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Cow Belles
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| Cow Belles | |
|---|---|
Promotional advertisement | |
| Written by |
|
| Directed by | Francine McDougall |
| Starring | |
| Theme music composer |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Sheri Singer White |
| Producer | Kevin Lafferty |
| Cinematography | Tony Westman |
| Editor | Terry Blythe |
| Running time | 88 minutes |
| Production companies |
|
| Budget | $5 million |
| Original release | |
| Network | Disney Channel |
| Release | March 24, 2006 |
Cow Belles is a 2006 romantic teen comedy Disney Channel Original film that stars American pop recording artists Alyson Michalka and Amanda Michalka, better known as sister duo Aly & AJ. It premiered on March 24, 2006, on the Disney Channel and was watched by over 5.8 million viewers.[1]
On May 10, 2019, Aly & AJ revealed that they're working on a sequel for Cow Belles.[2]
Plot
[edit]Taylor (Alyson Michalka) and Courtney Callum (Amanda Michalka) are two thoroughly spoiled yet well-intentioned sisters whose widower father, Reed Callum (Jack Coleman), owns Callum Dairy. The girls' mother died prior to the events of the movie: therefore, their house keeper Corrine helps take care of the girls now. Taylor has just gotten her driver's license, after almost failing the test at the beginning of the movie. After she got her license, the girls leave to depart for a shopping trip, but left a towel on the stove, causing a house fire, and previously, Taylor accidentally sinks her friends pickup truck while learning to drive stick. Shocked by their carelessness and over spending, Reed decided that the girls should start making their own cash and puts them to work at the dairy to teach them responsibility. After this decision was made, he was out of town; looking for a rare butterfly to add to his collection. However, the situation left the girls to look after the dairy.
When the girls start working at the dairy, it quickly becomes their worst nightmare. They mess up almost every step of the way, such as dropping Courtney's cell phone into one of the full yogurt cups, and then tripping and splashing blueberries on themselves. All the employees think they are stuck-up and don't believe that they can do their job. Soon after they start working there and doing their jobs better, someone steals all the money out of the businesses' bank account. It is then up to the girls to come up with a plan to save the dairy, and the jobs of those who are working, but no one believes in them. Taylor has changed her nature and asks Courtney if she can use her party money to pay for the employees' paychecks, or else they will leave Callum Dairy. Taylor and Courtney are at a meeting with the other employees when Taylor tricks Courtney into leaving to get her cell phone, she says that she will get the money, but still no one believes her. Without consulting Courtney, Taylor uses her party money for the employees, thus causing a very big fight between the two of them.
Taylor and Courtney finally enjoy their work in the factory and earn the employees' belief and respect. However, Courtney ignores Taylor in every possible way. They have a fight at work when Courtney is putting in the numbers for the expiration dates. Even though they have the money to pay the employees' paychecks, Courtney's mistake threatens their business because the milk, believed to be expired, is sent back. Their employers realize this will take them all night and that they will miss the deadline, but Reed comes along with volunteers, mostly town folks (including the wealthy ones who attended Courtney and her friends' debutante) who are impressed with the sisters' efforts to save the beloved dairy company. They manage to pull through the evening and the employees and town folks celebrate. It is revealed that his business partner and best friend Bob Fenwick is the thief, but he gets away with the money. After checking his finances, Reed determines that the dairy will survive, but that money will be tight for some time. The girls happily volunteer to work with him even when he gives them the day off to help out.
In an alternate ending, Courtney finds a way to track Reed's friend who stole the money. The girls show their father a footage of the embezzler playing in a casino in Puerto Rico, and Reed alerts the FBI to catch him. Despite getting their money back, the sisters continue working in the dairy in the hopes of one day succeeding their father.
Cast
[edit]- Alyson Michalka as Taylor Callum
- Amanda Michalka as Courtney Callum
- Jack Coleman as Reed Callum
- Sheila McCarthy as Fran Walker
- Michael Trevino as Jackson Meade
- Christian Serratos as Heather Perez
- Ron Gabriel as Melvin Melville
- Chris Gallinger as Phillipe
- Von Flores as Nick Perez
- Alex Hood as Richie Miller
- Sharon McFarlane as Doris Miller
- Sandy Robson as Thomas
- Craig Eldridge as Wilbur Meade
- Paula Brancati as Sarah Van Dyke
- Amanda Tilson as Jenny Bryant
- Diana Peressini as Marissa Wentworth
- Michael Rhoades as Bob Fenwick
- Duane Murray as Pete "Big Pete"
- Dylan Roberts as Ralph
- Ordena Stephens-Thompson as Joyce
- Stuart Clow as Keith Walker
- Beatriz Pizano as Gina Perez
- Jean Yoon as Corrine
- Scotty Watson as Larry
Production
[edit]The movie was inspired by Fox TV series The Simple Life, which formerly starred Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. The movie was filmed in Toronto, Canada in 2005.[3]
Soundtrack
[edit]The soundtrack is composed of one single On the Ride, performed by Aly & AJ.[4] Its music video features scenes from the movie merged in it and this song is featured in the movie.
