Let’s face it. In the nostalgic, wonderful world of Disney Channel Original Movies, only one comes out on top compared to the rest (sorry High School Musical, but you’ve been beaten). One that still holds up beautifully today, one that we can’t help but watch whenever we need a pick-me-up, and one that arguably has some of the most iconic and successful stars (we’re looking at you, Bridget Mendler). 2011’s “Lemonade Mouth” is genuinely entertaining, heartwarming, and an overall masterpiece.
And if you don’t believe us, we’re about to tell you why.
- The Music
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We genuinely tear up at the fact that “Lemonade Mouth” was never a real band because for us, we would have been first in line for their concerts. The music of this movie is no less than incredible. It features a mix of upbeat rock/pop punk songs that in terms of the story, showcase the main characters coming into their own personalities and growing confidence. “Determinate” and “She’s So Gone” are two of our favorites that showcase their ability to not care about what others think and reject any societal expectations. “Somebody” and “More Than a Band” are more emotional, hopeful songs that show their versatility as performers. But we have to give a special shoutout to “She’s So Gone,” our feminist anthem and a highlight of the movie, which was a turning point for the band’s individuality. And the character Wen’s rap in “Determinate” changed the course of history. Don’t lie to yourselves, we know you’ve all tried to rap it, (we’re definitely not outing ourselves here…) Overall, every single song is a banger. 10/10 no skips.
THE ONLY SOUNDTRACK TO EVER EXIST ACTUALLY Still on repeat to this day - It’s “it” factor
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“Lemonade Mouth” has a bit of an edge compared to other DCOMs. It was made for the artsy, alternative girlies who wanted something with a little more spice and flavor. It’s genuinely special in that all of its lead characters have their own fleshed-out storylines with their different family upbringings that add stakes to their day-to-day lives and strengthen the group’s friendship. “Lemonade Mouth” avoids other competing DCOMs’ standard surface-level plots or characters. Although so much of this film’s edgy fun comes from its 2010s unique fashion flare that we feel most other Disney characters haven’t rocked. Please let us personally know if you’ve ever seen something as iconic as Stella’s (Hayley Kiyoko) “Question? Authority” T-shirt. We’ll wait…
- THE CAST
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Everyone starring in this movie delivered! It’s even more fun to watch knowing the current success of many of the actors (of course, the women come out on top here.. duh). Dr. Bridget Mendler, “Lesbian Jesus” popstar Hayley Kiyoko, and beautiful “Princess Jasmine” Naomi Scott have all flourished in their careers and other professional endeavors. With such a well-rounded cast like this, WHY DIDN’T THEY GO ON TOUR?!! Yes, we are still upset about this, especially since movies like High School Musical and Camp Rock each had tours/live performances. Either way, the diverse and talented cast makes this film what it is.
Obsessed - THE FRIENDSHIP
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The theme of friendship in “Lemonade Mouth” is arguably its strength, because of how well-written and realistic it is. Most of its heartwarming aspects lie in the wonderful friendship between its six main characters, despite their different upbringings. Throughout the movie, we had the pleasure of seeing the development of their friendship from bonding through song (cue the beat drop) and of course, lemonade. A lot of their songs are certified friendship anthems, especially in scenes of conflict where they still find a way to come together. All of this makes for a very realistic friendship representation. Something refreshing about this film was that it didn’t feel like there was too much competition between the characters. This is partly because they were all very distinct, and at the end of the day, shared their passions with each other above all else. Maybe the real Lemonade Mouth was the friends we made along the way.
I love friendship