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‘Hubie Halloween’ is a pre-COVID-19 comedy audiences will enjoy for years to come

Debuting on Netflix this past Wednesday, Hubie Halloween is the premature Halloween film we need in these hard times

<p>Adam Sandler stars in "Hubie Halloween," which has a large cast including his two daughters and wife.&nbsp;</p>

Adam Sandler stars in "Hubie Halloween," which has a large cast including his two daughters and wife. 

“Hubie Halloween” is not your typical Halloween movie. The film is notable for its interweaving of comedy, a small degree of horror and even some family values. Holding the highest ranking on Netflix the weekend after its release, fans are for sure loving the fun-loving and diverse new movie. The film centers upon Hubie — a local outcast — who makes it his duty to care for the children of Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween night when mischievous inclinations, mystery and mayhem ensue. By the end, as with many similarly cheesy movies, Hubie saves the day — rescuing the town from a rambunctious kidnapper and taking on the role of mayor. Although the film is targeted towards children and teenagers, “Hubie Halloween'' doesn’t shy away from including some adult jokes and references, which explains its PG-13 rating. Regardless, “Hubie Halloween” is definitely a movie the whole family can enjoy!

The film is eloquent and broad in its casting from so-called comedy “legends” to child television stars. Notably, the film stars Adam Sandler and Julie Bowen in the leading roles, alongside an impressive ensemble featuring comedians Maya Rudolph, Kevin James and Ben Stiller, Saturday Night Live cast members Mikey Day, Kenan Thompson and Melissa Villaseñor, and broadway alumna June Squibb, among many others. Starring alongside these more established names are several actors most well known for their roles on Disney Channel or Netflix shows, such as “Jessie,” “Lab Rats” and “Stranger Things,” among others. These rising stars include Karan Brar, Noah Schnapp, China Anne McClain, Peyton List and Kevin Quinn. Although these actors and actresses are young, they are all not only extremely experienced, but extremely talented. Another notable complement of the movie is the inclusion of Sandler’s two young daughters and his wife, who star alongside him.

With this cast full of superstars in their own right, there was bound to be some bumps in the road. Notably, the movie puts too much emphasis on the storylines of Sandler, Bowen and Squibb and fails to focus enough on the child stars. For example, Bradley Steven Perry of “Good Luck Charlie” only had one line, despite being arguably one of the most well known of the young stars. Despite the uneven screen-time, the comedic nature of the story and the extraordinary credits of the casts as a whole score this movie a positive rating.

At the end of the movie, a title card reading “In Loving Memory of Cameron Boyce” was displayed. Boyce, who starred alongside Sandler in the “Grown Ups” movie franchise and alongside Brar and List in Disney’s “Jessie,” passed away due to an epileptic seizure in July 2019 at the age of 20. This generous inclusion was heartwarming to audiences who have seen Boyce’s antemortem work and was most definitely comforting to his aforementioned previous costars.

Even though Halloween may look very different this year, “Hubie Halloween” will undoubtedly bring on some laughter for the whole family. The movie is a great watch for these unprecedented and unpredictable times, but rest assured, “Hubie Halloween” has what it takes to become a Halloween classic in its own right for years and years to come.

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