ChicRawIdol
A brilliant film that helped define a genre
Curapedi
I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.
ThrillMessage
There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.
Bob Peterson
I sat down the other night to watch this with my kids because they wanted to watch it. It's a pretty good movie with some young stars. The movie tells about Eddie who like most teens, grows up with some pretty close friends. He then finds out he has a gift. The gift of cooking! The movie portrays people that cook are either different or a girl. We all know that's not true! Eddie has a hard time trying to figure out this gift because he is stuck between baseball, which his dad forces him to play because he's the coach, and his "passion" for cooking! I liked seeing Bobby Flay in this movie. Can't think of anyone else that would be good for that part! I also like the other girl who is Eddie's "rival" in the kitchen.
Brandt Sponseller
Hank Ogden (Mark L. Taylor) is a coach for a junior-high level community baseball team, the Groundhogs. Unfortunately, the team is much closer to the Bad News Bears than the New York Yankees. Hank's son Eddie (Taylor Ball) is one of the few quality players, and Hank thinks he has a shot of making it to the major leagues. Although Eddie likes baseball, he discovers that his true passion is for cooking. Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off is the comic tale of conflicting desires and expectations between Eddie and his friends, family and teammates over his aspirations.Although some viewers may have difficulty looking past the exaggerated social beliefs and interactions fueling a prominent "moral of the story", this is a great, funny film that succeeds because of the style, subtlety and comic sense of director Paul Hoen, aided by excellent performances. I don't think I've ever seen food fights filmed this artfully before. Yes, food fights are clichéd, and much of the script, on its own, would be somewhat clichéd and banal, but Hoen and the cast manage to make the film feel fresh and original. I almost felt as though I had never seen a film centered around food before--your eyes are opened to the many metaphorical ways that such a commonplace thing is woven through our lives.Of course, this film isn't just about food, though. Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off is intended to help shatter gender stereotypes--especially the way we try to graft them on to our children. The message is to follow your dreams, and be what you want to be, whether it's what others have planned for you, or expect of you, or not. At the same time, there's a message about supporting others in following their dreams. These are valuable messages for people of any age, not just kids, and the exaggerated and old-fashioned-seeming pigeonholing shown by the characters in the film are only cartoonish to emphasize the point.This might all sound dreadfully serious and preachy, but the film doesn't tend to play that way. It plays as lighthearted, humorous and heartwarming. Just be careful that your kids don't have easy access to blenders and ovens after they watch the film, or you'll have some serious cleaning to do.A 9 out of 10 from me.
punk_rocker_07
First things first, I am so NOT one for Disney Channel Original Movies, I find them extremely annoying and most of them feature fantasy creatures or non-realstic scenarios. BUT, on Friday July 18th I sat and watched Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off and I loved it, that's right, I loved an original movie and I'm not afraid to admit it! I mean Taylor Ball is a great actor (not to mention good looking), that sounds so cliche, but have you seen the other movies, I know you don't think those kids are good actors, but Taylor is totally believable and does his job with ease. Orlando Brown, ok he annoys me but I'm warming up to him, I mean he wasn't always being silly like the line "Yeah well I don't think you making Eddie chose between having friends and cooking is helping either D.B." that was really well acted and I think he could have a future in other things, not just disney channel shows and movies. Reiley McClendon, I love Reiley, this kid is so adorable, and he's really funny too. And Rose McIver (Hannah) I had no idea she was a Kiwi, you couldn't even tell she's terrific at an American accent, she's definately going to go far. OK, only three things bugged me about this movie 1. NO ONE, would make fun of a boy for cooking! The boys are better at Home Ec. then us and they like it too, no one makes fun of them. 2. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FOOD FIGHT!!!! I have never been in or seen a real food fight, they are nonexistant, you would be in SO much trouble, no one I repeat no one! really has school food fights! 3. The girl who plays Bridgette SUCKS at an American accent, alright she can not do it, I don't know why they hired her, she wasn't fooling me for a second. My favorite scene is when Eddie goes over to talk to Bridgette and D.B. comes over and is like "What are you doing." and Bridgette goes "We're talking about the cook-off." and Eddie goes "No we're not." and Bridgette's all "Yes we are." and Eddie says "She's crazy." then D.B. says "Is something going on between you two." and Eddie's all "With me and Bridgette? Get real!" I LOVE that part it's so hilarious, and later on when Eddie goes "They're carrots, whatever you do to them they're going to taste like carrots." and the another funny thing is at the end when Eddie goes "I GOT LEMON!!" it's so lame, like out of context, it's freakin hilarious. So if you, like me, lost faith in the Disney Channel a long time ago, be not afraid, watch this movie, it's fun, not too silly, and has an actual message sorta. And if all else fails, it will make you laugh.
Weatherdude
This movie was not as good as some Disney Channel Original Movies over the past year, but it is better than The Even Steven's Movie and The Scream Team. Orlando Brown, Taylor Ball, and Reilly McClendon were good actors. I just thought it was a little strange how everyone made fun of him because he cooked. I mean come on. He was just cooking. No big deal. Overall B- Here's How it compares to other Disney Cahnnel original Movies over the ppast year.Get a Clue AA Ring of Endless Light BThe Scream Team CYou Wish A-Right on Track A-The Even Steven's Movie C+
