Cloud 9 (2014) Reviews

• Predictable but delightful DCOM

  je_and_la2014-02-17

  Once again the Disney Channel has provided us with a typical story of self-discovery, laced with conflict and the formation of new friendships. In this story we meet Kayla Morgan (Dove Cameron), a pampered snowboarder whose Father owns the ski-lodge where she snowboards. Also heading the cast is Will Cloud (Luke Benward), a snowboarder turned dog groomer after a particularly memorable fall during his failed attempt at the coveted Cloud 9. When it is revealed to Kayla that she only won a place on the snowboarding team as a result of her Father owning the resort, she turns to Will to learn the Cloud 9 to prove to everyone that she truly is the best female snowboarder around. Both Cameron and Benward delivered good performances throughout the film, though there were times when their chemistry together was not very believable. The entire cast, including Mike C. Manning (Nick Swift), Amy Farrington (Andrea Cloud) and Jeffrey Nordling (Sebastian Swift) brought this story to life in a very believable and enjoyable manner. It is a shame that Kiersey Clemons (Skye Sailor) did not have a more prominent role in the film as her acting was very enjoyable to watch. Praise must be given to the stunt coordinator Kathy Jarvis and to the stunt doubles who did an incredible job with the snowboarding scenes. My eyes were glued to the screen, anxious to see whether they would land their jumps or not, and I found myself breathing a sigh of relief when they did. The story itself progressed at a reasonable pace despite its predictability. There never seemed to be a time where the story was lacking or where the pace of the film was too fast. Two big thumbs up to the screenwriters Don D. Scott, Justin Ware and Katie Wech for penning such a captivating film. Utah, USA is a beautiful place and that beauty was reflected in this film. The scenery in Cloud 9 was incredible and was a perfect back-drop for a film centered on snowboarding. The ending let this film down in as much as it was disappointing and relatively anti-climatic. The film itself was very enjoyable to watch and I found myself waiting anxiously to see what the final outcome would be, and though the film was very predictable, I found myself disappointed with how it ended. All in all this was a very enjoyable, although predictable, Disney Channel Original Film, and is deserving of the 7/10 rating given.

• Haven't We Seen This Movie Before?

  Retroman402014-01-18

  That was the question I starting asking myself shortly into the running of the movie. Well of course we have! Still, I enjoyed the movie and think most people who are DCOM fans would like it too. This movie follows the very successful Disney Channel Original Movie formula. The characters are as predictable as the ending. But seriously, this is a DCOM and the hero will always prevail at the end. One thing Disney seems to have is a never ending group of fine young actors that they are constantly testing to find their "next big star". I really like a lot of the current crop including Dove Cameron and Luke Benward (although my current favorite is Olivia Holt who could have played the role if they didn't have her in multiple shows already). Dove Cameron reminds me a little of Reese Witherspoon in the Legally Blonde movies (which isn't a bad thing) and Luke Benward has that slightly edgy charm. Sadly there wasn't really that much chemistry between the stars; it was more like they were tolerating each other on screen. The story had potential to be better, but there was minimal character development. Since you knew how it was going to end, you didn't really get to feel what the characters were going through. Even at the final showdown everything was totally predictable. But so what? It is a DCOM. In spite of the shortcomings I genuinely enjoyed the movie. The action scenes are very well filmed and the scenery in Utah was beautiful. The stunt team was outstanding for sure. The movie doesn't get bogged down anywhere and the story keeps moving. Yes, the ending is cliché but did you honestly expect different? I'm sure the timing of this movie had something to do with the Olympics since snowboarding doesn't get a lot of mainstream coverage except in Olympic years. Set the DVR and enjoy a fast paced breezy movie that doesn't require much thought.

• Dangerous downward descent

  bkoganbing2014-01-20

  Dove Cameron of Liv&Maddie and Luke Benward recently an interest of Bridgit Mendler on Good Luck Charlie team up for this latest Disney feature film Cloud 9. No this is not about literal heavenly heights, but it might as well be for it is an especially grueling challenge for snowboarders. In fact we see that one can't even walk up to it, one has to be airlifted before one makes the dangerous downward descent. The story casts Cameron as the daughter of the owner of a ski resort and that gives her access to a team sponsored by winter sports business owner whose son Mike Manning is the snowboarding current star. But when the resort drops the team, Manning drops Cameron and the team does as well. Seems she's not as good as she thinks she is, but was there for politics. Two blows to her ego really leave her down in the dumps. But fortunately there's Benward who was an up and coming snowboarder, but who wipes out on national television and that's left him lacking a bit of confidence. This was a good one from the Magic Kingdom and it was a nice story seeing how these two wounded young people help each other out with their sport and their lives. I also commend Amy Farrington playing Benward's mother who runs a local kennel. Who'd have thought that dogs would be therapeutic? Some nice scenes of snowboarding also highlight this Disney Channel film. Definitely one of their better products.

