In honor of Disney Channel releasing their 100th Original Movie, the TV network has been using the long Memorial Day weekend to marathon some iconic films teens today grew up with, such as The Cheetah Girls, High School Musical, Twitches, Camp Rock, and a long list of other favorites. When I think of a feminist Disney Channel Original, Hilary Duff’s “Cadet Kelly” comes to mind.
The actress takes the lead role as Kelly Collins, a free spirited teen attending an art school in the hustle and bustle that is Manhattan. Her hot pink highlights and bold choice of fashion is what makes her individualistic personality shine, and sets the tone for who her character truly is. Kelly’s parents are divorced, and she resides with her mother who has a stable career as an editor, while maintaining a healthy relationship with her rather nomadic and eccentric father, who travels to different countries as (what I assume) a photojournalist. She gets her artistic and unconventional ways from her dad. Kelly’s mom found love with a retired general, and Kelly could not be more supportive of their relationship. However, the pair are soon to be wed and Kelly’s soon-to-be step-father took a job as the head of a military school, where the teenager is being sent off to, against her immediate protests. My initial instinct to Kelly’s mom quitting her high-demanding job and becoming a housewife was to be irritated by it, but as the movie progresses, she appears to really enjoy it and seems to like it a lot more than being on the phone all day and stressed, which is what we saw with her first appearance. Maybe it is feminist after all?
Kelly starts out to be quite the outcast, and continues to be for the duration of the film. Following the rules and orders is what the school is about. Instantaneously, Kelly develops a rivalry with a fellow student and officer above her, Cadet Captain Jennifer Stone. Their main conflict is pretty problematic, because they’re both interested in “the hottest boy at school,” Eric. The girls attending the school are supposed to act stern and serious, which conceals the feminine side that a lot of them don’t know they even have. Kelly helps them bring their uniqueness out of her first friends, Gloria and Carla (who happen to be women of color), by offering them dresses and accessories. Sadly, they act as sidekicks to the white lead.
Kelly refuses to abide by their rules by keeping her favorite items around. When Joe, her step-father, mentions the drill team, she shows her disinterest of the activity because it involves guns and “everyone looks like robots.” We can assume from this that Kelly is fairly liberal. Her views don’t seem to change even when she grows to love the sport when she put the guns aside. The artistic side of it all as well as the formation and direction is what drew her in. While Kelly’s distinctiveness is what got her in trouble from the start, the drill team needs it in order to stand out from their opponents in a competition. Although Kelly and Jennifer remain attracted to Brad, it becomes less about him and more about the team, and the girls develop respect and a liking for each other at the end of the movie, and no one really knows “who got the guy.” On top of it all, Kelly teaches Joe how to become more nurturing and affectionate with a baby on the way.
Some portions of the movie were a little off, the intentions were good and the motion picture wrapped up very feminist, and should leave a positive impact on impressionable young boys and girls. You can catch the movie on Monday, May 30th at 11:55 P.M on Disney Channel.
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