2003 television film by Sean McNamara
American TV series or program
The Even Stevens Movie is a 2003 American Disney Channel Original Movie that is based on the Disney Channel Original Series Even Stevens. It premiered on June 13, 2003, serving as the series finale. The movie drew an audience of 5.1 million viewers.[1]
Plot
Eileen and Steve Stevens are wanting their family to spend a memorable summer vacation together, it being the last time they will all be together before their oldest son Donnie leaves for college. While their younger son Louis is happy to spend the summer lounging, their daughter Ren is heartbroken when her aloof boyfriend Gill breaks up with her. To take her mind off him she accepts a job babysitting Bernard "Beans" Aranguren, who in fact moves in with the family for three weeks while his parents are in Helsinki.
The Stevens are visited by Miles McDermott of the state department, who offers the family a trip to the south pacific island of Mandelino to serve as goodwill ambassadors. With all except Louis excited by the prospect, the family and Beans fly out to Mandelino. Shortly after their arrival, Louis accidentally destroys the island's sacred palace, causing the family to be shunned by the locals.
Facing a two-week wait before they can return home, tensions start to rise between the group. Unbeknownst to them this is by design: they are in fact on a reality TV series called Family Fakeout, hosted by Miles, who is determined to make the show a success after being ousted as producer of another hidden camera show called Gotcha!. Miles creates more tensions between the family, who eventually split into two factions: Steve, Ren and Beans; Eileen, Donnie and Louis. Ren seeks solace with Jason, an actor playing a local called Mootai, who is told to romance her in order to boost ratings.
Louis's friend Alan Twitty, being the one who set up the Stevens, is overcome with guilt after seeing how they are treated on the show. After he and Louis's girlfriend Tawny Dean learn the family are in fact on nearby Catalina Island, they sail out to rescue them. Shortly after arriving they are separated and Twitty is intercepted by the show staff, but escapes by posing as an actor. Jason breaks character and is about to tell Ren the truth when he is stopped by other native actors. After Miles has them tell Ren that Louis informed them about her and Mootai, Ren vows vengeance on her brother.
Twitty cuts the live feed and while technicians work to get it running again he and Tawny find the family and tell them the truth. When the feed comes back, an enraged Ren begins pursuing Louis, threatening to kill him. She corners Louis on a cliff and despite pleas to stop from the family and Miles, who confesses the truth, she pushes Louis off the edge. As Miles breaks down in guilt, Lance LeBow, the host of Gotcha!, appears in a helicopter with Louis safely in tow. While the feed was out the family planned the prank in order to get back at Miles, ending his show and career in the process.
Louis tells Ren that while he may play pranks on her, he would never do anything to hurt her. Jason apologizes to Ren for leading her on and confesses that his feelings for her were real. The family return home to Sacramento, where Ren and Jason begin a relationship, Donnie goes to college, Steve accepts a new job and Louis goes back to lounging.
Reception
The Even Stevens Movie was the most-watched cable program on June 13, 2003, including dominating among children ages 6–11 and tweens 9–14, and drawing 5.1 million total viewers.[2]
