Cadet Kelly (DVD, 2005)

This is an excellent movie for adults to watch with children. Parents can comment on the values explored directly and indirectly in the film. Adults forget what the world of 14-year-olds is like, particularly when they are uprooted from everything familiar and forced to start over.

The movie focuses on the theme of discipline as a means to success using the backdrop of military school. Hilary Duff gives a superb performance as measured against her subsequent film efforts in silly and childish roles. Here, she actually demonstrates an acting manner worthy of praise. As the free-spirited Cadet Kelly, Duff portrays the typical teenager who needs to focus on goals, objectives and skills to begin making the transition into the adult world.

Christy Carlson Romano gives a super performance out of character as the inflexible Captain Stone, who lives her life strictly by the book. Her "mean-girl" persona is guided by the rigid discipline military life demands, unlike the mean-spirited characterization of teens in recent films.

By the end of the movie, each girl has learned to accept and incorporate the strengths of the other to better herself and to become more tolerant of the differences in other people.

A wonderful musical soundtrack and sound effects make this a joy to watch. Don't be surprised if some of the scenes remind you of Hoosiers, High Noon, the DI, Full Metal Jacket, as well as Legally Blonde and Private Benjamin to name a few. There is some very good "borrowing" of technical aspects from quality films. Note the use of lighting in the gym during the early drill team demonstration. The look is not typical Disney.

Only adults who have read The Red Badge of Courage and Frederick Douglass will see these elements in the transformation of Kelly as she moves ever so slightly toward adulthood. Fortunately, Disney still allows her to make mistakes as is typical of youngsters.

The flaws and imperfections in the budding competence of Kelly make her respected and lovable. And isn't that what we want for all of our children as they make their way to adulthood?

I decided to buy it, because it was sold for a good price, and I couldn't find it anywhere else.Hilary Duff, and ChristiCarlson were really fun to watch in it! The movie depicted a young girl who was accustomed to getting her own way in life, and then her mom gets remarried to a colonel in a militaryg school. So Kelly decided to go to the school, and didn't know how difficult it would be to fit in. She dealt with other students laughing about her, and she had Kristi yelling at her all the time. Kelly thought that she could get away with things, since she was the colonel's daughter. But her father treated her just like he would anyone else. Once Kelly's life was under control, she earned great respect her peers, and family. Then she helped her father-in- law to fit into her family. The movie was fun to watch, with great humor, and a nice lesson to learn as well.

This movie with Hillary Duff was absolutely cute and adorable! As an adult, I had a great time watching it. There were no slow parts, it was easy to follow, and heart-warming to see how 'Kelly' adapts to a new life but doesn't lose her sense of individuality and even helps others find theirs. There really wasn't anything not to love about it! I loved that the whole family could enjoy watching it because you didn't have to worry about bad content for younger viewers.

Watch and you'll be hooked! If you're not a Hillary fan, you soon will be!

This is a movie about a teenager who has to move to a military school. Her mom remarries and because her new husband has a new job they have to move. Kelly has to go to a military school with strict rules and routine and she is the type of person who is the total opposite of this. The movie shows what she has to go through and all of her struggles. This was a great movie. This movie also deals with divorce, father who has a job that requires him to travel alot, a new step father, a move to new town, a new school, new friends, and a new sibling. Her mom gets pregnant and Kelly thinks that she needs to teach her new step dad how to be a good father.

I saw Cadet Kelly on television. Not silly, but was a very good movie with heart. Walked away feeling happy, good. Good for ROTC or even children of military families.