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Zoey 102

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Zoey 102
Official release poster
Directed byNancy Hower
Screenplay by
  • Monica Sherer
  • Madeline Whitby
Based onZoey 101
by Dan Schneider
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMathew Rudenberg
Edited byIan Skalski
Music byRoger Neill[1]
Production
companies
Distributed byParamount+
Release date
  • July 27, 2023 (2023-07-27)
Running time
101 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Zoey 102 is a 2023 American romantic comedy film directed by Nancy Hower from a screenplay written by the writing team of Monica Sherer and Madeline Whitby.[2] It is a sequel film to the Nickelodeon series Zoey 101 (2005–2008), and features many of its cast members reprising their roles, including Jamie Lynn Spears, Erin Sanders, Sean Flynn, Christopher Massey, Matthew Underwood, Abby Wilde, and Jack Salvatore Jr., with Owen Thiele, Thomas Lennon, Dean Geyer, and Katelynn Bennett joining the cast as new characters.

Nickelodeon announced a sequel film to Zoey 101 in January 2023, 15 years after the series concluded its run on the network. Sherer and Whitby were hired to write the screenplay, and Hower was confirmed to be directing. Spears confirmed her return the same month, and also served as an executive producer of the film alongside Hower, Sherer, Whitby, and Alexis Fisher, while Nickelodeon live-action production heads Shauna Phelan and Zack Olin served as producers. Sanders, Flynn, Massey, Underwood, Wilde, and Salvatore Jr. were also confirmed to reprise their roles, while new cast members Thiele, Lennon, Geyer, and Bennett joined soon after.

Principal photography took place primarily in Wilmington, North Carolina. Roger Neill was hired to compose the film's incidental score.

Produced by Nickelodeon Movies and AwesomenessTV, Zoey 102 was released on Paramount+ on July 27, 2023.[3][4] It received mixed to positive reviews from critics and fans.[5] The film was the third most watched on Paramount+ in the U.S. and the second most watched in Canada one day after its release.[6][7]

Plot

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Zoey Brooks is a 32-year-old producer for a reality TV show called "LOVE: Fully Charged." Her best friend, Quinn Pensky, asks her to be the maid of honor at her wedding to Logan Reese, which is on the same weekend as the season finale of Zoey's show.

Zoey still has feelings for the best man, Chase Matthews. She hasn’t talked to him since leaving him on a Hawaiian vacation after high school. Chase is now dating someone else. To balance her commitments, Zoey hires Todd Schupert, an actor who tried out for "LOVE: Fully Charged," to pretend to be her boyfriend.

At the pre-wedding party, Zoey reunites with old friends. She sneaks away to help Jordan B., one of the finalists on her show, before returning to find Quinn hiding. Quinn admits she feels uncomfortable with the wedding's size and lavishness.

The group goes to a karaoke bar, where Todd and Chase have a heated argument. Chase insists he has moved on from Zoey. The next day, Todd looks after Jordan while Zoey attends the wedding rehearsal, but Jordan suffers a head injury and forgets his lines for the finale.

On the wedding day, Zoey goes to pick up the rings, and Chase accidentally joins her. They are awkward at first, but after the jewelers pressure them into a kiss, they start to connect. Zoey apologizes for leaving him in Hawaii and admits her feelings for him. They share a heartfelt kiss.

Zoey and Chase return to the wedding just in time for the ceremony and the season finale. Zoey juggles her maid of honor duties while using her phone to help Jordan with his lines. During the welcome speech, Stacey receives a tip that Todd might be a serial killer. This confuses Zoey, and she gives Jordan the wrong lines, ruining the finale.

Zoey confesses that Todd is an actor, not her boyfriend. She gets fired for being dishonest. Quinn is upset with Zoey and Logan’s focus on the wedding as a spectacle, so she calls off the ceremony and leaves in tears.

On the beach, Chase tells Zoey he broke up with his girlfriend two weeks earlier and that she just came to the wedding to avoid him being alone. Zoey then takes everyone back to Pacific Coast Academy, their old school, which is now empty. They clean it up to create a simple wedding venue. Logan apologizes to Quinn and takes her to PCA.

Jamie Lynn Spears in character as Zoey Brooks in the film.

After the ceremony, Zoey's boss calls her to say that the finale was a big success. He offers her a promotion, which she accepts with some conditions. While dancing, she and Chase tell each other they love one another and share a kiss.

A mid-credits scene shows Todd putting a squirming bag into the trunk of his car. This suggests that Stacey and Mark are right to suspect that he is the killer.

Cast

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Photographs of Victoria Justice and Austin Butler are used to represent their respective Zoey 101 characters: Lola Martinez and James Garrett. Spears' daughters Maddie and Ivey made cameo appearances in the film.[11]

Production

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Zoey 102 cast members promoting the film before the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.

On January 12, 2023, it was announced that a revival film for Zoey 101 was under production by Paramount+,[12] with Nancy Hower as director and a script written by Monica Sherer and Madeline Whitby.[13] Spears posted a photo on Instagram and revealed that she would reprise her role as Zoey, along with most of the cast as well.[14] In addition, it was announced that Spears would also serve as executive producer, along with Alexis Fisher, Hower, Sherer and Whitby,[13] while Shauna Phelan and Zack Olin would be producers.[15] In a statement, Spears said: "I'm beyond thrilled to be back alongside my PCA family and continue the story of Zoey and all the characters fans know and love. As an executive producer, it's been an exciting opportunity to work with such incredible talent as well as Paramount+ and Nickelodeon."[16] However, several cast members did not return for the film. For example, Paul Butcher, the actor who played Dustin in the series, did not return as he was focusing on TikTok.[17][18] Victoria Justice was offered the chance to reprise her role of Lola Martinez in the film, but she could not accept due to scheduling conflicts.[19]

Principal photography took place in Wilmington, North Carolina,[20] and some locations included the University of North Carolina Wilmington[21] and Perry's Emporium.

