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Jacob P This movie shouldn't have even existed. Far as I am concerned, this movie is NOT canon to the narrative! Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 11/11/24 Full Review matthias s "Return to Halloweentown" left me disappointed despite being visually better than its predecessors. The effects were decent enough for the time and type of movie, and the overall aesthetic was just passable, though it improved compared to earlier films. The acting was okay, but the decision to recast the lead felt strange and jarring. What really let me down was Debbie Reynolds' extremely limited screentime; she is the heart and soul of this franchise, and her absence was sorely felt. The plot was predictable but serviceable for a family film, though I absolutely hated the villains. It didn’t capture the magic of the original franchise, and it felt disconnected from what made the earlier movies charming. While it’s arguably better than some entries in the series, I believe it could have been much better if Reynolds and Kimberly J. Brown had returned to their original roles. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 10/20/24 Full Review Alec B Return to Halloweentown ventures back into the whimsical world of the Cromwell witches with a mix of nostalgia and mid-2000s updates. While the absence of Kimberly J. Brown in the role of Marnie might disappoint longtime fans, Sara Paxton admirably steps into the magical shoes of Marnie Cromwell (who for some reason is now labeled as Marnie Piper). Adding new characters and exploring Marnie's college adventures add fresh elements to the franchise. However, some might find the departure from the original cast disappointing and the final installment provides a more lackluster plot than genuine closure. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/22/23 Full Review Jennifer P Not a True hallowentown without Kimberly J. Brown Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 10/21/23 Full Review Kevin M Very simple plot, very rushed ending and by the way the main character in this movie she is so dumb Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/13/23 Full Review Audience Member This is the only film in the Halloweentown series not to feature Kimberly J. Brown as Marnie. Brown herself has claimed that not only was she available, but she wanted to finish out the series. Instead, series creator Sheri Singer would just state that Disney and Brown's camp couldn't come to terms and make a deal work. That said, Joey Zimmerman, Debbie Reynolds, Judith Hoag and Lucas Grabeel did all come back for the film. Sophie, who was played by Emily Roeske in the previous Halloweentown installments, is mentioned but does not appear. It was directed by David Jackson, who also made the Yasmine Bleeth-starring The Lake. Marnie decides that instead of college that she'll attend Witch University in Halloweentown on a full scholarship. But when she starts classes, she learns that all they do is study Shakespeare and the history of magic. She makes a new friend — Aneese the Genie — while reconnecting with Ethan and running afoul of the Sinister Sisters, the daughters of Silas Sinister. The reason why magic is no longer taught? It's all Marnie's fault. Witch University was originally established exclusively for warlocks and witches to learn how to use magic. But Marnie destroyed the portal between the worlds, most of the magical children went to college in the mortal realm. There's also the matter of a locked box in the dungeon of the school that only Marnie can open, with a sinister group called the Dominion working to force her to break open its seal. Once open, it allows the Sinister Sisters to control Halloweentown. As you can imagine, everything works out — this is a Disney Channel movie, not the usual Filmirage gorefests we watch around here and even sets up future tales. Due to the recasting, most fans of this series kind of wish this movie never existed. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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