• Fun

‘Cadet Kelly’

What’s the first movie Decider’s senior film reporter watched on Disney’s new streaming platform, Disney+? Why, the acclaimed Disney Channel Original Movie, Cadet Kelly of course! Listen, there’s a reason that Hilary Duff rose to stardom the way that she did: That girl is charming AF. In Cadet Kelly, she’s an artsy, free-spirited eighth-grader from NYC who’s sent to military school, where she meets the strict, buttoned-up Cadet Captain Jennifer Stone (Christy Carlson Romano). Is it good filmmaking? Not particularly. But the script, co-written by Gail Parent and Michael Walsh, is bursting with gems, including a scene where Duff and her city best friend communicate solely in a series of exasperated huffs. And not for nothing, but the chemistry between Duff and Romano is electric. Cadet Kelly is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.