REVIEW: Troop Zero is the Troop You Want to Join
Everyone has a dream, big or small, realistic or shoot for the moon, we’re all dreaming of something. Amazon Studios’ new movie, Troop Zero, focuses on a young girl, Christmas Flint and how she will stop at nothing to make her dream come true.
Christmas Flint (McKenna Grace) is obsessed with everything space. Aliens, stars, the cosmos, the planets, Christmas loves it all and she intends to one day go to space. When she learns of a competition giving the winner the chance to be recorded for NASA’s Golden Record, Christmas sees a way for her dream to come true. She pulls together a ragtag group of girls to create their own Birdie Scouts Troop and set off to win the competition. With the help of her father’s secretary, Miss Rayleen (Viola Davis), the two are on a mission to see their troop, Troop Zero, win the competition, no matter the obstacles.
Grace leads this film as Christmas and is at ease acting alongside some very talented adults as she is with the other children in the flick. Grace’s scenes with Davis are the best in the film, as Davis and Grace do well to challenge and play off one another. Grace is just as charming in her interactions with Jim Gaffigan, who plays her father Ramsey Flint. The young star continues to get better with every role she takes on. Davis’ Miss Rayleen is a hoot and the character most will empathize with. Miss Rayleen has the best story arc and growth in the movie and Davis knocks it out of the ballpark.
Gaffigan as Christmas’ father, Ramsey is the perfect on-screen dad. He brings his great comedic presence to the role and does a nice job playing alongside Davis and Grace. Allison Janney rounds out the cast as Miss Massey, the troop leader of rival, Troop 5. Janney is fantastic in every role and this one is no different. Janney is the villain in this film and plays her part with relish; she does have her own growth in the film which makes it hard for audiences to truly dislike Janney’s Miss Massey.
Troop Zero is the perfect movie to take the kids to go see this weekend. The overall theme of the story will speak to those young and old. This flick is a fun ride and reminds us all to never give up on our dreams, even the ones that require us to leave Earth.
Grade: B-