Degrassi - Degrassi Goes Hollywood (aka Paradise City) Discussion- 8/14 (The N) & 8/30 (CTV) - Page 2

**JustMe2000** · 08-15-2009, 08:37 PM

One thing I really enjoyed about it was all the call backs and allusions to other episodes involving these characters (Paige's leg, the Jay/Manny road trip, Craig/Ellie on the couch and at the airport). I also loved the little bits with Spin ("I dated her") as well as Holly J's one line of the night and the reference to Shenae.

I was happy to see them bring back Ellie's father and have his issues and her reluctance to deal with it linger over everything that was happening with her. I also think her avoidance of dealing with that, to the point of going 2,500 miles to get away from it, rang true with what we've seen of her character. As for Craig/Ellie, it's no secret I'm in their camp so I'm sure I was more open to enjoying their scenes than those who aren't fans of them. That said, I still think that scene with them on the couch was the highlight of the movie. And regarding the scene at the end, I'll just say it was indeed open ended and leave it at that.

As for the rest, the road trip was silly but I enjoyed it anyway in that classic Degrassi clustrer**** way. And you have to love Mia's sudden talents as a mechanic (apparently better than the professional, Jay) as well as the out of sight out of mind thirty-pound piece of (no longer, apparently) baggage she has. Still, I laughed a lot during those moments, especially loved Sav and his obsession with Ben Affleck. Oh and the way the guys were scared of Jay was hilarious as well. As for Jay/Manny, well again it's no secret I'm a fan of them so obviously I enjoyed their scenes and once again I'll just leave it at that.

The weakest part of the movie was the Paige/movie plot. That said, I did like that we got Paige in full on bitch mode. It's been a while for her in that regard. I also like that while she was able to make some things right, she couldn't repair all the damage she had done. Props to Michael Seater and Mary Ashton, who I thought were both very good in their roles.

Overall, it was a beautiful mess....but I loved just about every minute of it.

Chlarkrocks · 08-15-2009, 11:26 PM

Hey guys, great movie! It was awesome Kevin Smith was hilarious for the parts he was in and I loved all his lines. Stacey deserved the starring role credit and she did a great job with every scene. Especially the one in the ocean. The airport scene was amazing!!!! Someone has got to find the song because I think it could be one of my favorites!! Cassie Steele did fantastic with every scene also. The scene where she cried was right on point and she felt so more believable than ever before and I liked that. Mike was awesome. I just wish Miriam had been in more of it, but I guess that's okay. Nina did the best job out of all the degrassi kids. PETE WENTZ was so cool!!! I hope that someone finds that song I will be so happy.

**Scribbled Pretty** · 08-16-2009, 12:49 AM

I have to admit that I thought the movie was going to be cheesy, and just silly to me. I guess I'm way more into serious things happening on TV Shows instead of so much funny stuff. But, I was happy with the turnout, I really loved that Jay & Manny got back together, I was hoping for their moment to shine again

MethodicWays · 08-17-2009, 03:19 PM

You know, I went into this expecting what I saw, Degrassi craziness. It's funny because the individual episodes hit a lot of issues (for good or bad) and then every time they do these extended eps/movies it's always wacky hijinks. I think that's where they disappoint some viewers because the movies are mostly stand alone and usually involve some crazy plot to have the majority of the actors working together (since the eps usually focus on 2-3 actors).

I'm not a big Crellie fan so either way their "romance" didn't affect me though it was nice to see Ellie admit that their relationship for the most part has been one-sided. That might change or not.

I wish Jay/Manny had just stayed friends at the end. I liked when he said he loved her and then she said "I know". I thought that summed up their relationship nicely and then they ruined it by having him kiss her.

Paige's storyline was intriguing to me even though I know it was far-fetched. I liked it because it was so in keeping with her character. Paige likes to over exaggerate and she's always making more of her position than what's real. And of course she would get a bit of stardom and let it go to her head. She was claiming to be a star when she was just an assistant. I just wish Marco would have spoken up sooner because he usually would put her in her place.

Loved Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes (I have a HUGE crush on Mewes

) so I was happy with their scenes. The other cameos (Vivica Fox and Kelly Carlson) were cool. Perez is whatever

. I don't really care for him.

