{"id":5420,"date":"2020-01-25T14:52:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-25T21:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/?p=5420"},"modified":"2020-02-01T14:56:08","modified_gmt":"2020-02-01T21:56:08","slug":"troop-zero-terrific-combination-of-comedy-drama-and-diversity-with-a-great-cast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/2020\/troop-zero-terrific-combination-of-comedy-drama-and-diversity-with-a-great-cast\/","title":{"rendered":"Troop Zero * Terrific Combination of Comedy, Drama and Diversity with a Great Cast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero.poster.jpg?resize=152%2C225&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5422\" width=\"152\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero.poster.jpg?resize=202%2C300&amp;ssl=1 202w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero.poster.jpg?resize=691%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 691w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero.poster.jpg?resize=768%2C1138&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero.poster.jpg?resize=1037%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1037w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero.poster.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 152px) 100vw, 152px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In rural 1977 Georgia, a misfit girl dreams of life in outer space. When a competition offers her a chance to be recorded on NASA&#8217;s Golden Record, she recruits a makeshift troop of Birdie Scouts, forging friendships that last a lifetime. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ethan P. comments, \u201cI like this movie because it is a combination of comedy, drama, diversity and great casting, especially the children actors\u2026\u00a0My favorite part is when Christmas starts recruiting kids to belong to her troop.\u201d Abigail Zoe L. adds, \u201cI recently saw the inspiring new Amazon Prime movie, <em>Troop Zero,<\/em> and love it. It\u2019s a warm-hearted coming-of-age story with a beautiful, positive message and a fun adventure throughout. The movie guides us through the story of a quirky girl, Christmas Flint played by the talented McKennaGrace and her rag tag group of Birdies known as Troop Zero.\u201d See their full reviews below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Troop Zero<br>By Ethan P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 11<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I like this movie because it is a combination of\ncomedy, drama, diversity and great casting, especially the children\nactors.&nbsp; This film is an Amazon Prime original and has a duration of 1\nhour and 37 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SB06Qpy_Umo\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero-TROUPEZERO_Unit_08237R5_rgb.jpg?resize=225%2C150&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5425\" width=\"225\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero-TROUPEZERO_Unit_08237R5_rgb.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero-TROUPEZERO_Unit_08237R5_rgb.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero-TROUPEZERO_Unit_08237R5_rgb.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero-TROUPEZERO_Unit_08237R5_rgb.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption>TROUPE ZERO featuring Allison Janney and Viola Davis courtesy of Amazon Studios.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Troop Zero<\/em>&nbsp;timeline is&nbsp;the late 70&#8217;s and\nthe storyline is about a young girl named Christmas (McKenna Grace) who&#8217;s\nobsessed with outer space, aliens and planets.&nbsp; She finds out there is a\ncompetition that offers her to be recorded on NASA&#8217;s Golden Record, but in\norder to compete she needs to belong to a Girl&#8217;s Scout troop.&nbsp; She\nrecruits four challenging kids and asks her father&#8217;s (Jim Gaffigan) co-worker,\nMrs. Rayleen (Viola Davis), to be her Troop Mom.&nbsp; The five children go\nthrough tough and exciting experiences in order to earn their badges to enter\nthe NASA&#8217;s competition.&nbsp; During their journey, all five children create a\nstrong bond and friendship.<br>\n&nbsp;<br>\nMy favorite part is when Christmas starts recruiting kids to belong to her\ntroop.&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>Troop Zero<\/em>&nbsp;has\namazing actors such as Award Winner Viola Davis, Jim Gaffigan, Allison Janney\nand McKenna Grace from&nbsp;<em>The Haunting of\nHill House<\/em>.&nbsp; Charlie Shotwell, who portrays Joseph, Christmas\u2019\nbest friend, pulls off an amazing performance as a feminine boy.&nbsp; I am\nhappy to see Johanna Colon (internet dancing sensation) play Smash, in this\nmovie.&nbsp; She\u2019s great!&nbsp; The scenery and costumes are typical 70s style,\nincluding&nbsp;the hairstyles.&nbsp; The story line is bit slow in the\nbeginning, but later it gets interesting.&nbsp; You will experience laughter,\nsadness and tears of joy with this movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vt0ESwO2xPo\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>The moral of this film is to have a child&#8217;s\nheart when it comes to choosing your friends or recruiting a team.&nbsp;\nChristmas does not discriminate against skin color, gender identity, religion\nor personalities when it comes to recruiting her troop and becomes friends with\nall four of them because she sees their hearts, not what society considers\nflaws.<br>\n<br>\nI give this film 4 out of 5 stars because the beginning is rather slow.&nbsp; I\nrecommend it for ages 8 to 18.&nbsp; Older adults might enjoy this movie as\nwell.&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>Troop Zero<\/em>&nbsp;is\navailable on Amazon Prime beginning January 17, 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Troop Zero<br>By Abigail Zoe L. