TV REVIEW: LIV AND MADDIE

Created by John D. Beck and Ron Hart

Starring Dove Cameron as Liv/Maddie Rooney
Joey Bragg as Joey Rooney
Tenzing Norgay Trainor as Parker Rooney
Kali Rocha as Karen Rooney
Benjamin King as Pete Rooney

Disney Channel’s latest live-action offering, Liv and Maddie, focuses on the misadventures of eponymous diametrically-opposed twin sisters upon Liv’s return from her four-year stint on a hit TV show. Liv – a diva too long out of touch with the real world – and Maddie – a basketball player with little taste for the glamorous life – realize just how much they’ve grown apart in the past four years and struggle to reconnect. In other words, it takes Disney’s typical ‘TV star in the real world’ element and analyzes the more gritty and realistic side of it. Liv and Maddie features the comedic flavor of its DC predecessors but the actors and writers really shine in the show’s dramatic moments. Now pull up a chair and let’s take a closer look.

Lights, camera, acting: Disney Channel certainly isn’t known for having the best actors, but they really do bring together a great cast once in a while, and this is one of those times. The show rides on the talent of Dove Cameron, one of the best young actors Disney’s picked up in a while. She possesses the rare talents of 1) staying in character when she’s not delivering lines, and 2) emoting like a human when she is delivering lines. Her authenticity in her dual lead roles is impressive, particularly considering that many of her most emotional scenes are opposite her doubles. Besides Cameron, the rest of the cast shows some talent as well. Tenzing Norgay Trainor brings back memories of Jake T. Austin in first-season Wizards of Waverly Place, except he’s better at keeping a straight face and provides more nuanced acting than Austin did at that age. Comedian Joey Bragg is still new to TV acting, but he’s rapidly improving and has a lot of potential. It’ll be interesting to see how he develops as the show goes on. Rounding out the main cast are Benjamin King and Kali Rocha, who make for compelling parents but have yet to receive a significant amount of development.

Surprise, surprise: The surprise star for me was Jessica Marie Garcia, who plays Maddie’s friend and basketball teammate Willow. Although Willow is only a side character, Garcia impresses in her few minutes on screen. Willow – a tough young woman with difficulty expressing her more feminine side – draws a lot of laughs with her excessive aggressiveness and her awkward attempted romance with Joey. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more of Garcia in future episodes.

The Erlenmeyer Flask: So I already talked up the acting quite a bit, but how does the cast mix? Overall, pretty well, but let’s remember that the show’s still new. First season show = first season chemistry. I was really impressed with the sibling bond between Trainor and Cameron (in both of her roles) in the episode “Sleep-a-Rooney.” Having two older sisters myself, I could definitely feel the family ties in that one. I also like the dynamic between Bragg and Trainor, who interact in a way reminiscent of David Henrie and Jake T. Austin early in WoWP. They clearly have a lot of fun together and add that element of mischief to the show that will draw in the male viewers. Finally, I can’t wrap up this section without bringing up the chemistry between Cameron and her real-life boyfriend Ryan McCartan, who plays Maddie’s love interest Diggie. The familiarity they have with each other shows on screen, and the writing serves to make the couple even cuter. I won’t say they’re my OTP (Phil and Keely forever!), but I liek totes ship them.

Technicalities: The technical aspects of the show are pretty good as well. The jokes aren't exceptional and the episodic plots are the average Disney fare, but what it lacks in those areas is made up for in the dramatic scenes. Here, the unflinchingly real dialogue sets Cameron up for a level of emotional intensity rarely seen in a Disney show. I previously mentioned how impressed I was with the relationship between the twins and Parker, but that realism goes double for the relationship between Liv and Maddie. The characters’ dynamic personalities bring them at times head-to-head, at times heart-to-heart, and the relationship is always fresh and authentic. While I take my hat off to Cameron for bringing both characters to life, I must also hold to my conviction that an actor is only as good as his writers and directors.

So basically: Liv and Maddie is a solid sitcom, with just the right amount of drama mixed in. The cast and crew work together to deliver a solid performance that may not be revolutionary but is refreshingly natural for Disney. Only a couple of episodes in, it’s difficult to tell exactly where it ranks in Disney Channel canon, but it’s been a very impressive start to what I hope will be a long-running series.

Liv and Maddie airs Sundays at 8/7c on Disney Channel.

 

Overall rating: 7 valence electrons

Cast chemistry: Hydrochloric acid (based on percent ionization in water)
Acting: 71° thumb (on a scale of -90° to 90°)
Technical aspects: Ultraviolet (based on frequency of electromagnetic radiation)
Quote to Remember: “Who knew carpentry camp would pay off, right?!”