Troop Zero

My husband and I absolutely loved this from the very beginning. The girls are cute, the story is great and even the interactions were fun. I think most of the negative reviews were people that didn't grow up in the 70's and didn't ever experience being teased or left out of the group. I totally related to this film and loved the s#$&* out of it!

When I first watched the trailer, I thought it would be another one basic PG movie. Eventually, it was so good with a great meaning. The plot and the characters were so interesting and nice choice. The diversity of the casting was magnificent. By the way, the 70's vibes were just in point. The ending was good (I didn't expected something worse, because it's a PG movie). I think everyone should give it a chance, because it explains the meaning of the friendship, hope and revolution. The only thing I didn't like was, the first 15 minutes, it was so boring and childish. Anyway, I'm glad that I saw that movie, wow!

Great movie. Makes you feel things and think about life and how you treat people. Simple movie and set. Great cast too.

Although at times I felt the makers were trying a bit too hard to pull at the heartstrings, and sometimes the influence of Little Miss Sunshine and other films of that kookie, quaint, highly engineered 'homespun' ilk seemed a bit obvious, I really, thoroughly enjoyed it, and I'll admit I shed a tear and I let out a number of very un-British "Whoop"s during the course of this highly engaging and endearing little movie (and it is a little movie; a well-proportioned movie made with a certain amount of love). I will recommend it to all my jaded cinefile friends - no matter how much they might ridicule me!

Troop Zero is a well-made family drama/comedy released on January 17, 2020 by Amazon Studios. It was released by Big Indie Pictures, Escape Artists, and Amazon. The screenplay was written by Lucy Alibar, known for Beasts of the Southern Wild, and directed by the duo of Bert & Bertie, who most recently co-directed, Dance Camp (2016).

It stars Mckenna Grace, as Christmas Flint, a social misfit with her head in the clouds. Jim Gaffigan plays the role of her father, Ramsey Flint, a local attorney, who like his daughter is also a peculiar character that often accepts payment from his clients in the form of "I-owe-you's". Viola Davis plays, Miss Rayleen, Ramsey's paralegal assistant who oftentimes acts in a motherly role to Christmas. Allison Janney is Miss Massey, a troop leader for a local troop of Birdie Scouts that has a history with Miss Rayleen. Mike Epps rounds out the cast as, Dwayne Champaign, a friend/client of Ramses, who brings humor and lightness to the role.

Troop Zero is set in rural Georgia in 1977 and Laura Fox, who designed the production of the film really did a wonderful job of teleporting the audience back to this period with colorful and rich sets filled with nostalgic items that have today become memorabilia and picturesque settings backdropped against the tall Georgia pines and Southern Live Oaks that the area is famous for. The rural south American setting adds another element to the film that doesn't really percolate to the point of becoming a pseudo-character in the movie, but I felt like the events probably couldn't happen in too many other places.

Grace's character, Christmas, is the sort of character that many love rooting for because she's a likable underdog with a bright smile and a quirky personality, and it's through this that the film's directors are able to string along a touching coming-of-age story that offers many solid supporting performances. Notably, all of the child actors perform exceptionally, either as supporting Birdie Scouts or rival scouts in the climactic competition to see who will be recorded on NASA's Golden Record.

Troop Zero is definitely worth a watch, it'll remind you of the power of imagination, self-belief, perseverance, sacrifice, family, friendship and love.