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Descendants 2 TV Movie Review 2s3w5m

Reviewed by on Jul 21, 2017
Rating: 4 Star Rating

The kids of famous Disney villains are at it again in Descendants 2 on the Disney Channels. Is Uma, daughter of Little Mermaid’s Ursula, a cool villain? Is Mal going home or staying on Auradon?

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The Descendants with BenThe Descendants with BenCourtesy of Disney Channel

Feeling Wicked 4v1u4z

Mal still loves Auradon King Ben but is stressed with her crazy social schedule around the palace. She longs for the free and wild days on the Isle of the Lost and has a dream about being “Wicked” again (song and dance here).  She wants to use her spell book again but Evie (Cameron Boyce) and Jay (Booboo Stewart) want to ask someone to the big Cotillion dance but aren’t sure how.

Evie and Mal want to stay bestiesEvie and Mal want to stay bestiesCourtesy of Disney Channel

Motoring to the Island 5ti

After drawing Ben’s anger when she uses her spells to make him a picnic, she takes the cute purple scooter he gifted her, dresses as she used to, hops on and uses her magic to “drive” over the water to the Isle. Meanwhile Jay’s fencing class won’t allow very good fencer Lonnie (Dianne Doan) to because she’s a girl and Carlos is about to take a truth potion to help him ask Jane (Brenna D’Amico) to Cotillion but his dog eats it and starts talking, telling Carlos to “Man up”. And, on the island, pirates Harry Hook, Gil and more, hang out at Ursula’s Fish and Chips café with her daughter Uma and lament Mal’s success. Uma hates Mal for dissing her when they were kids. Singing “What’s My Name?”, they plan to battle the Auradon traitors and get the barrier around the Isle broken.

Mal uses magic to make Ben a meaMal uses magic to make Ben a mealCourtesy of Disney Channel

Jay and Lonnie fencingJay and Lonnie fencingCourtesy of Disney Channel

Breakup on the Isle 1r1w68

Evie tells Ben that Mal went to the Isle. He feels guilty for yelling at her and wants to go after her. Meanwhile on the Isle, Mal is getting a make-over by young Dizzy (Anna Cathcart), Wicked Stepmother’s daughter who runs a beauty salon and dreams of living in Auradon. Evie, Jay and Carlos a more casually-dressed Ben and tell him how to be “Chillin’ Like a Villain” and they get to the island but Gil figures out who they are and rats to Uma. Ben finds Mal but she tells him she just doesn’t fit into his world and she is damaging their relationship and they break up. Ben is kidnapped by Uma and gang and Mal confronts Uma telling her to leave Ben out of their argument. Uma will only set Ben free if Mal brings her the Fairy Godmother’s wand. Jay and Carlos go back to Auradon to make a fake one. Lonnie insists on going with them to rescue Ben.

Hook confronts MalHook confronts MalCourtesy of Disney Channel

Mal and the gang plot a Ben rescueMal and the gang plot a Ben rescueCourtesy of Disney Channel

It’s Goin’ Down 2p23v

Mal and Evie sing a sweet duet about finding each other in “The Space Between” if Mal stays on the island. Ben offers to take Uma to Auradon and bring more Isle kids over too but her heart is too hardened to accept. When Mal and her friends arrive at Uma and Harry’s pirate ship to rescue Ben, a big rumble with swords occurs when Uma figures out the wand she’s been given in trade for Ben is fake. The good guys escape back to Auradon but Mal’s spell book is left behind.

Uma with her pirate gangUma with her pirate gangCourtesy of Disney Channel

Cotillion 6a326j

Carlos asks Jane to be his date to the dance, Jay takes Lonnie and Evie talks Mal into coming to the dance as her real self, purple hair and all. Suddenly Uma, looking regal, arrives….with Ben as his date. Mal is shattered. The “couple” say they have a love connection but when a beautiful stained glass window that Ben has made of he and Mal as a couple is unveiled, Mal realizes that Ben is under a spell! Uma must have used the spell book she left behind! Ben now talks of opening the barrier between Auradon and the Isle.

Carlos asks Jane to CotillionCarlos asks Jane to CotillionCourtesy of Disney Channel

Will the barrier be opened, Will Ben be released from Uma’s spell and reunite with Mal? Will Harry Hook and gang invade? Will little Dizzy ever get to live in Auradon?

Harry HookHarry HookCourtesy of Disney Channel

Wrapping Up 3u4h69

Descendants 2 dance numbers are all a lot of fun, songs fit the story and are entertaining, especially a nice duet “The Space Between”, sung by Dove and Sofia. Production design and costumes are eye-catching and Kenny Ortega’s choreography is spot on and appropriate as usual. China Anne McClain, who grew up on the Disney Channel, is impressive as Uma as is gorgeous Thomas Doherty as Harry Hook.

Gil, Uma and Harry HookGil, Uma and Harry HookCourtesy of Disney Channel

Uma is a great villain and, it seems, will stick around. The story is really cool with some very personal soul searching involved and a crack in the wall between the elite on Auradon and the less fortunate citizens of the Isle makes future “mixing” an interesting possibility. Descendants 2 is much improved from the original and cast additions are welcomed. We go four stars.

Descendants 2 TV Movie Rating: 11722y

Descendants 2 TV Movie PosterDescendants 2 TV Movie PosterCourtesy of Disney Channel

See Descendants 2 Friday, July 21st on Disney Channel, Disney XD, Lifetime and ABC. Check your local listings for times. 485qt

 

Have Your Say 524a4n

Are you a big Descendants fan? Are you glad to see China Anne McClain the cast? Talk all things “rotten to the core” below. 

 

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