Release
[edit]- The DVD was released on June 27, 2006, with special features such as behind-the-scenes featurette and music videos.[5]
- Family in Canada first aired Cow Belles on June 30, 2006.
- Cow Belles premiered on Disney Channel Asia on August 6, 2006 (original ending version) and November 19, 2006 (alternate ending version).
- Its premiere was watched by over 5.8 million viewers, making it the fifth most viewed Disney Channel Original Movie as of 2007.[6]
- Cow Belles debuted on U.L[clarification needed] television on March 29, 2006, to 2.04 million viewers.
- Cow Belles debuted on Disney Channel Latin America on June 12, 2009.
Reception
[edit]Jeff Swindoll of the Monsters and Critics website said, "Not too bad and a perfect time killer for the kids. I'd suggest a rental for family movie night. Maybe the lessons the girls learn in the [film] will cross over to the audience."[7] Kevin Carr of 7M Pictures said, "Cow Belles follows the Disney formula perfectly. It stars two hot, young singing sensations, who have a contract with the Disney recording branch. If you frequent the Disney Channel often on the dial, you'll recognize Alyson Michalka as Keely from Phil of the Future. These girls are next in line to take over where Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan left the stage. Overall, Aly and AJ are decent actors and carry the film as best they can. Aly has a stronger, more mature part, and it shows that she at least has a little more camera time on her sister. However, the casting of the sisters works well as they have good chemistry. Ultimately, these two make a better pair than Haylie and Hilary Duff ever did."[8] Commonsense Media said, "Parents need to know that this film might at first seem to tell kids that the sisters' frivolous lifestyle is desirable and that their carefree, irresponsible behavior is something to aspire to. But things turn around when the girls finally realize the value of hard-earned money, learn about responsibility, and gain respect for people who must work for a living. While adults may not find this quick turnaround believable, the movie's overall intention is good."[9] Ultimate Disney reviewed the DVD saying "Cow Belles has its fair share of flaws but redeems itself with a solid story and a surprise or two by the end. Like the milk in the movie, the bonus features are skim, and the audio/video presentation could use some improvement. The price tag for this one is a little higher than your average DCOM too, so a purchase may not be quite warranted. Still, those who have taken a liking to Disney Channel features in the past should give this one a try, so a rental is recommended.".[10]
Sequel
[edit]On May 10, 2019, Aly & AJ revealed that they're working on a sequel for Cow Belles.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Cow Belles | burrp!TV Guide". Tv.burrp.com. March 24, 2006. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- ^ Aly and AJ Michalka Reveal They're Developing 'Cow Belles' Sequel (Exclusive)
- ^ "The Alyson Michalka Picture Pages". Superiorpics.com. Retrieved December 11, 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Aly & AJ "On the Ride" digital download
- ^ "Cow Belles - DVD Press Release". UltimateDisney.com. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- ^ "Disney Movie Skips to Another Record - 2007-01-20 00:04:00 | Multichannel News". Multichannel.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2007. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- ^ "DVD Review: Cow Belles". Monsters and Critics. Archived from the original on June 24, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ ""COW BELLES" DVD Review by Kevin Carr". 7M Pictures. Archived from the original on November 30, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- ^ This review was written by Larisa Wiseman. "Cow Belles - Movie Review". Commonsensemedia.org. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- ^ "Cow Belles DVD Review". Ultimatedisney.com. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- ^ Aly and AJ Michalka Reveal They're Developing 'Cow Belles' Sequel (Exclusive)
External links
[edit]- Cow Belles at IMDb
Cow Belles
View on GrokipediaOverview
Plot
Cow Belles follows the story of sisters Taylor and Courtney Callum, two affluent teenagers leading carefree, indulgent lives in their family's spacious home. Taylor, the elder and more rebellious of the pair, struggles with responsibility, while Courtney focuses on social events like her upcoming cotillion. Their negligence culminates in an accidental house fire caused by leaving a towel on a lit stove burner during a shopping outing, destroying much of their possessions and highlighting their lack of accountability.[7][5] In response, their widowed father, Reed Callum, owner of the successful Callum Dairy, enforces a summer of hard labor at the family business to instill discipline and appreciation for work. While Reed departs on a personal trip to search for a rare butterfly, the sisters arrive at the dairy ill-prepared, facing manual tasks like milking cows and processing products. Initial mishaps abound: Courtney drops her cell phone into a vat of yogurt, and Taylor splashes herself with blueberries during a delivery. These blunders draw skepticism from the longtime employees, who view the girls as pampered outsiders, underscoring class differences between the family's wealth and the workers' daily struggles.[7][5] As they persist, the sisters uncover a dire financial crisis: significant funds have been embezzled from the company's accounts, leading to bounced paychecks for the staff and threatening the dairy's survival. Revealed as the work of Reed's trusted business partner, the theft forces Taylor and Courtney into action. Taylor dips into Courtney's cotillion fund to cover immediate payroll, sparking a heated rift between the siblings and testing their bond. Through these challenges, Taylor evolves from a defiant teen into a proactive leader, organizing efforts to maintain operations, while Courtney grows from a self-centered socialite into an empathetic team player, forming connections with the farmhands and learning the value of perseverance.[10] The narrative builds to a climax when a critical error in labeling expiration dates on milk products risks the business's reputation, but community support rallies to salvage the shipment. The sisters' newfound sense of responsibility and family unity prove pivotal in averting disaster, reinforcing themes of redemption through honest labor and the bridging of social divides. Though the thief initially escapes, the dairy endures, with Taylor and Courtney emerging transformed, committed to their roles in the family legacy.[7][5]Cast
