Week 2, Part 2 - The Challenge

Hi,

Another movie I watched this week is The Challenge, starring the Olsen Twins. Very different to Three Kings. As with most Mary Kate and Ashley films, the two main characters are very different but they used their respective differences to their advantage.

Both lead characters have their good and bad points, and are stereotypes pushed to the limit. As usual, Ashley Olsen's character is up tight and dresses like a librarian, while Mary Kate's character is relaxed and almost hippy-like. Although they aren't really believable, they are still sympathetic and you want them to do well.

The urgent and difficult problem in the film is to win a college scholarship, on a TV show called 'The Challenge'. It becomes more difficult as the twins characters are estranged and do not get on well at all. The good thing about having a TV show as the premise for the film is they don't need to show the audience how the characters behave, they can tell them. The film has moments where it is exactly what would be seen on TV if it was a real television show, and this includes when they describe all the lead characters competing for a scholarship.

At first it doesn't seem like the twins are trying very hard at all to win the show as they're letting their differences divide their team.This leads to humiliating moments for the twins, and success for the stereotypically nasty and self-absorbed other team. More challenges pop up when Mary-Kate's character and a boy from the rival team are caught kissing. Towards the end of the movie the shows creator uses the twins greatest fears to make the final episode that much more exciting, but they use their newfound friendship to support eachother and win the scholarship. Surprise! I know as you were reading this you were sitting on the edge of you're seat wondering if a Mary-Kate and Ashley film would have a happy ending (hint: they all do). They learnt about themselves and how being different isn't always bad. Other peoples views are important too. Such good morals!

In the resolution the evil team doesn't seem as evil as before, the romances are solidified and all the past love interests from various Mary-Kate and Ashley films cameo. This was their last direct to video movie, and it was a cute way of ending it.

It's a silly movie, and it's similair to all the other Mary-Kate and Ashely movies, but I'm a sucker for them so I enjoyed it.

The end.