The first trailer was released on June 20, 2023, which announced that the film will premiere on July 27.[15]

Release

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The film was released on July 27, 2023.[22][23]

Jamie Lynn Spears interviewed on the set of Zoey 102 in 2023.

After the film's release, the original series Zoey 101 was ranked on the Top 10 most watched television series list on Paramount+ in several countries.[24]

Reception

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Decider recommended streaming the film and wrote in a positive review: "Zoey 102 is a predictable reboot and the plot kinda goes exactly where you think it will. That being said, it's an enjoyable ride that reflects who these characters might be in 2023, and the jokes and writing feel funny and current."[25] The New York Times wrote in a favorable review: "It's not an easy task to make a movie out of a kids’ show from a bygone era, but the film does a relatively smooth job of dipping into — but not overdoing — the nostalgia and retaining the lighthearted, wacky tone that was the show's signature. It helps that the cast members, now older, are better performers. Even if there's a ceiling to how much can be achieved here, returning fans wanting a reminder of their youths will get just enough of what they came for."[5] On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, it reported an approval rating of 56% based on nine reviews, with an average rating of 4.8/10.[26]

On July 28, 2023, one day after the film's release, Zoey 102 was the third most watched film on Paramount+ in the United States and the second most watched in Canada.[6][7]

References

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  1. ^ "Roger Neill Scoring Paramount+'s 'Zoey 102'". filmmusicreporter.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  2. ^ Bernabe, Angelica Jane. "Jamie Lynn Spears to reunite with 'Zoey 101' cast for 'Zoey 102' movie". Good Morning America. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Trephany, Charles (June 20, 2023). "'Zoey 102' trailer sees Jamie Lynn Spears reunite with 'Zoey 101' cast for wedding: Watch". USA Today. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Jamie Lynn Spears revives 'Zoey 101' role with 'Zoey 102': Everything you need to know". USA Today. Archived from the original on 2023-07-28. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  5. ^ a b "'Zoey 102' Review: Grown Up, Washed Up". 2023-07-27. Archived from the original on 2023-07-28. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  6. ^ a b "TOP 10 on Paramount+ in the United States on July 28, 2023 • FlixPatrol". FlixPatrol. Archived from the original on 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  7. ^ a b "Zoey 102 • FlixPatrol". FlixPatrol. Archived from the original on 2023-07-28. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  8. ^ a b c d e Reeves, Brianne (June 21, 2023). "Everything we know about Zoey 102: Release date, returning cast, more". Dexerto. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  9. ^ "'Zoey 102': Paramount+ Drops Trailer, Announces Premiere Date For 'Zoey 101' Spinoff Movie". Deadline Hollywood. 20 June 2023. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  10. ^ "'Zoey 102'". IMDb. 14 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Jamie Lynn Spears' Daughters, Ivey and Maddie, Make Cameo in 'Zoey 102': 'Two Worlds Collide'". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  12. ^ Ng, Philiana (January 12, 2023). "Jamie Lynn Spears Reuniting With 'Zoey 101' Co-Stars for Paramount Plus Movie". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  13. ^ a b Petksi, Denise (January 12, 2023). "'Zoey 101' YA Revival Movie Set At Paramount+ With Jamie Lynn Spears & More Original Series Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  14. ^ O'Kane, Caitlin (January 13, 2023). "Jamie Lynn Spears to star in 'Zoey 101' reboot movie "Zoey 102"". CBS News. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  15. ^ a b Rice, Lynette (June 20, 2023). "'Zoey 102': Paramount+ Drops Trailer, Announces Premiere Date For 'Zoey 101' Spinoff Movie". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  16. ^ Bell, BreAnna (January 12, 2023). "'Zoey 101' Sequel Movie Starring Jamie Lynn Spears Ordered at Paramount+". Variety. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Zoey 101 sequel movie confirmed without several main cast members". Archived from the original on 2023-08-06. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  18. ^ "Why Dustin Brooks Doesn't Return for Zoey 102". Screen Rant. 27 July 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-08-06. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  19. ^ "This Is Why Victoria Justice Isn't Joining The Zoey 101 Reboot".
  20. ^ Staton, John (January 13, 2023). "Filming in Wilmington: Jamie Lynn Spears starring in movie for Paramount+". Star-News. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  21. ^ Carver, Shea (January 13, 2023). "Jamie Lynn Spears reprises Nickelodeon role, 'Zoey 102' rolling in Wilmington". Port City Daily. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  22. ^ "Jamie Lynn Spears reprises her iconic role in Zoey 102 first-look photos". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  23. ^ Swift, Andy (June 20, 2023). "Zoey 102 Trailer Reunites Jamie Lynn Spears With Her Nickelodeon Classmates, 15 Years Later". TVLine. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  24. ^ "Zoey 101 • FlixPatrol". FlixPatrol. Archived from the original on 2023-08-02. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  25. ^ "'Zoey 102' Paramount Plus Movie Review: Stream It Or Skip It?". Archived from the original on 2023-07-28. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  26. ^ "Zoey 102". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
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