Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade (December 9, 2003)

This is the second of three direct-to-video films based on the TV show Recess and was released simultaneously with the third film, All Growed Down. It is a compilation of three episodes: “No More School”, “Grade Five Club” and “A Recess Halloween”. It was released simultaneously with another direct-to-video release, Recess: All Growed Down. It is considered the series finale to the show and the sequel to 2001's Recess: School's Out. In the first episode a series of new strict measures make school unbearable. In response, T.J stages a sit in at his house which, eventually, causes the changes to be revoked and everything goes back to normal. In the second episode, the gang is introduced to the secret fifth and sixth graders' club, where both grades can interact and, theoretically, get along. In the third and final episode Spinelli feels she has outgrown trick or treating. Her friends try to convince her otherwise but they slowly find they agree with her. By the end of the episode, however, their Halloween spirit is restored. The film ends with T.J. saying he's got a feeling that it'll be the best school year yet, waving to the audience and saying he really means it. Miss Finster sighs and gently shuts the doors in a reference to the Recess intro, ending the film and the series. I do not feel this is a great ending to the TV show. The episodes are not very interesting or insightful. Perhaps if I was younger, I would enjoy it more but, as it stands, these are lackluster episodes, a letdown of a series finale. I wish Disney had decided to release complete films, like Recess: School’s Out, instead of these simple compilations filled with mostly unrelated episodes.

Final Rating: 3/10