spinelli who is my # 1 favorite.Well that's all folks and thanks reading if you did.

I love Recess, for me it is one of the last "good" Disney shows. And generally I liked All Growed Down, it is not as good as the show or School's Out but it is better and closer in spirit to the show than Taking the Fifth Grade. What was it that I didn't like very much? I personally do think that the film could have been 10 minutes longer, it all seemed too brief and short to me. I am also not a fan of TJ's voice, I can kind of forgive Taking the Fifth Grade because he was meant to be older(but only by a year) but not so much here. It lacks spunk and seems too adolescent for a 9-year old schoolboy. But my biggest problem was with Gus, his story is very inconsistent with what we know about him in the show and to me he seemed very out of character as well. However, the animation is bright and colourful, in keeping in style to the show's actually, and the music still manages to be catchy. The writing is smart and funny, not only that but also manages to be true in spirit too, while the story apart from the thing with Gus is cute and charming. All the characters are recognisable and on the most part consistent with the show, Gus in fact I think is the one exception. Apart from TJ, the voices are very good, Principal Prickley, Miss Finster and Spinelli are spot-on. All in all, I found All Growed Down good on the whole, though lacking those extra things to make it great. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Recess: All growed down is a fantastic film because the storyline was good and so was the animation. In this movie my favourite characters were Mikey Blumberg and Ashley Spinelli because their animation was the best. The gangs gets kidnapped by some kindergarten tots and have to tell them stories to get out of their abandoned place (Kindergartner playground). Mikey tells Tubby the story of the kindergartens Derby, T.J. tells the story when the fourth graders have to spend time with the kindergartens and Gus makes up a story of his own that convinces the Kindergartners to let the gang go. I thought this movie was great even though it could have improved a bit on the animation.

While I was on vacation, I bought this DVD. When I first watched this movie it was awesome it tells you so much about the recess gang and their adventures when they were younger. I think that anybody would love to see this movie even if you are not a fan of this show it is a great movie to watch. It is also a great movie to watch with your kids or just by yourself. This Movie is just a great movie if you love the recess movie than you will just absolutely love this movie. This movie contains all of the regular recess T. J., Mikey, Gretchen, Ashley Spinally, vince, and Gus. Also at the end of this movie there is a very special surprise that you learn about one of the recess gang members.