; 400x60

click here to see our uploads list
click for new
Film Reviews, Festivale movie section, a reel life
click here for current front page

Festivale online magazine, April, 1998
Leave it to Beaver movie review
Leave it to Beaver

School holidays approach, and so does the new batch of kids' films. This time it's Leave it to Beaver, following the tried-and-true tactic of updating a classic TV show for a modern audience. Unlike the Brady Bunch Movie, this re-creation faithfully follows the original, with its idyllic nuclear family in an idyllic small-town neighbourhood.

Movie still, Leave it to Beaver, Festivale movie review

Amazon.com logo
Search for:
UK's largest videos store
For all its whitebread origins, it's not a bad film. The actors playing Ward (Christopher McDonald), June (Janine Turner), Wally (Erik von Detten) and the Beaver (Cameron Finley) play their roles with relaxed charm. There aren't many functional families around nowadays, but these folk make it look easy. Of course they have their little character flaws and dilemmas, but the problems of life never rise much above whether or not to tell Dad you really don't want to be in the football team. There are villains and girls and nods to the 90s, as when the whole family has an appointment with the school psychologist to talk about Beaver.

One thing bothers me though... it's unclear in this modern version whether June is a housewife or has a career of her own. We certainly see her doing the housework in immaculate make-up and pearls, but it seems as if the film's makers are embarrassed to admit it's an old-style father-as-breadwinner family. That's the problem with this movie - it's not sure if it's really in the 90s or not. The cast are much more ethnically diverse than the old series, sure, but the family dynamics just seem a little unbelievable. I would have liked to see June with a career for a start, and a few other modern touches in addition to the ones in evidence.

Overall though, it's an inoffensive movie with a good cast and will appeal to young kids.

Click here to buy films from one of the online stores in Festivale's on-line shopping mallTim Richards

See also: Ali's review
For credits and official site details, click here.
Search Festivale for more

Bookmark and Share

Like us on facebook

Send your comments or review
Search Festivale or the web

Enter movie, TV show, or person
 
Provided by Internet Movie Database.
Just the facts:

Credits and official website are listed on Ali's Review (see link above).

Bookmark and Share

Like us on facebook



A Reel Life, the Festivale film sectionMovie Reviews IndexClick here to go to our links to movie sitesContact us at Festivale
Movie images, sounds, and video clips are solely owned by their respective companies.
No other uses are permitted without the prior written consent of owner.
Use of the material in violation of the foregoing may result in civil and/or criminal penalties.

disclaimer

Festivale Online Magazine
Celebrate everything!


ISSN 1328-8008
Published in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
disclaimers | contact the editor | Festivale revision history

: Published in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia : copyright © Festivale 1999 All rights reserved
Filed: 17-Apr-1998 : Last updated: : Last tested: 3-Jul-2014: Last Compiled: 3-Jul-2014
Entire site refreshed: Dec 2008-Feb 2009 | Site URL transferred: Jan 2005 (previously www.festivale.webcentral.com.au)

Report a bug

Movies by month, coming attractions, Australian movie release datesIndex of movie reviewscontents of current FestivaleA Reel Life movie section