Ellie's storyline about her father was good because they've pretty much ignored the fact that she has a dad in Iraq and I always wanted them to go back to that. I also liked Manny's crisis over her acting but I wish she had come out of it on her own. I think Manny's problem has always been that she relies on validation, especially from men and I wish she'd come to her confidence on her without Jay.

Overall, the movie was good for what it was but it didn't delve deeply into the characters and I can see how that's disappointing when we already barely see some of these people (Manny, Ellie, Paige, Craig etc).

padfootsprincess02 · 08-17-2009, 04:07 PM

Yea.. Loved Ellies and Mannys storyline... I Love your icon methodicways! Sluts all the way...

Bkrstar · 08-17-2009, 09:29 PM

I've never liked Jay/Manny, so I didn't pay much attention to that storyline. I liked the cameos, all expect Perez (HATE). But the Craig/Ellie and all the Ellie/Marco scenes made up for any other shortcomings. Stacey made me cry, she was amazing in every scene.

LidelKewte · 08-17-2009, 11:03 PM

I am really surprised that I actually did enjoy a lot of this movie, although their are also a lot of parts I didn't like. I am definitely in no way a fan of Degrassi when they bring in the whole Kevin Smith stuff/The kids trying to get famous, and all that glam. But with all the continuity on characters and couples I love made the rest of the movie worth it. Plus, their were some funny, classic moments.

As others have mentioned, I loved that we got to see continuity with Ellie and the situation with her father. Stacey Farber did fantastic in her scenes. I also love that we got to see a hint again that Ellie may develop a drinking problem in the future.

Craig/Ellie were amazing and in my eyes the airport scene with them kissing was perfect. Sure it was open ended and it points that they may, or may not have a future together but it was necessary for her to go back to see her father. I also liked it because I think the writers may not know if those characters will be shown again and if that was in fact the last we may see of them on screen, then I am fine with how they ended....Their scenes were amazing.

I looooved Jay and Manny.

And of course am very happy with how they ended. I couldn't stand that Mick guy she was with. But didn't find it surprising that he messed with her head and she actually believed everything he had said about her.

Sav has always bored me to death and I could never take the kid seriously but when he said "I found a Phone!!" all cheerful it made me laugh out loud.

Manny and the band playing on top of the bus was ridiculous, along with some other things I can't think of at the moment, but I guess it's expected to have some ridiculous moments to be in here considering this is "Degrassi goes Hollywood".

That's pretty much all I have for now...I can't remember if there was anything else I wanted to say but yeah, definitely not as bad as I thought it would be.

ConcreteAngel09 · 08-24-2009, 11:56 PM

I agree that "Degrassi Goes Hollywood" wasnt as bad as i thought it was going to be...but on the other hand it wasnt as good as i hoped it would be eaither.

I loved the whole Manny=Jay thing!! i thought it was an awesome idea from the first time i saw them scheming on degrassi.

Ellie & Craig i think they were supposed to be together, but there where too many complications before, with his whole Coke issue. Even now with Ellie's dad being home from war and in the hospital it will be rough but i think that Ellie's and Craigs love will find a way.

One of the things i loved the most was how Paige broke her ankle!!
That was just awesome!! i mean com'on that's what she gets for being a total bitch through-out the whole entire movie!

Another thing that I loved about the move was the scene where Manny is up on the bus. I think, no matter what everyone else says, it was a great scene.

Some of the things that I didnt like were, I wish that I would have saw more of Emma, like I think that she should have gone with Manny, I mean they are best friends after all.

I didnt like how Manny's boyfriend was telling her all these things and she actually believed him..

I do agree that Sav is a bit Blah..
but the part when he finds Manny's cell phone after Jay throws it..
He's all like "Hey guys, I found a cell phone!"
that part made me laugh alot...

I thought the movie was a very good movie, but towards the end I had really high expectations for this movie and I think that's what brought it down for me.
But other then those few things I found nothing else wrong with it.

lasha4god · 09-07-2009, 06:05 PM

It`s interesting that we are all so quick to compare this to TNG`s past rather than correlating it with the original Degrassi movie, ``School`s Out``. I`d be curious about what others, like me, who have seen both movies think.

It never once lived up to it`s potential, though certain flourishes of old-school humor and the surprisingly refreshing Craig (He finally became a man, who knew it could happen) and Ellie, definitely made it worth pushing through to the end. I also enjoyed the Marco and Page angst. The rest was a wash. A heavy handed mess that overpowered the better and more honest parts of the film.

