I popped the Wizards of Waverly Place Wizard School into my DVD player with little enthusiasm. I am not a very big Disney fan, and I was not expecting much from this other then some phony acting. But as I sat on my couch staring blankly at the screen, I thought to myself is it possible I am watching a Disney show and actually enjoying it? This truly was a miracle.

The plot is not phenomenal but is not boring either. Alex, a wizard played by Selena Gomez is devious and sassy. When her parents force her to go to WizTech,a wizarding summer school so she can learn discipline with her older brother Justin (David Henrie) and leaves her younger brother Max (Jake T. Austin) at home with their parents. While there Alex discovers that her teacher is planning to drain her brother of his powers so she can become the most powerful wizard. What does Alex do? Watch the DVD to find out. (Please note that in addition to a two part episode of WizTech, also included in the DVD is two other episodes from Wizards of Waverly Place, Season 1.)

The high point of the film was the acting. If this had been anything but a Disney DVD I wouldn't be raving about the acting. But for Disney the acting was very good. It was also humorous without the cheesiness of Hannah Montanna and the Suite Life of Zack and Cody (and the Suite Life on Deck.) The low points were the special effects. Obviously there had to be some because there is magic, but the special effects were done poorly.

There is a wonderful cast. Selena Gomez is a treat to watch on screen. She is funny and realistic and a talented singer as well as actress. David Henrie is very funny as the dorky older brother and a nice addition to the show. Jake T. Austin, plays the ditz of the group, and does very well at it. The whole cast is extremely funny on the TV and overall good actors. Selena Gomez is definitely my favorite, and I can't wait to see more of her.

I would definitely recommend this DVD to kids ages seven to eleven. (Although I know lots of teenagers who watch this show and enjoy it.) I think kids might enjoy it because there is magic and it is funny. If you like this one, I would recommend checking out Hannah Montanna and the Suite Life on Deck. I don't enjoy either of those, but most people who enjoy Wizards of Waverly Place will enjoy those.

The bonus features are cute, and help if you want to learn more about the cast. Selena, Jake, and David each show you a couple of their favorite things to do and talk about music, food, friends, the Disney Channel games, and more.

BasicInformation

Title- Wizards of Waverly Place Wizard School

Company- Disney

Director- Mark Cendrowski

Screenwriter- Gigi McCreery

Starring-Selena Gomez, Jake T. Austin, and David Henrie.

Length of DVD- 90 minutes

Rating- 4 and a half stars (out of five.)