Run time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Rating: G
Summary(IMDB.com):
A teen learns that his birth mother is a mermaid after he begins to grow fins and slimy scales on his thirteenth birthday.
My Review:
Disney Channel Movies were always fantastic treasures in anyone's childhood, but I always considered The Thirteenth Year as one of their best! With the original plot, amazing effects, and beautiful merpeople, this movie is an instant mer-classic.
The movie opens with a stunning mermaid holding a little merboy. She has long flowing hair and seashell accessories, but her tail is beautiful, with silver, orange, and gold coloration. She even has small fins on her wrists. Once the characters are introduced, the mermother tries to run away from a fisherman who saw her, but to save her child, she left him on the back of a boat. Sadly, the boat leaves with the otherworldly baby taken away from his home in the sea. I enjoyed this opening scene because it showed how wildlife shouldn't be harassed or chased, and how it leads to severe familial consequences.
Thirteen years later, the boy named Cody is with human parents, but the audience immediately knows that he has something aquatic in his blood. He's a super fast swimmer, constantly thirsty, and has an incredible amount of energy. Once his thirteenth birthday passes, Cody starts to have vivid dreams of the ocean, electric impulses like an eel, scaled/webbed hands, and can even talk to fish! I loved that the movie shows so many amazing mer-abilities in a slow progression. The audience discovers his abilities alongside him. Poor Cody has no idea why these changes are happening until his parents reveal that he is adopted, but from unknown parents. Cody also uses his merboy charm on his friend Sam. There relationship is so cute, and even though she freaks out at his changes, she helps him later on.
The characterization features a wide variety for everyone to make a connection; from a nerdy character, sports kid, girl next door, and even the parents are relatable as their child faces something unknown. The ending of the movie suggests there is more to Cody's story, but this was never continued by Disney. Check out this article from MTV! It's an article featuring Chez Starbuck and behind the scenes photos from The Thirteenth Year.
The Thirteenth Year's oceanic protection message, stunning merfolk, variety of characters, and strong familial themes makes this an awesome movie to watch with little mers or to enjoy on your own! I give this movie (*****) 5 stars.
PS: The only way to watch this movie right now is on Amazon. The movie is not available on DVD :(
-Sirenita The Selkie