I imagine the board meeting at Disney Channel went “What if we did “The Hangover”–but G rated?” And what we got was “The Slumber Party.” Director Veronica Rodriguez lays all of her influences out for the audience from minute one, even involving a small group of friends that make a pact that results in a night that neither of them can recall. It’s almost verbatim sans any and all adult content. Not that that’s a bad thing in particular, as thankfully “The Slumber Party” is quite good. The fact it’s blatantly derivative of the aforementioned movie is outweighed by the charisma of its cast, and its lively energy.
When three best friends Megan, Paige, and Anna Maria have a sleepover to celebrate Anna Maria’s birthday (with Anna Maria’s soon to be stepsister Veronica), things become adventurous. A mysterious party starter, Mr. Mesmer comes and hypnotizes the girls so that they live a fearless life. They awake the next morning with no memory of the previous night. Now with only a shaved eyebrow, a lone shoe, and a flock of ducklings as evidence, they go on the search for a missing Anna Maria before her parents’ wedding.
“The Slumber Party” is through and through a very unabashed remake of “The Hangover” right down to plot points and gags. Yes, I know “The Slumber Party” is an adaptation of a book, but the book itself is clearly a riff on “The Hangover.” Director Veronica Rodriguez puts her characters through the wringer much as the original movie does, except everything is left very watered down for the G rated crowd. Instead of a hangover, the girls have no memory because of a botched hypnotizing spell. And rather than a mysterious tattoo, main character Megan has a missing eyebrow.
In either case, aside from picking out what plot elements “The Slumber Party” took from “The Hangover,” thankfully the Disney original movie is entertaining enough that it’s almost charming. It almost always feels like one of those under the radar kids films from the early nineties, at times. The movie is very well directed and the spirit is light in tone, even in spite of addressing more weighty topics like mixed families, and the pressures to grow up. If anything, “The Slumber Party” is saved by the charismatic performances by its principle cast. Darby Camp is very good as main protagonist Megan, while Emmy Liu-Wang, and Alex Cooper Cohen are a lot of fun in their respective characters. Cooper Cohen is a genuine scene stealer.
I also very much liked Caroline Valencia as Anna Maria’s bratty little sister. Much of the film’s entire success revolves around the foursome and they handle their roles well. Even when the movie is at its cheesiest, “The Slumber Party” is still a pretty fun, breezy coming of age film. If you can get past the fact it takes from “The Hangover” wholesale, it’s still a raucous DCOM.