THE SUITE LIFE OF ZACK AND CODY: LIP SYNCHIN’ IN THE RAIN
(TV-G)
MOVIE: *** (out of 5)
DVD EXPERIENCE: *1/2 (out of 5)
STARRING
Dylan Sprouse as ZACK MARTIN
Cole Sprouse as CODY MARTIN
Phill Lewis as MR. MOSEBY
Brenda Song as LONDON TIPTON
Ashley Tisdale as MADDIE FITZPATRICK
Kim Rhodes as CAREY MARTIN
Studio: Disney Channel
BY KEVIN CARR
A few years back, I wasn’t all that interested in the shows that came on the Disney Channel. This interest was entirely fueled by the fact that I had boys instead of girls, and until just recently they weren’t old enough to find any interest in the regular sit-com programming.
Now my boys are old enough to surf for themselves, and while they’ve lost interest in “Hannah Montana,” they are all about the male-centric shows like “Corey in the House” and “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.” The most recent release, “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: Lip Synchin’ in the Rain,” has received quite a bit of play lately because my kids relate with the mischievous pre-teens who live in a hotel.
As an adult who gets the more subtle jokes (and who has seen all the possible versions of “High School Musical,” the best episode in this four-episode collection is the title track “Lip Synchin’ in the Rain,” in which the characters from the Tipton Hotel try out for a local rendition of “High School Musical.” The inside joke is that Maddie (Ashley Tisdale) has trouble convincing people that she would be perfect for the character of Sharpay (which is played by Tisdale in real life).
As the Sprouse brothers continue to age, their natural pubescent awkwardness will probably lead to the show’s fizzle, but right now it’s one of the best bets for boys interested in the Disney Channel. There’s also the unfortunate loss of the rather cute Ashley Tisdale as a series regular as her outside career takes off. She’s replaced by a rather obnoxious candy counter girl that is nothing more than a Raven wannabe.
Other episodes include “Arwin That Came to Dinner” (featuring the janitor Arwin trying to go on a date), “Orchestra” and “A Tale of Two Houses” (featuring the boys’ failed attempt to play both parents against each other). The special features include a gag reel, which is always fun for the kids, and a behind-the-scenes interview of the twins by castmate Brenda Song.