You won't be disappointed!

Nice effects though.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

This has got to be one of the best shows ever put on the Disney Channel. It's funny, it's sad, it's dramatic without being too dramatic.The show is about Casey McDonald, who has been forced to movie from her home town to live with her new step dad and step siblings. Her mom Nora and sister Lissie also come along. They all crowd into a house with Nora's new husband George, and his three children, Marty, Edwin, and Derek. She also has to go to a new school where everyone thinks she's weird because she's super smart. She befriends the guidance cousler Paul and neighbor Emily. Her home life isn't much better as she learns that Marty is annoying, Edwin is Gross, and Derek is both plus mean. Simple story, but told so well.I love this show, some episodes may have gotten a little too dramatic, especially the finale, but it's still a very fun show.

As a parent of two girls(14 and 11) I have grave doubts about this show and all the shows aimed at tweens. First, I am always amazed that the living conditions of Drake/Josh, Zac/Cody, Hanna, Carly, Derek, Sunny etc. always make most houses look tiny and cramped. Most people work hard all day to pay for living quarters less than half the size yet on these shows nobody is going or coming from work, paying utility,rent, mortgage or insurance bills, mopping, sweeping, changing lightbulbs, fixing toilets,etc. Just walking in and out(and down the ubiquitous wide stairs that only exist on TV sets) cracking jokes(most of which involve lying and the hilarious results) and shirking work. I think kids watching these will have unrealistic expectations on how hard they will work and how luxurious their lives will be. Second, there is never an intact family, always a Mom or Dad but never both, who are always going on sexless dates but never seem to have any of the downside of divorce(alimony, support, arguments). Again, kids may get the impression that if mom/dad get divorced there will be fun fun fun(actually mom or dad are often not around if that helps the plot). Needless to say there is no mention of spirituality(forget specific religion). Finally there is a theme that troubles me. There are "nerds" that are good in school, "jocks" good in sports, "goody two shoes" as well. The protagonists are not good at school, sports, or charitable but make wisecracks about those who are. The message is don't be good at anything, just be one of the "nothings" who blend in cracking jokes. Needless to say I give all these shows a zero and turn them off all the time and am just short of forbidding them in my house.

Life With Derek is a Disney Channel show not produced at the Magic Kingdom. Instead it's a Canadian produced show that's been given a lot of exposure here because Disney picked it up. It borrows quite heavily from The Brady Bunch.It's the story of a lovely lady who was busy raising two lovely girls. Ashley Leggatt and Jordan Todosey. The lovely lady is Joy Tanner and she married John Ralston who was busy with two boys of his own and a little daughter played by Michael Seater, Daniel Magdar, and Ariel Walker respectively. Like the Bradys the two families are now living as one and with that come the usual problems of adjustments.Unlike the Brady Bunch where all of Florence Henderson's kids become Bradys, the MacDonalds have chosen not to surrender their MacDonald identity and become Venturis. Also the younger kids are clearly subordinate to the two older ones on whom the show is really based.Ashley Leggatt is Casey MacDonald, a really sweet young girl who is the ideal daughter. She's both pretty and smart and yet she's got a lot of teen angst. Her mom remarrying is part of it, but the oldest Venturi sibling and his personality clash every episode with Leggatt.Michael Seater is our title character Derek Venturi. He's most definitely not the all American kid Greg Brady. How could he be, he's Canadian. He's got a streak of Eddie Haskell in him and just delights in tormenting his stepsister. Casey's smart, but Derek is cunning, they seem pretty evenly matched. It sure isn't Greg and Marcia Brady.This show proves one thing, the formula for situation comedies certainly doesn't vary outside America. Every now and then you'll hear a reference that will identify the characters as Canadian, but not too often. I guess it's why Disney picked up the show for the American market. Unless you count all the references to hockey as opposed to baseball or football as THE sport.Life With Derek is a cute show and its Canadian origin makes it slightly different than the usual shows coming from the Disney Network. I particularly like Leggatt's character, I hope she's as nice in real life as she is as Casey MacDonald.

One thing to keep in mind is that Life with Derek is not your typical G-rated Disney show. The show is simple enough for someone under the age of 10 to watch, but a great portion of the show could only fully be understood by ages 10 in up in my opinion. I would call Life with Derek the perfect show for teenagers. Myself being 20, I love the show as well.My favorite reason being how hilarious the constant cat and mouse chase between Derek and Casey is in every episode. Derek always seems to be one step ahead of Casey, no matter what. Every time you think Casey has done something to pull ahead of Derek, Derek strikes back with another ace up his sleeve. Most of the time the episode ends with the two on even grounds, but that is not always the case.Though Derek and Casey are the two main characters of the show, they couldn't do it without a terrific supporting cast. The parents, George and Nora are perfect. The two parents are different personality wise, as George seems to be like Derek: Carefree, relaxed and loose. Nora, on the other hand, is like Casey: Serious, determined and plays by the rules.The other kids in the household complete the family tree in nothing short of spectacular fashion. Edwin and Lizzie are two similar aged kids, and though Edwin is a boy and Lizzie is a girl, Edwin is the wuss and Lizzie is the tough one. Edwin doesn't quite have the carefree personality as Derek (yet). Lizzie has a tough-girl personality that Casey could only dream of. And who could forget Marti, every families typical obnoxious yet cute youngest child.In conclusion, Life with Derek is a high quality effort like most of Disney's non-animated shows. I am glad Disney picked this up, as each episode is an entertaining circus that sucks you in.