The principal cast of Cow Belles features real-life sisters Alyson Michalka and Amanda Michalka in the lead roles, leveraging their natural sibling dynamic for authentic on-screen chemistry as noted in contemporary reviews.[11]| Actor | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Alyson Michalka | Taylor Callum | The older, rebellious daughter who emerges as a leader on the farm.[4] |
| Amanda Michalka | Courtney Callum | The younger, fashion-obsessed socialite sister adapting to manual labor.[4] |
| Jack Coleman | Reed Callum | The wealthy, strict father who assigns his daughters to the dairy farm.[4] |
| Sheila McCarthy | Fran Walker | The no-nonsense manager of the Callum family dairy.[4] |
| Michael Trevino | Jackson Meade | A charming farmhand and romantic interest for Taylor.[4] |
Production
Development
_Cow Belles was conceived as a starring vehicle for sisters Alyson and Amanda Michalka, professionally known as Aly & AJ, in what marked their first lead roles in a Disney Channel Original Movie. The concept drew inspiration from the reality series The Simple Life, adapting its fish-out-of-water premise of affluent young women thrust into rural labor—here, a dairy farm setting—to highlight themes of humility, responsibility, and personal growth.[13] The teleplay was written by Stu Krieger, with story contributions from Matt Dearborn, as part of Disney Channel's 2005 slate of original programming aimed at promoting emerging teen talent. Development commenced in 2005 under producer Kevin Lafferty and executive producer Sheri Singer at Just Singer Entertainment.[14] The project carried an approximate budget of $5 million and was scheduled for a March 2006 premiere to align with Aly & AJ's burgeoning music career, following the release of their debut album Into the Rush in 2005.[15] Francine McDougall was chosen as director for her prior work on youth-focused Disney projects, including the 2005 original movie Go Figure.[16]Filming
Principal photography for Cow Belles took place primarily in the fall of 2005, from September to October, in Ontario, Canada, doubling as a Midwestern U.S. farm environment.[17] Exterior scenes depicting dairy farm life and rural settings were filmed at various locations around Uxbridge and Oshawa, including the historic Parkwood Estate in Oshawa for select estate sequences.[18][19] Interior shots of the family home and farm buildings were completed at soundstages in the Toronto area to facilitate controlled production.[5] The production utilized Tony Westman as director of photography, capturing the film's lighthearted tone through practical on-location shooting amid the Canadian countryside.[20]Music
Soundtrack
The soundtrack for Cow Belles prominently features pop-rock songs by the film's stars, Alyson and Amanda Michalka (performing as Aly & AJ), which serve as a promotional tie-in to their debut album Into the Rush and are integrated into the narrative to underscore themes of sisterhood, personal growth, and family responsibility. These tracks, select songs drawn from the 2005 Hollywood Records release, include originals and covers that play during key moments, such as driving sequences and emotional montages on the family farm.[21] Notable songs include "On the Ride", an original written by Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Adam Watts, and Andy Dodd, which accompanies a pivotal driving test scene symbolizing the protagonists' transitional journey.[6][22] The cover of "Do You Believe in Magic" (originally by The Lovin' Spoonful) opens the credits, establishing a playful, magical tone for the teen comedy. "Never Far Behind", written by Jeremy Bose, Paul Robert Evens, and Matt Bronleewe, plays during an emotional farm work montage, highlighting the sisters' deepening bond.[23] Additional tracks featured are "It's All Good Now" (written by Jeannie Lurie, performed by Blaire Reinhard) and "Beat of the Band" (written and performed by Blaire Reinhard), which appear in lighter, upbeat scenes.[6] The film's score, composed by Kenneth Burgomaster, incorporates country-folk influences for rural farm sequences and brighter pop elements for the characters' urban teen experiences, enhancing the contrast between the protagonists' spoiled lives and their humbling work ethic.[4][24] Songs like "Never Far Behind" function as plot-advancing anthems, particularly in moments of sisterly reconciliation, such as preparations for the cotillion ball.[23]| Track | Artist | Writer(s) | Duration | Key Scene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On the Ride | Aly & AJ | Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Adam Watts, Andy Dodd | 3:31 | Driving test and journey motif |
| Do You Believe in Magic (cover) | Aly & AJ | John Sebastian | 2:17 | Opening credits |
| Never Far Behind | Aly & AJ | Jeremy Bose, Paul Robert Evens, Matt Bronleewe | 3:19 | Emotional farm montage |
| It's All Good Now | Blaire Reinhard | Jeannie Lurie | ~3:00 | Upbeat transitional scene |
| Beat of the Band | Blaire Reinhard | Blaire Reinhard | ~3:00 | Lighter comedic moment |
