While sneaking a peek at Disney’s “Recess: School’s Out” (G), we yearned for a break too — from what at first seemed like one silly, cliched character after another. But somehow, as the action got more far-fetched (the Third Street School becomes headquarters for a shadowy villain set on eliminating recess forever), the movie’s grown-ups seemed more realistic and less one-dimensional.
In “Recess,” a supersized version of the popular Saturday morning cartoon, the action begins as classes are ending. Fourth-grader T.J. Detweiler and his gang view most adults at school as villains. Mr. Prickly, the principal, is a burned-out boob who is easily tricked. Miss Finster is a tough old teacher who would rather hoard the kids’ ice cream than see them enjoy the treat. No wonder T.J. is psyched for summer vacation! But his elation soon turns to misery when he discovers his friends are headed off to various camps, and he’s stuck at home with no one to hang with. When T.J. sees an eerie green light coming from his empty school, his parents and the cops are convinced T.J.’s imagination is working overtime. Only Principal Prickly can be persuaded to check out the school, but when he does — poof — he dematerializes. Now T.J. is left with nothing but Principal Prickly’s golf shoes and a mess of trouble.
It’s now up to T.J. and his friends to save not only their principal but the world from year-round school. But they’re surprised that when it comes to saving the day, teachers kick butt too. And they all do it together to a funky ’60s soundtrack.
“Recess: School’s Out” is no Disney blockbuster. Its animation isn’t anything special, its plot is pretty predictable, and there are no big-name superstars voicing the characters. The movie is what it is: a longer version of the TV cartoon. But if you want to extend your Saturday morning toon viewing into a Saturday afternoon matinee, “Recess” provides a mindless break that’ll leave you feeling glad to be a kid.
“Recess: School’s Out” hits theaters Friday.