I had no interest in the second generation of TNG, though thinking about it, it would of been nice to see the frosh youngsters get their own storyline apart from the Hollywood blitz. Also missed the comforting presence of Snake and Spike. And I secretly wanted Joey to make an appearance in Hollywood. And Caitlin ... Ok. Maybe I`m asking for too much.

Maybe it was merely my perception, but it felt like the movie was targeted more for the-n`s audience with little consideration for the CTV audience.

In regards to Craig, I don`t think he was deliberately withholding that he had a girlfriend or was manipulating Ellie. Not this time anyway. That`s the natural vibe I got.

Oh-Canada · 09-07-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lasha4god (View Post)

Maybe it was merely my perception, but it felt like the movie was targeted more for the-n`s audience with little consideration for the CTV audience.

Yeah that's the story of Degrassi's life right now

**kaleidocat** · 09-08-2009, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lasha4god (View Post)

It never once lived up to it`s potential, though certain flourishes of old-school humor and the surprisingly refreshing Craig (He finally became a man, who knew it could happen)

Craig became a man? He cheated on his girlfriend in a moment of passion. I'm sure for him it was like those moments when you became overwhelmed when seeing someone of your past and wanted to dive into all the emotions that rush in, then realizing that it will never work ("Maybe, someday" was a signal of Craig coming down to Earth). But he cheated none the less and probably went home with a heart full of guilt. He was a man up until that point in the airport when he just had to have a kiss and wanted to make sure he had a girl waiting in the wings if this current girlfriend didn't work out and things weren't perfect anymore. What's different about this Craig? Had the "we're friends" element of Crellie remained consistent throughout the movie he would have been redeemed. But that last 12 minutes was a hot WTF mess. It was like okay we need closure quick fast! Give those two a kiss.

I'm saying this as one of a biggest Craig fans around. Craig was a jerk in the movie the moment he gave into temptation and cheated. Maybe he's always been a jerk and I never saw it. I think this movie ruined a lot of the veteran characters.

LukaR22 · 09-08-2009, 09:26 PM

I just watched this movie the other day and liked the parts that didn't involve Craig. Manny's 2 musical numbers where awesome. I'm also glad Jay and Many made up.

padfootsprincess02 · 09-09-2009, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaleidocat (View Post)

I think this movie ruined a lot of the veteran characters.

i wholeheartedly agree.. The movie destroyed whatever redeeming qualities of the veterens, especially Craig, Ellie and Paige.Its a shame that they did that, especially with Paige and Marco...

lasha4god · 09-10-2009, 04:28 PM

I wouldn't say it ruined characters, but it certainly didn't do them justice. The writing felt so rushed, forced and incomplete. A lot of good ideas were never given the chance to fully foster. And the characterization for most was off just enough that almost the whole movie felt unaligned.

More than a few things missing or that could of been interesting ... Some good old Paige and Manny cat-fight action was missing. True veterans were missing. Not having Spike, even if for just a few scenes, didn't feel right to me. My husband and I were even floating around the idea of Spike and Joey going on a road trip to LA. Or maybe Spike or Joey chaperoning on the bus? Why was Spinner forced to stay behind working at the dot? It might of been interesting to have played off the Afghanistan story with Emma too especially for some necessary drama, considering Ellie was the only one with a story with real weight. The characters could of intersected.

See, the "School's Out" movie was fully weighted in heavy-handed drama (cheating, drunk-driving, deaths, broken-off engagements, abortions, weddings, ect) so I'm glad DGH was able to lighten it up with some humor, but simply opting for one instead of the other shouldn't of been the point. The true spirit of Degrassi wasn't felt through the whole movie and that disappointed me.

Now all this aside, there are few things I really felt did work. Paige and Marco really did make sense to me. And I know it's convenient for them to simply kiss and make up, but seeing them not have a resolve felt realistic to me. And yes, Craig worked for me. His growth felt genuine and natural more do to the performance than the writing, but still surprisingly felt right. And he was still human which was important to making it believable. Ellie was good, but the story could of been so much more, so it felt incomplete, but it was still a better part of the movie.

So end point. Disappointing overall, but not terrible.