Frenemies (film)

Frenemies is a 2012 teen comedy-drama television film and anthology based on the novel of the same name by Alexa Young which premiered on Disney Channel.[1] It features an ensemble cast starring Bella Thorne, Zendaya, Stefanie Scott, Nick Robinson, Mary Mouser and features Connor Price, Jascha Washington and Dylan Everett. The film follows three pairs of teenage friends that go from friends to enemies and back again. The film was directed by Daisy Mayer and written by Dava Savel, Wendy Weiner, and Jim Krieg.[1] The Disney Channel Original Movie premiered on January 13, 2012 in the United States and Canada.

Frenemies
Promotional poster
Based onFrenemies
by Alexa Young
Written byDava Savel
Wendy Weiner
Jim Krieg
Directed byDaisy von Scherler Mayer
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Canada
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersLes Morgenstein
Bob Levy[1]
Running time86 minutes
Production companiesAlloy Entertainment
Coin Flip Productions
DistributorDisney-ABC Domestic Television
Release
Original networkDisney Channel
Original releaseJanuary 13, 2012 (2012-01-13)[1]

Plot

The story takes place involving three intertwined stories told by teenage friends who all go to the same school. The first story focuses on how a kid and a dog who are best friends become frenemies and how they become best friends again. The second story focuses on how two BFFs become total frenemies over a senior editor job. The third and final story focuses on two lookalikes who swap lives with each other, similar to The Prince and the Pauper.

Jake and Murray

The first story focuses on a science whiz teenage boy at Waterbury High School named Jake Logan (Nick Robinson) who is best friends with his dog, Murray (Winston). A popular girl named Julianne (Stefanie Scott) tries to come between them as she tries to get Murray out of her way as Murray sees right through her ruse. Determined to get another "A", she hatches a plan to get Murray out of her way for good. She steals Jake's national prize certificate in molecular astrophysics from NASA, drenches it in her perfume, and drops it through the mail slot in Jake's front door. Just as Julianne expected, Murray mistakes Jake's NASA certificate for one of the love letters Julianne had been giving Jake, takes into the bathroom and attempts to flush it. Jake, who is able to save his certificate, gets angry and yells at Murray to go away. Murray follows his command and runs away from home. A classmate named Savannah O'Neal (Mary Mouser), who loves to skate board and has a crush on Jake, finds Murray and takes him to her house. The next day, Jake starts to worry that Murray might not return, but manages to finish his and Julianne's science project. At school, Jake attempts to dress cool to impress his classmates but Avalon comes and criticizes his outfit and changes it. But when he discovers Julianne's scheme, Jake refuses to give her the project. Savannah uses this opportunity to expose Julianne's ruse of using "people" to get A's, which results in Julianne being caught. Murray runs in and knocks over Julianne and the science project. Although the project is destroyed, Jake is happy to see Murray and they become best friends again.

Avalon and Halley

The second story focuses on two female teens, Avalon Greene (Bella Thorne) and Halley Brandon (Zendaya) who created a web magazine called "GeeklyChic." In the school library, Halley gets a call from her and Avalon's favorite New York City publishing company, Burns Publications, run by the stunning Cherie St. Claire (Jessalyn Wanlim). Halley thinks her older brother Kendall (Jascha Washington), who is into men's fashion, is playing a prank on her until she sees him doing a service project right out the window of the library and realizes she really has received a call from Cherie. Cherie invites them to go to the publishing company's headquarters in the beautiful Manhattan, New York to ask them something that could change their lives. During the talk, Cherie tells Avalon and Halley that she likes their web magazine and offers to buy it, but decides to only let one of them be the senior editor, because she believes that the quality of the writing will be better. Cherie decides to let each of them write a cover article and will judge who wrote the best article as that writer will become the senior editor. At school, Avalon encounters with classmate Walker (Connor Price), who allows her to contact a French singer named Jean Frank. Now, the two girls decide to interview Jean after his first American sold-out concert which leads them to become frenemies. Meanwhile, Jean reveals himself to the girls that he's American and his real name is Johnny Frankewski. At the end, they decide that they will share the article. Cherie becomes angry and decides not to hire either of them, because of their immaturity with the situation. The television show "Teens Now" picks up their article about Jean changing his image as he was only posing as a singer from Paris, France. "Teens Now" also broadcasts their blog's website for their audience to check out. Seeing that their web magazine has gone global on their hit counter map, Avalon and Halley make up as best friends again.

Savannah and Emma

The third and final story of the film focuses on Savannah O’Neal and Emma Reynolds-teenage alter egos (both roles are played by Mary Mouser) who trade places because they each believe the other's life is better. Savannah is a teenage tomboy who loves skateboarding and lives with her dad and three brothers. She has a crush on Jake Logan and attends Waterbury High School with Avalon, Halley, Jake, and Julianne. Emma is a teenage rich girly-girl who goes to a private school. Thinking the other has the better life, they trade places (under the persuasion of Halley and Avalon) when they meet at the mall. They soon discover the other didn't have the glamorous life that they thought the other had. Emma (disguised as Savannah) gets a date with Jake and during the date Emma starts acting romantic, causing Savannah to get mad and say "That's (meaning Jake) my boyfriend!" which leads to Emma getting upset when she finds out that Savannah went out with Lance (Dylan Everett) who was Emma's previous boyfriend and the two start fighting and Savannah storms off. Later, at Emma's birthday ball, "Emma" (really Savannah) dumps Lance. The real Emma is overjoyed when she hears about this, because she had been trying to get rid of them ever since they started dating; however, she had never gotten the courage to do so. The girls forgive each other and switch lives once more. Avalon and Halley then lead everyone in a lively dance to "Pose" (by Stefanie Scott) as the film ends.

Cast

Songs

Stefanie Scott and Carlon Jeffery - Pose

Production

The film was shot from April 11 to May 16, 2011, in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. It was filmed at Our Lady Queen of the World Catholic Academy with current grade 11 drama students as extras.

Reception

It premiered on Friday, January 13, 2012 on Disney Channel and garnered 4.207 million viewers.[2] In the United Kingdom and Ireland it had 394,00 viewers.[3]

Accolades
YearAwardCategoryRecipientResultRef.
2013 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, Special or Pilot - Leading Young Actor Dylan Everett Nominated [4]
Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, Special or Pilot - Leading Young Actress Bella Thorne Nominated
Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, Special or Pilot - Leading Young Actress Zendaya Nominated

Broadcast

Worldwide the movie aired on Disney Channel. In Canada it premiered on January 13, 2012 and in the United Kingdom and Ireland it premiered on March 2, 2012. It aired in Australia and New Zealand on April 13, 2012, in South Africa on April 28, 2012, and in the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia on June 4, 2012.

References
  1. "Disney Channel Portfolio of Brands Shine in Annual Presentation to Advertisers". Disney Channel. March 16, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  2. "Disney Channel Original Movie "Frenemies" Buddies Up With 4.2 Million Total Viewers" (Press release). Disney Channel. January 17, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2016 – via TV By The Numbers.
  3. "Weekly Top 10 27 February-4 March 2012". barb.co.uk. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  4. "34th Annual Young Artist Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Retrieved 2013-03-31.
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