Wizardry, apparently, is on a 鈥渘eed to know鈥 basis.
In 鈥淲izards Beyond Waverly Place,鈥 the art of the wand isn鈥檛 shared with everyone. Justin Russo (David Henrie) is vice principal at a middle school but isn鈥檛 eager to pass along the tricks of the trade with others. Enter: sister Alex (Selena Gomez) who has a friend, Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown), who could use a little guidance. Just as soon as she steps in, Alex is gone, and Justin is left to explain to sons Roman (Alkaio Thiele) and Milo (Max Matenko) what鈥檚 bubbling.
Getting into the plot 鈥 for fans of 鈥淲izards of Waverly Place鈥 and newcomers to 鈥淏eyond鈥 鈥 takes a little work, particularly since there鈥檚 the ol鈥 鈥渨ho knows about the magic?鈥 thing to consider.
Once the table is set, it鈥檚 just a matter of Brown offering up the kind of snark that Gomez did. Thiele is a dead ringer for Henrie and Matenko has mastered enough of Jake T. Austin鈥檚 swagger to make this seem like d茅j脿 vu all over again.
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Friends, from left, Taylor Cora, Alkaio Thiele and Janice LeAnn Brown, try to figure out how to best use wizardry in their daily lives in "Wizards Beyond Waverly Place."
To its credit, 鈥淏eyond鈥 gives the show鈥檚 mom (nicely played by Mimi Gianopulos) more to do than her predecessor. Likewise, Henrie. He鈥檚 not just a dad running a sandwich shop. He鈥檚 a retired wizard teacher who wants to lead a 鈥渘ormal鈥 life (sort of like Samantha on 鈥淏ewitched鈥).
He鈥檚 pulled in, however, and forced to show the kids the 鈥渞ight鈥 way to deal with their skills.
Produced by Henrie and Gomez (among others), the new series has enough hallmarks of the old to please O.G. viewers and snag new ones.
Key to much of the new fun is how exacting Thiele is at suggesting the younger Henrie. He鈥檚 a dead ringer for the dad and a fine comedian. Brown has hints of Gomez but she鈥檚 blazing her own trail, particularly since we鈥檙e not sure where she鈥檚 from or why she鈥檚 here.
Dad (David Henrie) has his hands full when a new wizard (Janice LeAnn Brown) moves into the house and his son (Max Matenko) decides to show off in "Wizards Beyond Waverly Place."
鈥淏eyond鈥 still has very cheap special effects and a set so colorful you鈥檇 swear it was assembled from a garage sale at 鈥淔riends.鈥
Henrie gets much more to do than David DeLuise ever did as his TV dad and an opportunity to convey life lessons that might play well in a new era.
鈥淲izards Beyond Waverly鈥 still has the old beats (and a few burns that weren鈥檛 in Gomez鈥檚 original book) but it鈥檚 not like a 鈥淔uller House鈥 carbon copy.
This incarnation could help pre-teens deal with a number of contemporary issues and cope with an ever-changing world.
It鈥檚 goofy. But there鈥檚 a time for goofiness and a place for wizardry. Now it鈥檚 just a matter of figuring out how often Alex will stop by to check out the family鈥檚 progress.
鈥淲izards Beyond Waverly Place鈥 begins Oct. 29 on The Disney Channel. (A very special Halloween episode is a given.)
