We have heard so much about how the world is lacking superhero and motion movies this summer time, however you already know what else we have not seen? Dramatically giant scale musicals with infectious songs that we will sing alongside to and complex choreography we try and recreate in our residing rooms. That’s till now, fellow musical nerds, as a result of Julie and the Phantoms hits Netflix this week and it’s the ear-worm cheese bomb you already know you have wanted for many of 2020.
Based mostly on the Brazilian collection Julie e os Fantasmas, the Netflix YA collection follows Julie (Madison Reyes), a seemingly shy highschool sophomore who has misplaced her lust for music after the dying of her songwriter mom. Nonetheless, Julie reconnects together with her plain musical expertise when she encounters three tremendous cute boy ghosts in her storage who can solely be seen once they play music together with her. Hijinx ensue as Julie has to elucidate her “hologram band” to family and friends because the crew will get extra gigs and the boys uncover their time hanging among the many residing is likely to be restricted.
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If this seems like hardcore Disney Channel Unique Film-type form of magic, there’s good purpose for that. High School Musical and Descendants architect Kenny Ortega teamed up with Dan Cross and Dave Hodge for the American adaptation of Julie and Ortega’s signature is everywhere in the nine-episode collection. The producer made stars out of names like Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Dove Cameron, and Sofia Carson, and he appears to be like to do the identical with Reyes and her Phantoms — Charlie Gillespie, Jeremy Shada, and Owen Patrick Joyner — who sing and carry out each track within the collection. At solely 16, Reyes has a timeless vocal high quality, and an influence to her voice that feels fully sudden till Julie sings her first ballad within the opening episode. And the Phantoms? Nicely, count on each tween who’s into cute boys you already know to have their faces plastered on cellphone wallpapers and bed room partitions.
Madison Reyes, Julie and the Phantoms
The musical expertise of the forged is supported by the real bops that fill the soundtrack of the collection from begin to end. Sure, the songs communicate to the plot of the present as any good musical ought to, however in addition they stand alone as infectious pop-rock jams. Take a look at the primary single, “Edge of Great,” in the event you’re uncertain, after which come again and cry with us whenever you’ve heard Episode 8’s tearful, “Unsaid Emily” — which is an appearing and singing showcase for Gillespie and proves the present’s dedication to good track storytelling past empowerment anthems.
The catchy songs and elaborate numbers will not be solely nice content material for present youths, however shall be a welcome dose of nostalgia for millennials who grew up on Ortega’s earlier work (the present goes full Excessive Faculty Musical for Episode 4’s opening quantity, “I’ve Received the Music.”). Cheyenne Jackson brings one thing electrical and enjoyable to collection antagonist Caleb Covington (no, actually, now we have so many questions on this enigmatic, scatting magician), who provides the present a slight dose of hazard to up the stress whilst you’re watching.
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One of the best factor about Julie and the Phantoms, although, is that it is a present about hope. The a number of ghost romances will deliver out the shipper within the coldest of hearts (shout out to Descendants fave BooBoo Stewart, who effortlessly steals our affection because the lovable, mysterious ghost skater boy, Willie). Should you thought that Troy and Gabriela had it arduous overcoming the chasm between jock life and musical nerd, simply wait till you see Julie and Luke (Gillespie) strive to determine a connection when one in all them is lifeless. Because the continuous information cycle makes us really feel increasingly more cynical concerning the world round us, Julie and the Phantoms arrives simply in time to present us a reminder that pleasure will not be solely doable, however must be celebrated.
Who you gonna name this weekend whenever you’re in search of respite from a hopeless world? Julie. She and her Phantoms have simply what it is advisable overlook your troubles for some time and make you longing for the following chapter of their journey.
Julie and the Phantoms premieres Thursday, Sept. 10 on Netflix.