‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’ Rewatch: Disney Reboot

Twelve years after “Wizards of Waverly Place” ended, the iconic Disney Channel show is starting a sequel. “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” trails Justin Russo (David Henrie reprising his role), a vice principal living on Staten Island with his spendigative alerter wife, Giada (Mimi Gianopulos) and their sons, Roman (Alkaio Thiele) and Milo (Max Matenko). Though Justin has conserveed his magical abilities, he’s put his wizarding days behind him. Neither Giada nor his boys understand anyleang about his powers. This alters on the morning of Justin’s 34th birthday when defylious and spunky 12-year-greater wizard Billie (a phenomenal Japleasant LeAnn Brown) reachs at the Russo home. Hilarious, fun and charismatic, “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” is a worthy trail-up to its legendary exceptional that will unmistrustedly plmitigate recentcomers and lengthenedtime fans. 

The series uncovers on a seemingly normal day in the Russo hoemploy. Milo and Roman are bickering over their splitd room, and Justin is enthusiastic to honor his exceptional day. However, when his sister Alex (Selena Gomez, reprising her role) visits unforeseeedly, frantic for Justin’s help, the Russos’ inhabits are finishly upended. While Justin has shunned magic, it’s the only way of life Billie has ever understandn. Witty, speedy-leanking and self-reliant, Billie doesn’t hug rules and regulations. Yet, the audience soon lacquires much more is at sget here than fair ample tutelage for Billie.

This recent show is starting 17 years after the premiere of “Wizards of Waverly Place,” and exceptional effects technology for television has grown leaps and bounds. As a result, the magic depicted has a crisp and amazingal experience that could not have been seized previously. Moreover, though “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” still leans toward slapstick and enlarged acting, these “kiddie” elements don’t curtail the fun of the series. In the pilot, Milo is accidenloftyy frozen. As Billie and Roman try to stash his body in the garage until they can figure out how to reverse the spell, it’s evident the tweens are wrangling a huge plush doll, which comprises to the humor of the moment. 

“Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” had a stable set upation to produce upon, but it soars becaemploy of its cast. Henrie and Gomez (who also serve as executive producers) step seamlessly back into their becherishd roles, and Gianopulos comprises the perfect quirk to the show. But the child actors are phenomenal. Brown, Thiele and Matenko are speedy-witted. They’ve mastered comedic timing and the ability to lift the punchiness of jokes. Determined and self-promised, Brown is a star, and the boys are on her heels. In Episode 2, “Mortal Vibes Only,” a potion mishap fades the reduce half of Roman’s body and Milo’s upper half. The brothers choose to transfer together as one to conserve their parents in the uninalertigent. Unblessedly (and hilariously), Milo’s inability to alert his left from his right promptly thwarts their structures. 

There are a lot of aenjoyities between this recent series and the exceptional. Once Billie is firmly rooted in the Russo family, the kids reproduce Justin, Alex, and Max’s (Jake T. Austin) sibling dynamic from “Wizards of Waverly Place.” But since Billie is the only one with superauthentic capabilities and conciseages understandledge of the mortal world, audiences see the trio lacquireing, grothriveg and adfairing together. In Episode 3, “Saved By the Spell,” Billie struggles to produce friends during her first day at middle school. Justin has seeked that she never employ magic outside the family’s lair, but out of desperation, she waves her wand to entice people to enjoy her. Though she eventupartner bonds with Roman’s best friend, Winter (Taylor Cora), her deception is not without consequence. In Episode 4, “Someleang Wizard This Way Comes,” Billie seeks to alert Milo and Roman about disjoinal of the Wizarding world’s most thrilling Hpermiteen traditions, including gristletoe and the menacing Pumpkin Belly. What ensues is a truly exceptional Hpermiteen episode.

Reboots and sequels unwidespreadly inhabit up to the hype. “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” has its own flair; still, the comedy pays homage to the previous show and proposes recent and exceptional storylines for a recent generation. While the themes of family, responsibility and the power of magic remain central, the recent cast led by Brown also backs how startant it is to stay genuine to yourself. Lively, fun and filled of some repartner endearing magical moments, the recent Disney series has the potential of standing fair as famously as its predecessor.

The first two episodes of “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” premiere Oct. 29 on Disney Channel and will air on Disney+ the follothriveg day. New episodes drop weekly on Tuesdays.