Brooke White Makes Acting Debut in ‘Change of Plans’

By On 01/08/2011 · 19 Comments · In American Idol, Brooke White, Michael Johns, Randy Jackson

Share on TumblrShare via email

I watched Change of Plans on FOX tonight mostly out of curiosity to see the acting debut of Season 7 Idol Brooke White.  It’s not the kind of movie I’d make a point of watching, with it’s contrived “family friendly” plot.

The story–a young couple unwillingly take on the 4 children of family friends who die in a plane crash in Africa. The whole family had been living there, working with the Peace Corps.  On top with dealing the the death of their parents, the kids have to deal with a big fish out of water scenario.

Naturally, after a few stumbles and a few tears, at the end of 120 minutes, everything works out happily ever after. Yada yada yada. Pretty predictable stuff.

But Brooke?  I found her thoroughly engaging as Sally Danville, an aspiring singer/songwriter completely focused on her career.  The ditzy and goodhearted Sally wants to do the right thing, but feels totally unprepared for motherhood.

Brooke was basically playing a version of herself, but she’s so adorable and likable on the screen–such a natural– she hardly seemed like a newbie.  I wouldn’t be surprised if ABC Family or Disney picked her up for something.

After the jump, check out some musical clips  from the movie, including the opening number, Sally playing with her band and the closing theme, “Let Us Live As One” co-written with fellow Season 7 Idol, Michael Johns.

In the last clip, Randy Jackson plays himself, introducing Sally and her band at a global music festival.  Randy executive produced the soundtrack (and Brooke’s last album).  He’s responsible for getting both Brooke and Michael involved in the Walmart/P&G family movie night series.

The Change of Plans DVD/CD soundtrack bundle will be available for sale at Walmart soon.

Video after the JUMP…

Opening Number

Sally and her band

Closing Theme (With Intro by Randy Jackson

Tagged with: • •
 
  • Nina1

    Yah, I thought Brooke was totally at home in the acting role!

  • Davidx2

    I thought Brooke was a natural….seemed very comfortable with acting. I thought the movie was sweet and would make a great series on something like Disney or Family Channel. And of course, I loved the music…she has a great voice and is a great talent. Kudos to Brooke!!!

  • Valentin432

    Well, I just watched the clips above and it really looks like a crappy crappy movie.
    But I do like Brooke and acting is another way to keep the ball rolling for her as an entertainer. I hope we get another album from her too since I really liked the first one.

  • cookcricket

    Well, I just watched Brooke’s movie and think she did a great job. She was very realistic. The movie was okay. Not bad.

    I brought my comment over from the headlines thread. :D Kinda funny, I think it was supposed to loosely be based in Dayton, Ohio. It was Ohio and there was an Air Force base and the daughter’s friend was talking about the Wright Brothers. The place the movie took place seemed a little nicer than Dayton though.

  • mzbet

    I watched the movie and was pleasantly surprised with Brooke’s acting. She did it very nicely. It’s rather nice to see a movie that doesn’t have foul language, violence, has a happy ending etc., sometimes.

  • brie200

    I watched it because I was home working anyway and was curious to see how Brooke would be in the acting department. I too thought she was very natural and she has potential if this is something she wants to continue to pursue. Not bad Brooke. I didn’t care for most of the original music involved, but good exposure for Brooke.

  • archiedoll

    ‘K, I have to be honest. I already knew, based on the first Wal-Mart movie, that the quality of production & acting wouldn’t be great. And this didn’t exceed my expectations. All of it was just “OK” for me. But I blame the production more than anything, because even the accomplished Phylicia Rashad didn’t seem to do that great of a job.

    However, I was really impressed at how well Brooke did for not being an actress. She held her own among those who actually are. In fact, I thought she did almost as well as they did. Go Brooke!

  • http://MJO judes

    Randy Jackson has been very supportive of Brooke & Michael with this project . Behind the scenes Randy is a talented guy he just doesn’t always translate that whilst he’s judging.
    Mzbet I agree- very refreshing to see something more family friendly which is the market they were going for I would think.Even my children[ now in their 20's] commented the other day about how much children’s programs had changed from when they were little -even Disney films. Much harder now I would think to find films that the whole family can watch & this one would be one of those.

  • http://www.huckleberryfriendmusic.com/ huckleberryfriend

    Brooke really fills up the screen, metaphorically speaking.

  • Allison

    I watched with my 19 year old daughter and we both thought Brooke did a great job acting — better than the professional actor that played her husband! The kids were very engaging, too. You could see every plot point coming, but it was a pleasant way to pass the time.

  • webster

    Kudos to Brooke!. I couldn’t hang with the lame script past the first 15 minutes, but I thought her acting seemed quite competent. Oddly, I found her most natural in the off-stage parts. The bits at the beginning of her performing seemed artificial and un-show-like.

  • windmills

    I haven’t watched the clips yet but there’s a review up at EW and Brooke gets decent kudos for her singing and acting.

    I’m happy she’s doing well, I always liked her and liked her album. This is getting a pretty good amount of press which is also good for her.

  • Suzanne

    That was a very good review for Brooke at Entertainment Weekly. Not a word about Joe Flanigan though–was he that invisible?

    And I thought that last song, the song over the trailer, was good and she sounded great. The thing I liked least about Brooke on American Idol was when she’d talk. A script takes care of that–ha, ha.

    I only saw the trailer. This concept is so 70s–Brady Bunch, Eight is Enough, etc.–heartwarming, but fantasy (did you see that house? The characters are rich).

    ETA–only Brooke could wear a bright orange scarf around her bum and not look fat.

  • jumpstart

    she’s so adorable and likable on the screen–such a natural– she hardly seemed like a newbie

    ITA. Brooke was great, like an old pro at acting. I’d love to see her involved in other projects.

  • Grammie Kari

    Brooke is on my list of TOP 5 best liked Idol ladies. Her sweet personality and beauty just transferred over to the film. I enjoyed the movie and her singing. If this is the route she wants to go, I wish her the very best with it!

  • JudyOhio

    Kinda funny, I think it was supposed to loosely be based in Dayton, Ohio. It was Ohio and there was an Air Force base and the daughter’s friend was talking about the Wright Brothers.

    Cookcricket, I didn’t get a chance to see the movie, but the “Dayton, Ohio” in your post caught my eye since I live there. Are you in Dayton also? I’m south Dayton, near the Dayton mall.

    I can see Brooke doing more acting. She does appear to be a natural in the trailer. She is cute, wholesome, and fits the family friendly niche to a tee. I wish her the best!

  • KathyH

    Beautiful Brooke did very well in a movie that seemed like one of those Lifetime channel moves — pleasant but formulaic. I liked the music, too.

    My family watched with me — we all went to the Idol season 7 tour (only one any of us has attended) and enjoyed Brooke’s performances very much. Everyone thought Brooke and the young lady playing the oldest daughter did well with their acting. The youngest little actress was absolutely adorable but kept looking at the camera. That in itself was entertaining.

  • cookcricket

    Hi JudyOhio, yeah, I live north of Dayton in the Northmont school district. I know Dayton pretty well, so I know they didn’t film in Dayton. :D

    My son and I enjoyed the movie a great deal. It was very sweet. I have to admit though, I cried more at the preview that was posted yesterday than I did in the actual movie.

  • gabriel oak

    Considering White has never acted in a film before, I thought she did quite well. She’s just such a likeable person. I could see her doing a TV comedy series with music, though I doubt she’s interested in that.