Der magische Ring

This was a very funny, cute kids movie. Definitely directed toward kids, but kept me laughing. It is definitely not the worst movie ever made, but a very clever, funny, at times ridiculous spin on a Cinderella story.

I think that this movie was really cool. It was good and funny, especially if you are below the age of 15. The person who said it was poorly acted and written, was absolutely wrong.

I loved this movie! In the style of a good tween fun comedy, in similar style as such shows like Lizzie McGuire, two very personable best girl friends deal with being unpopular, with no boys to date at the annual school dance, and a fun story of a magical ring that brings a faery-tale like wish that turns two cute pet ratties, Scooter and Spike, into two cute boys for the girls.

Casting was great with this movie, the girls Marci Kornbalm and Summer Weingarten, played by Vanessa Lengies and Caroline Elliott, are a wonderful very likable pair. The movie also has two other sub-plots going on at the same time, with veteran actors Ron Silver, playing the part of Herb Sonic, a lonely shy timid guy who's had a forever crush on the local antique collectibles store owner, a very homely nerdy looking Doris Trowbridge, played by the very funny Kathy Baker, who's wishes of becoming as pretty as her favorite soapstar actress, also come true with the powers of the magical ring, and Herb Sonic trying to find out where Doris disappeared too, making for a very sweet love story. Another story, of the two typically silly neighborhood boys who haven't discovered girls yet, Rod and Tod, keep us laughing at their animated silliness, as they also get in trouble with the magical ring, though they never knew it was magical.

If you like the comedy style of shows like Lizzie McGuire, and like fun G-rated TV tween movies, you'll love Ratz. Fun for the whole family, simple, and even my critical hardcore punk/metal friends loved the movie...

"AIRBAG!!" - Scooter 'n Spike lol... Ratz is great!

Marci and Summer are two 14 year olds with the usual teenage angst. Both of them are in braces and end up being wallflowers at the local dances. They work part time for a lady named Doris (Kathy Baker) who runs a junk shop. Doris is a shy, spectacled woman who longs for the glamour she sees in her favorite soap opera. One day, Doris gets her hands on a gold-plated box as she looks over items at a yard sale. When she brings it home, it has a ring inside...a ring that grants wishes! Soon, Doris is all dolled up, like a soap star, and the girls get dates for the next big dance....dates that arrive when Doris changes her pet rats into boys. Things don't go smoothly, however. A shy repairman named Herb, who admired Doris from afar, is certain she has been kidnapped and the girls have to buy a never-ending stash of cheese crackers for the new gents. Can anyone spell trouble? This is a cute movie, aimed at preteen girls, no doubt, but which will please women of any age. Kathy Baker is excellent as the shy shopkeeper and the rest of the cast is fun, fun, fun. The script is a fresh, new twist on the old Cinderella story and sports humor at every turn. The costumes are very, very nice, as Doris is soon looking ultra glamorous, thanks to the ring, and the girls always look great, too. If you wish to please any young or old females in your family, try to bring this movie home for them to enjoy. They should be delighted.

I find this movie to be creative and enjoyable for a younger audience. And while it is geared more towards an audience ranging from ages I'd say 9 till about 12, I think adults can find it to be entertaining as well. The plot is a familiar one... two best friends who aren't in the popular crowd at school, but like most girls around their age hope to be, and also hope to be noticed by cute boys! While it may seem a little cheesy, the storyline takes off when a lady they work for (who is also not so smooth herself) stumbles across a "magic" wishing ring which grants them answers to their troubles, only to cause those solutions to get a bit out of hand. The silly situations that result from these fulfilled wishes will keep you laughing and smiling, as it did me. Its a clever but movie if you are looking for something that isn't mind boggling, or filled with inappropriate humor. You will find its clean humor and carefree story to be a nice change from all the other movies that are being created for preteens these days. It it a movie that an adult can feel comfortable having their children watch. This movie can be best summed up as light-hearted, original, and just plain adorable.