Holes Review

It was only inevitable that a good live-action Disney movie would creep up in this look at the movies I grew up with. People tend to think that Disney only handled just animated films. Every now and then, they dabble into live-action, and it tends to be good. And it’s rare to see a good live-action film that isn’t an adaptation of their animated movies. Since in the early 2000s, they made a killing for their sports films such as Remember the Titans. With that, Holes is a good adaption of the y/a book. 

1. Stanley Yelnats 

Hard to think that this was Shia Lebouf’s film debut. My first exposure to him was in the Disney Channel show Even Stevens. So, at that time it was hard to believe him not being goofy in a movie where he must dig for punishment. Well, to be more specific. After a pair of baseball cleats lands on him. Stanley must serve his punishment in Camp Green Lake. As a penalty, he and the other campers must dig holes. 

The film is one of those rare adaptations where the author had a hand with the making of the film. Such as the fact that he wrote the screenplay, which makes the film a sort of literal adaptation of the book. Although, I did read that movie does fixes some of the plot holes that plagued the book.

It’s interesting seeing how Stanley changes when he’s in the camp. With most things, he starts off as being the sore eye in comparison to everyone wearing an orange jumpsuit. He’s witty in some situations but polite to the other campers. Slowly he becomes one of the gang and even earning a nickname. 

And that’s the main highlight in the film is the overall camaraderie between Stanley and the campers. Everything between the dialogue feels authentic and doesn’t feel off. I don’t know how to explain it but seeing them deliver the lines sounds right without it being forced or inauthentic. All of them even have distinct personalities which makes the believability more realistic. 

If there’s one thing I noticed in the film is the overall use of nicknames. Mostly all the campers in the “Camp” have distinct nicknames that describe who they are. I think since the boys see themselves as slave, they decide to just give each other nicknames since the task is inhumane. Especially with the camp counselors who have their nicknames, albeit ones where it’s ironic given the film’s ending. 

2. Story within the Story

Aside from Stanley digging, we get two other stories that tie into the bigger plot. The first one is mostly about how the Yelnats family is cursed, due to the Dad creating an invention to stop the supposed curse of foot odor. The second one is about an outlaw named Kate Barlow. You would think that the whole entire story would be haphazard. 

The other best thing about it is that it all ties together seamlessly. For one thing, I love how the film uses its flashbacks to give clarity with Stanley’s ordeal and with the camp itself. I think it gives the film a lot of depth, because if it was just one character giving an elaborate explanation as to why the boys dig. Then it wouldn’t be effective. For what it is, it adds more and it doesn’t feel jarring, at least to me. 

3. Overall

Holes is one of many Disney’s underrated live-action films. It’s a good time and I strongly recommend it.