• Beautiful scenery, Predictable Story

  gccates2014-01-17

  Okay so how many times have we seen the story of the blonde pampered princess who sets out to show us she has some depth and learns a lesson. Of course there is the non rich boy next door type guy for her to fall in love with who teaches her a little bit about humility. Dove Cameron is the latest girl Disney is determined to make their new "it girl". While cute and adorable enough on Liv and Maddie she falls flat in Cloud Nine. Not completely fault the script of this predictable tale is flat. Other tropes included the overbearing asshole father, the jerk boyfriend, the mean girl out to take the main girl's spot. Dove Cameron and Luke Benward turned in vanilla at best performances. Typical Disney sitcom style acting. Most of their scenes just felt like they were reading their lines straight from the script. Mike C Manning was pretty cringe worthy when it came time for Nick's "big reveal". As if we didn't realize when it happened that he clearly steered her into the sign on purpose. Nick's father was a mustache twirling villain. I can't even hold their acting in this movie against them with those flat characters. Kiersey Clemon's was in this movie simply to make faces at our main heroine. The scenery is amazing. Kudos to the director and cinematographer. The scenes out in the snow were well done as was the scene that took place in the pool. The way that was filmed really stood out to me. Much more than the dialog. Over all I'd rate Cloud Nine about a 4.5.

• love it

  kenfoody2002014-05-05

  Will's mom is blown away at the makeover once it was finished. She notes that Will and Kayla made a great team and gave them the day off to relax and have fun. While Will is preoccupied, she thanks Kayla for bringing back "the old Will." After getting fro-yo, Kayla notices Tyson's Peak and comments on its scary appearance. Will says that it is and Kayla wonders if anyone ever snowboarded down the mountain. Will then tells Kayla the story of Tyson's Peak: how Tyson attempted to ride the mountain but his body was never found. Will concludes that riding down the mountain is impossible, while Kayla argues that nothing is impossible. Kayla asks what their chances of winning Fire and Ice were, and Will tells her that although it was shaky, they are starting to look like a real threat. Kayla ventures even further, voicing her thoughts that Will should join their team. Taking note of how unsure he looked, she makes him promise to at least think about it. Later, Kayla and Will view the viral video apart, but couldn't stand watching it. The next morning, Kayla hears that her mother talked to Will's mom about her input at the kennel and her determination to become better at snowboarding, thus enlisting Will. She then hears her dad's comment that he doesn't want to see her fail and she had no chance against the Swifts. Sadly, she reminds herself that nothing is impossible. Later, Kayla asks Will to teach her the Cloud 9, but they argue when Will says she is not ready. Will used the mountain as an example, saying you could have no fear going down it. He ventures to say that Kayla was not yet at that point. Determined to prove a point, Kayla takes a helicopter ride to the top of the peak and bravely snowboards down the mountain, unaware that she is being recorded on TV from the helicopter. But on the way down, she falls off a drop, with the snow ledge, which causes an avalanche, which buries her under the snow pack. Will and Donald run to find her and eventually rescue her. Kayla admits that she boarded down the peak just to impress Will, so he would be willing to teach her the Cloud 9. In school, Kayla finds out that Skye is already Nick's girlfriend, and she makes Will hold her hand to even up the score. Later, Dink and Sam learn that Will has joined the team. After, a few test runs after his long year off, Will stumbles and falls. He purposely pretends to be unconscious and scares them. The Swift team saw him snowboarding and when he took the fall, Nick says 'once an epic failure, always an epic failure.' Will finally agrees to teach Kayla the Cloud 9 and shows Kayla how to do the first part. While she attempts the Cloud 9, Nick and Skye sees. Nick seemed sympathetic when she fell and Skye notices. After a few failed attempts at the Cloud 9, Kayla leaves to refuel. Nick arrives and tells Will there's a strong chance Kayla will be injured doing the Cloud 9 just as Will was, and it would be Will's fault. Afterwards, Kayla made a few more attempts. Now into the night, Skye was watching her when Sebastian sees her attempts. Panicked, he asked Skye what she was doing and Skye said the Cloud 9. He didn't believe that she could pull it off but Skye counters him, saying not to count her out. Mad, he accused Skye that she told him she could beat her. Skye countered commenting that he lied because he had said she was a pampered princess with no talent. She went on how much better Kayla's doing, saying "That girl can ride". When Kayla wants to do another attempt, Will says she was hesitating and that he can't risk it her getting hurt. He accused her that it is really about winning Nick back. Kayla says she has had enough with people who don't believe in her. Will comes up and kisses her and he leaves. When Kayla heads home, Sebastian comes up and tells her that he wants her back on the team and she says yes, just because he saw her as a new improved weapon for the Swifts. At the Fire and Ice competition, Kayla arrives wearing a Swift Jacket, making the Hot Doggers (Kayla's team) think she gave up on them. Kayla reveals she was only pulling a trick and was only wearing it to return the equipment she was instructed to give back earlier, saying that teal was "so last season", making it clear that she has officially dumped the Swift team for what they did, and the Hot Doggers was where she belonged, despite warnings of regret from Sebastian. When Fire and Ice begins, Will starts out very well, with Nick close behind. In Run 2, Nick starts to show power and wins the Men's title, making Kayla the only chance the Hot Doggers have left against the Swift team. Kayla