A delightful Disney Channel revival with incredibly funny kids

THE Wizards of Waverly Place the revival seems to be trying to cash in on one of the best examples of 2000s childhood nostalgia, but Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is a hilarious, moving and magical watch. The now-adult Justin Russo (David Henrie), having been fired as director of WizTech, is living in the mortal world with his wife and two children, who are unaware of their wizarding heritage. That is, until your sister Alex (Selena Gomez) shows up with spunky 12-year-old witch Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown), with the request that Justin take her in and train her.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place features an incredibly funny cast that mirrors the original

The kickoff is the fantastic participation of Gomez, who returns to the role of Alex, portraying her beloved sarcastic personality as well as the way she matured in the intervening years. Henrie is basically playing the same character as before and still has a great dynamic with Gomez. However, it is the new cast that impressively manages to hold its own and become beloved in a show that relies on affection for its predecessors.

The family structure is obviously set up to mirror the original, with vaguely similar characterizations: rebellious Billie, nerdy older brother Roman (Alkaio Thiele), goofy younger brother Milo (Max Matenko), tough but caring mother Giada (Mimi Gianopulos), the sweet best friend, Winter (Taylor Core), and Justin as the uptight father trying to keep everything under control. Still, they avoid feeling like carbon copies, all still original characters with their own trials and tribulations. The family dynamic appears as a loving tribute to Wizards of Waverly Placeinstead of Disney revamping everyone and trying to pick up where they left off.

Perhaps most impressively, the cast is extremely funny, especially the child actors, who deliver some brilliantly over-the-top lines. Gomez and Henrie are a wonderful blast from the past, while Gianopulos is a solid addition. Ultimately, however, it is Brown, Thiele, Matenko and Core who will make the Disney show a success. The comic scenarios are a little boring, generating a lot of conflicts due to a lack of common sense, but the cast makes everything fun anyway.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place establishes some more serious emotional throughlines

Right now, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place establishes that there will be some darker stories, which are introduced in the first episodes and suggest a later culmination. The narrative skips over what Justin told Giada about why they were taking Billie in and Alex’s request – which is not just for Justin to teach Billie, but to adopt her, which is a much bigger commitment. Despite moderate plot holes, the show already displays themes of stepfamilies and self-esteem.

I chalked these weird oversights up to a byproduct of these kinds of shows – they have to simplify it with the basic premise of Billie living with them and the whole family, just like Winter, knowing about magic with minimal consequences. However, there are still some poignant points made in the first few episodes about Justin’s feelings of failure and why he kept it a secret from his family for so long, as well as Billie being heavily hinted at as an orphan with a proven fear of abandonment. being expelled from several schools and homes.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place balances nostalgia and new magic for classic Disney Channel fans

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place knows it has to have some Easter Eggs for old school fans, but it doesn’t go overboard. The show opens with a remix of the old theme song, there are references to WizTech and Max (Jake T. Austin) who have since turned the Waverly Place diner into a multi-billion dollar franchise, and a dazzling return to the family lair. But with the characters being distorted versions of their Wizards of Waverly Place counterparts and the new actors who promote this presence on the screen, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place tells its own new, charming and highly enjoyable story.

Admittedly, all Disney Channel shows operate with a certain suspension of disbelief that is easily criticized by the more cynical, demanding that we accept glaring plot holes and unrealistic behavior. Personally, I thought it was horrible for Justin to have lied to Giada for so long, and she comes to terms with it shockingly quickly. However, most Disney Channel shows have flourished and established a fervent and lasting fan base – so for those who miss this particular brand of entertainment, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place it is a perfect welcome home.

The first two episodes of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place premieres Wednesday, October 29th on Disney Channel, and will stream the next day on Disney+. The series consists of ten episodes, with two episodes released weekly.