The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens DVD Review

“Real heroes aren’t knights in armor or capes. Heroes are those people who try to fight for what’s right, not knowing whether they can do it or not,” says William Thurgood (enthusiastically played by WWE superstar Roddy Piper), which is Billy Owen’s (Dalton Mugridge’s) first lesson, and his other important lesson is that “Friendship IS the strongest bond,” as his friends Devon (Christopher Fazio) and Mandy (Ciara O’Hanlon) tell him in MTI Home Video’s July 21st DVD new release of The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens. It is Billy’s 11th birthday, and since he was born on November 11th, he soon finds out that it is his destiny to save Spirit River, both the faltering town and the river itself, because he is Thurston Owen the Third, the descendant of William Thurston.

Billy is given birthday money by his mother (which school bullies try to take away, but his friends Mandy – a walking and talking encyclopedia! -and Devon – a true pal – defend him). He stumbles into William Thurgood’s Treasure Trove & Pawn Shop and buys something unique – something that turns out to be a magic wand that costs him exactly $11! Using the public library with his friends to discover what it is, plus learning a lot about Mystic River’s history in the process (one of the oldest towns on the Eastern seaboard where Vikings first came ashore), he finds out that he must slay the Dragon Loki who lives beneath the river and is causing everything to die.

Hiding their adventures from their parents (of course! and it’s interesting to note that his Dad, Mr. Owens, is his actual father, Bob Mugridge, in real life), Billy and his friends interacct with a helpful troll (Jacob Kelly Routley), take a misty night trip in a canoe that they paddle during the Hunter’s Moon (which only occurs once in 1.5 millions of years!), fight skeletons and various “undead”, save William Thurgood’s life during a fire at his Pawn Shop, and do everything they can to help their dying town, which is becoming more and more covered with vines! They are rewarded in the end, but we don’t know exactly how, since The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens ends as a cliff hanger – To Be Continued – which we know will result in a sequel!

Touted as similar to the Harry Potter books and movies, The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens is not that at all, but instead a very American movie – that is to say, free-form (unlike Harry Potter’s ultra-structured magical schools) and filled with independence, self-motivation, rebellion, courage and self-reliance! A family (fantasy) movie, younger kids will identify with Billy’s strong bond with his family and friends, and at the same time his feeling of being drawn into a spirited quest into the unknown!

DVD Review by Christina Zawadiwsky of Movie Room Reviews

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