"About our music…it’s like an energy. It connects us with people. They can feel us when we play. I want that connection with everybody."
Director: Kenny Ortega
Where Available: Netflix
Rating:
Summary:
Teenager Julie finds her passion for music and life while helping the Phantoms, a trio of ghostly guys, become the band they were able to be.
Review:
Here are 3 word to describe Julie and the Phantoms: “Tell your friends.“
Julie and the Phantoms is the stupidest show I have ever loved. I have watched a large range of movies and TV shows ever since quarantine started, but never did I think I would become so invested in a TV-G rated Netflix original series about a boy band that dies 25 years ago and come back as ghosts to start a band with a girl names Julie.
Julie re-discovers her passion for music by helping a ghostly boy band called Sunset Curve. After dying 25 years ago, the boys hope they can become the band they were never able to be. Can they solve their unfinished business in time, or will they have to say bye to Julie forever?
This show was not supposed to be this good. The TV-G rating should have turned me away, but there was this fun, unmatchable energy I got from the trailer and the marketing that I just HAD to watch it. I also never expected to CRY over this show and its soundtrack, but I definitely did.
The plot for this show is a rollercoaster. Yes, the script is full of cliches from every high school show ever made, but Julie and the Phantoms wasn't trying to be monumental. Its targeted audience was kids (but its on Netflix's Top 10 so I KNOW that there are teenagers watching this show) who just wanted to watch something and have fun. And I know can't tell me you have ever watched a show about a boy band of ghosts who realize they can play music again? (unless you watched the 2011 Brazilian TV show Julie e os Fantasmas that this was made from). Honestly, this was the most fun I have had watching a show in a WHILE. Me and my friend Alena watched the entire series together on Netflix Party (It's a google chrome extension where you can stream Netflix with friends). There is friendship, drama, ghost pranks, romance, family, and MUSIC!!! I mean, I literally could not have asked for a more fun season:)
The characters the writers were able to create for this show are everything to me. Each is unique and musically talented in their own way, and I know you will be able to relate to each one of them:
Julie, played by Madison Reyes, is an absolute STAR in the making. Julie is the foundation that holds the rest of the spectacular characters up. She is the glue that keeps the band together. She is the HEART of Julie and the Phantoms. Every character thrives from the energy she puts into the atmosphere. Madison Reyes is so talented, and I don't have enough good words to say about her. Plus, SHES ONLY 16!! I will get into the soundtrack later, but WOW this girl can sing!
Charlie Gillespie is a DREAMBOAT. He plays Luke, the classic rebellious teenager of the group. I don't want to get too much into what Luke's emotional baggage is because I will start CRYING, but when you get to the episode "Unsaid Emily", have a box of tissues near you, trust me. And don't even get me STARTED with the romantic tension between him and Julie. Their relationship definitely gives me Troy and Gabriella vibes from High School musical, which makes sense (thank you Kenny Ortega!)
Reggie is literally so iconic. There is no other way to describe him. He is a big ball of energy in ever scene and his dad jokes made me laugh the most out of any character. He 100% has the best style out of all the boys with his leather jacket rockstar vibes. If Reggie’s voice sounds familiar, it's because the actor Jeremy Shada voices Finn in Adventure Time. What a small world.
Alex is the drummer of the band, and also the hopeless romantic of this series. His relationship with Willie, another ghost we meet later in the series, is ADORABLE and honestly deserves so much praise. Alex definitely causes the most drama out of any of the boys, and reminds me of an off-brand JJ from Outer Banks, but Owen Joyner was definitely the best pick.
The rest of the cast includes BooBoo Stewart (the icon who plays Seth in Twilight and Jay in Descendants), Cheyenne Jackson (recently Hooded Justice in Watchman but was also in Descendants as Hades), and Carlos Ponce (I somehow remember that he voices the bird stealer Marcel in Rio!). Casting directors get a round of applause for Julie and the Phantoms.
FINALLY, let's talk about the music: 10/10, 100%, A+++++++++++++++. I can’t get enough of this soundtrack. Most of the original music is pretty upbeat and happy, but there are some HEARTBREAKING ballads like Unsaid Emily and Perfect Harmony that are guaranteed to make you cry. This is honestly my favorite soundtrack from a TV show, ever. I was SO HAPPY to see that the cast ACTUALLY sing the songs, play the drums, and play the guitar. It is so noticeable when someone in a singing TV show doesn’t actually sing or play the instrument their character does and it bothers me. With Julie and the Phantoms, the entire vibe of the show and every musical performance was enhanced by the fact that the Madison and the boys were ACTUALLY jamming along. The soundtrack made me feel like I was actually at a Julie and the Phantoms concert. As soon as I finished the show I had the song on repeat for the rest of the night. 2 days later as I write this review I am STILL listening to Now or Never, Bright, Flying Solo, The Other Side of Hollywood, Finally Free, Perfect Harmony, Edge of Great, Unsaid Emily, and Stand Tall over and over and over again! Even if you don’t plan on watching the show (which you will regret not doing), go listen to the soundtrack. I can’t wait to hear more from these talented people in season 2!
Colorization is super important when it comes to TV and movies, and wow was this show colorful. The costumes and the scenery screamed High School Musical and my childhood. Yet, I am still so surprised that this it a TV-G rated show. It is currently in the Top 10 on Netflix and the #3 soundtrack on iTunes at the time I am writing this, so obviously there are more people than children watching this show. I assume that for the next season (hopefully it gets renewed) they are going to up the maturity level just a little bit since the actual audience was much different than the anticipated target audience.
Now, I wanted to include my friend Alena's review of the show, so here it is:
- Oh boy. This show is just wow. When Izzy told me about this show I was like “that sounds like the dumbest plot ever” YET HERE I AM SO EXTREMELY INVESTED IN THIS GHOST BAND. I loved this show. Definitely worth the watch 100%. For a children’s show, I was pretty surprised that the acting, script, plot lines, and humor was all actually entertaining the whole time. Sure some of the comedy was cheap and some songs had some questionable lyrics and it was slightly predictable and it had it’s fair share of cringe moments, but I’m obsessed with this show. Plus Charles Gillespie’s ARMS!!! That was definitely one of the first things I noticed ;) The boys are so incredibly lovable. I literally fell in love with them the longer I watched! They are so funny and adorable. Reggie’s faces in the background, Alex’s sarcasm, Luke’s everything! Agh my babies. Luke and Julie’s interactions are absolutely heart pounding; like it makes me smile so much and he’s so witty with her and cute! When Luke and Julie perform together it’s so cute and the tension, oh my gosh. Izzy and I were definitely freaking out with an unlimited number of keyboard smashes in our Netflix party chat!! Overall, such an entertaining show and definitely recommended! It’s just so heart warming and fun!
If this is going to be labeled as a kids/family show, then its the best kids/family show I have ever seen. I was singing and dancing along to every song in every episode. I loved this show a lot, and am LITERALLY rewatching my favorite scenes as I type this for the 4TH TIME! Some of you may have seen my rating and been like “IZZY HOW ARE YOU RATING A TV-G SHOW 5 STARS???” Well, I am, and if you don’t believe me, go watch it for yourself on Netflix.
Quotes:
"I think we make each other better."
"About our music…it’s like an energy. It connects us with people. They can feel us when we play. I want that connection with everybody."
"We’re the only family we’re ever gonna need."
"Our instruments are attached to our souls."
"I cried in a room for 25 years and I didn’t get a single hug from either of you."
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