Netflix Summary:
When feisty teenager Wren loses her offbeat kid brother on Halloween, she joins forces with her best buds to find him during one crazy night.
FYA Summary:
This is basically Nickelodeon’s take on Adventures in Babysitting, with a little bit of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist thrown in for good measure.
Instead of spending Halloween night at hottie Aaron Riley’s house party, Wren and her bestie April are stuck searching for Wren’s little brother Albert, who has embarked on his own solo adventure through town. Wren enlists her friend Roosevelt and his equally nerdy pal Peng to help with their mission, which quickly escalates into a series of hijinks involving colorful characters and a massive suspension of disbelief because A KID MISSING IS ACTUALLY A REALLY TERRIFYING SCENARIO, PEOPLE.
Familiar Faces:
SO MANY FACES.
Victoria Justice as Wren
Maybe I’m just an old lady, but Nickelodeon stars are much more palatable to me than Disney stars. Victoria is sweet but never cloying, and while she’s not particularly charismatic, she’s not obnoxious either.
Jane Levy as April
Jane is the first of several Suburgatory folks that show up in this film. I usually enjoy her sassy attitude, but in this movie, her personality is kinda grating, and in most scenes, she’s just phoning it in. (Then again, it’s a Nickelodeon movie, so I can’t really blame her.)
Chelsea Handler as Joy (Wren’s mom)
Chelsea added some much needed spice to the film, although it wasn’t enough. In other words, she should’ve been in, like, 100% of the movie.
Thomas McDonell as Aaron Riley
And here’s where I’ve got a bone to pick with this film. Thomas’ hotness is on full display in the trailer as well as the poster, AND YET he’s only in, like, four minutes total of the movie. FOUR MINUTES. When it comes to trick or treating, that’s just a big ole trick, movie, and I TOTALLY FELL FOR IT. Although seeing him dressed up like Captain Jack Sparrow was kiiiiinda worth it.
(Oh yeah, and in addition to playing insane-in-the-membrane Finn on The 100, Thomas is also a Suburgatory alum.)
Thomas Mann as Roosevelt
Thomas is Nickelodeon’s Nicholas Braun, and while he’s not as endearing, he’s still adorkable. Fun fact: he’ll be appearing as Greg Gaines in the film adaption of Me & Earl & The Dying Girl.
Thomas Middleditch as Fuzzy
If you watch Silicon Valley, then I don’t need to tell you that Thomas Middleditch is awesome. In this movie, he plays a convenience store clerk who befriends Wren’s brother, and I like imagining that it’s a prequel to his character on Silicon.
Ana Gasteyer as Jackie (Roosevelt’s mom)
Ana’s appearance is all too fleeting, but per usual, she nails it. (And she also hails from Suburgatory, in addition to SNL, Mean Girls and… Ana, girl, what are you doing in this movie?)
Johnny Knoxville as Jörgen
Surprise! But also no surprise, his character is really stupid.
Riki Lindhome as Galaxy Scout Girl
She’s only in the movie for a hot minute but I was like, hey, it’s Riki Lindhome!
Couch-Sharing Capability: Low
Y’all, this movie is really silly. If you want to maintain any semblance of enjoying it, don’t invite anyone who will judge you for watching something produced by Nickelodeon. In other words, only view this flick with a true friend.
Recommended Level of Inebriation: High
There’s nothing complex about the plot, nor are there deep themes, so go ahead and pour yourself a hefty adult beverage. I recommend red wine, because it goes well with chocolate, and you’ll want a solid supply of candy on hand because HALLOWEEN.
Use of Your Netflix Subscription: Frivolous
Is this a good movie? No. Is this a fun movie? Kind of. The cast is really the only thing that saves Fun Size from being a total waste of time, and I say that with just a trace of lingering bitterness because SERIOUSLY, only FOUR MINUTES of Thomas McDonell? If the other Thomas (Middleditch) wasn’t in the mix, I would totally egg the crap out of this movie.