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/epr78cKQvVc\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>I recently saw the\ninspiring new Amazon Prime movie, <em>Troop Zero,<\/em> and love it. It\u2019s a warm-hearted\ncoming-of-age story with a beautiful, positive message and a fun adventure\nthroughout. The movie guides us through the story of a quirky girl, Christmas\nFlint played by the talented McKennaGrace and her rag tag group of Birdies\nknown as Troop Zero. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero-TROUPEZERO_Unit_02312R2_rgb.jpg?resize=225%2C150&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5424\" width=\"225\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero-TROUPEZERO_Unit_02312R2_rgb.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero-TROUPEZERO_Unit_02312R2_rgb.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero-TROUPEZERO_Unit_02312R2_rgb.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero-TROUPEZERO_Unit_02312R2_rgb.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption>TROUPE ZERO featuring Jim Gaffigan courtesy of Amazon Studios.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Christmas is passionate\nabout science. She wants to connect to the universe and her late mom through a\nNASA competition. The winner will have their voice recorded and sent out to the\nuniverse for posterity on a Golden Record. This movie is a journey of self-discovery,\nnot only for Christmas, but everyone that is a part of her adventure. Each\nperson learns more about themselves as they work together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>\nOne of my favorite scenes is at the end of the movie, when the cast comes\ntogether and performs at the jamboree competition. I won&#8217;t give away what\nhappens but it is an emotional moment when they take a stand to be accepted for\nwho they are. Another favorite scene is the baking fight scene. I bet it was so\nmuch fun for the actors to film, because it is absolutely hilarious and, at the\nsame time, cathartic as a baking food fight between Troops Zero and Birdie. My\nquestion for you is: Who do you think won? LOL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"125\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero-9H-1__5593C_rgb.jpg?resize=300%2C125&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5423\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero-9H-1__5593C_rgb.jpg?resize=300%2C125&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero-9H-1__5593C_rgb.jpg?resize=1024%2C426&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero-9H-1__5593C_rgb.jpg?resize=768%2C319&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/troop-zero-9H-1__5593C_rgb.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption>TROOP ZERO featuring Mckenna Grace courtesy of Amazon Studios.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The acting by McKenna Grace as Christmas Flint and Viola Davis as Miss Rayleen, is perfect. Each of them make the audience believe in the struggles they face during the movie. McKenna really embraces her character with the lopsided haircut and awkward, quirky moves. However, I particularly connected with her character\u2019s father, Ramsey Flint (Gaffigan), because he so perfectly portrays the ideal father. He reminded me of my own father<a>, <\/a>who while not perfect, truly loves his daughter and wants her to be happy and achieve her dreams. Indeed, theirs is a father-daughter relationship very touching that I think families will connect with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The moral of the story\nis to be yourself, listen to your heart and, if people try to knock you down,\njust keep on fighting the good fight for what you believe in. This is\ndefinitely a triumphant movie of self-acceptance and overcoming life challenges\nand one definitely to watch. This film would be especially enjoyable for those\nwho love science. The transition of Troop Zero becoming Troop Hero is inspiring\nand uplifting. At the same time, the critic in me did find the film a little\nslow moving at times. All said, I think it is a wonderful movie and give it 4\nout of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18. It is airing on Amazon Prime\nbeginning January 17, 2020.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In rural 1977 Georgia, a misfit girl dreams of life in outer space. When a competition offers her a chance to be recorded on NASA&#8217;s Golden Record, she recruits a makeshift troop of Birdie Scouts, forging friendships that last a lifetime. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ethan P. comments, \u201cI like this movie because it is a combination of comedy, drama, diversity and great casting, especially the children actors\u2026 My favorite part is when Christmas starts recruiting kids to belong to her troop.\u201d Abigail Zoe L. adds, \u201cI recently saw the inspiring new Amazon Prime movie, Troop Zero, and love it. It\u2019s a warm-hearted coming-of-age story with a beautiful, positive message and a fun adventure throughout. The movie guides us through the story of a quirky girl, Christmas Flint played by the talented McKennaGrace and her rag tag group of Birdies known as Troop Zero.\u201d See their full reviews below. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[15],"tags":[1353,663,1344,1331,1355,212,1337,1345,1354,1335,1343,1333,1340,1352,1350,1341,1332],"class_list":["post-5420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-feature-film-reviews","tag-abigail-zoe-loewis","tag-allison-janney","tag-amazon-prime","tag-amazon-studios","tag-amazone-original","tag-benjamin-price","tag-bert-bertie","tag-charlie-shotwell","tag-iola-davis","tag-jim-gaffigan","tag-lucy-alibar","tag-mckenna-grace","tag-mike-epps","tag-milan-ray","tag-rob-lord","tag-todd-black","tag-troop-zero"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paS5I2-1pq","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5420"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5420\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5428,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5420\/revisions\/5428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}