Disney magic to connect South African generations

The Disney Channel Original Movies is debuting on Disney Channel (DStv channel 303) at 5pm. The catch is that in a smooth move by Disney Channel
Africa, the film will be available to watch to all DStv subscribers. Usually Disney Channel is only available to Premium customers.

There’s a bit of clever marketing in doing this, in terms of its broadcast in South Africa. Do you remember Mnet Opentime? If you just answered yes, and you have kids, Descendants is the perfect opportunity to introduce your children to the joys that a generation of South Africans will never forget -Opentime.

FUTURE KING. Mitchell Hope stars as the son of King Beast and Belle, who is set to take the throne. Picture: Disney Channel

A two hour TV slot where premium entertainment offerings were available to regular Joe’s.

What sweetens the pot is that Descendants is a film firmly rooted in bringing together different generations. Without giving away too much,  Descendants is a modern coming-of-age fairytale adventure, with a twist.

It focuses on the four children of the Disney universe’s ultimate villains parents loves to hate; Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Cruella de Vil and Jafar. Their children Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay are forced to live in the no WiFi zone The Isle of the Lost.

IT’S GOOD TO BE BAD. Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, Dove Cameron
and Cameron Boyce star in this modern fairytale of what being a villain is all about. Picture: Disney Channel

All the evil characters were banished to the isle by King Beast and Belle (from The Beauty and the Beast). The isle has no magic, and is surrounded by
a force field that makes it impossible for any of the evil inhabitants to escape. When King Beast and Belle’s son Prince Ben declares that it is time for the children of Disney Villains to be afforded the same opportunities outside The Isle of the Lost.

The film effortlessly blends together generations of Disney. Descendants knowingly winks at traditional fairytales, and blends it with a
modern world. Miniskirts, iPads and cellphones are part of the world of Auradon (the land outside The Isle of the Lost.

It’s also cheeky in its approach to lure in the viewer. The movie is aimed to make you cheer for the bad guys and the good guys, creating a blurred
line between good and evil. Descendants is simply not as sickeningly sweet as you’d expect (which parents will appreciate). It has a bit of twang in
all the right places – and for that it is worth your time Friday afternoon.

To the vein of High School Musical this fairytale romp is built around musical numbers. Among the stand-out numbers is Rotten to the Core chronicling the villain’s children life motto to live evil. A show tune comes to the screen with the exciting
song by Kristin Chenoworth as Maleficent, Evil Like Me, Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast is also dusted off, with a modern twist.

LIVE EVIL. Dove Cameron stars as Mal, a bad girl on the brink of being good. Picture: Disney Channel

The biggest praise I can give this movie is that it had me skipping down the aisle after being introduced to a new generation of characters. I was invited to the first ever screening of a Disney Channel Original Movie in South Africa late August.

I hesitantly approached the screening, because at these kind of events there will be lots of children. For someone who has the parental instincts
of Daisy de Melker, their annoying wide-eyed sense of wonder, infectious happiness and noisy interactions is the closest I can get to hell on earth.

To add to my distress all the tween-aged guests were fed candy apples and sugary drinks before they were dragged into the cinema, where they noisily
sat before the start of the movie. I had a feeling early on that I’d hate every minute of being there.

My love for campy kids movies and the excitement made me stay, and it was actually a bit of a suprise when Descendants managed to exceed any
expectations I had by weaving a magical web of family friendly entertainment.

The biggest praise I can give Descendants is that in a cinema filled with children – a few minutes into the film they shut their mouths as they are
transported into a detailed new world. And so were their parents. That is real Disney magic at work.