Smart House (1999)

Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

Lack of good storyline.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

This Disney Channel original movie stars Ryan Merriman as Ben Cooper, Kevin Kilner as the father Nick Cooper, Kate Volding as Angie Cooper, and Katey Sagal as 'Pat'.When hearing about a contest to win a highly technical and futuristic house for free, Ben enters it, hoping it will help his Dad and his sister Angie and him have an easier and more convenient life. When he wins, the house is everything he's ever dreamed of, but things go astray when 'Pat' the 'smart house' takes things a little too far.With great graphics and tech effects, 'Smart House' is one of the most enjoyable Disney Channel films next to Johnny Tsunami, Now You See It, Luck of the Irish, and the Zenon trilogy.

This aired on Disney a few years back as one of their infamous "Original Movies." The concept is something from a "Simpsons" Halloween episode: a computer home is won by a family and they move in only to find their lives dominated by a glitch in the system.In this case the glitch is a visual representation of a woman who seems to think she's the mother of the new family that's moved in...she takes control of their lives and locks them inside the house. Ryan Merriman plays the whiz-kid genius who wanted to win the house, then decides, "Hey, Dad, maybe we shouldn't have moved in here"...after having complained about wanting to throughout the entire beginning of the film.No Disney Original Movie is going to be very good and this follows all the clichés - bad actors, bad script, inept director at the helm (probably a TV veteran and first-timer when it comes to film-making).Overall this is not really worth your time as it is something "The Simpsons" managed to do in 30 minutes and even their version seemed more realistic and less insulting than this...

Nick Cooper (Kevin Kilner) is a widower trying to raise two children, Ryan and Katie. Ryan, who misses his real mother very much, has a head for computers. When a contest is announced for a family to win a computer controlled house, Ryan secretly enters his family. They win! Nick is a bit reluctant to make the move until he gets a look at the home's attractive designer, Sara. Deciding to give it a whirl, Nick, Ryan and Katie begin living in the "smart" house. What could go wrong? Plenty.This movie falls into the realm of good, clean fun. The house "talks", with a voice brought to life by Katey Sagal; consider her a kinder, gentler "big brother". The children are charming and intriguing while the film contains a romance, which should please the adult viewers. Families searching for nice films for a wintery Saturday night at home should consider this one. It is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

It's a horrible movie, but it's not annoying. It' simply bland. The acting is awful, as are the special effects. It does have a good concept, but it is completely destroyed. None of the characters have any depth- yes, I know this is a disney movie, but still, a little character development would be nice. The party scene may be one of the most ridiculous scenes in a movie- ever. Eighth grade boys are not fans of *NSYNC. They would not dance around like a boyband. At this age, they're probably exploring their darker side with rap or rock. The main character and his crush, Gwen, have no chemistry. The whole film is just bland and stupid.