While “The Even Stevens Movie” didn’t hit theaters in ’03, it became a classic Disney Channel Original Movie that finished the series’ run. As “Even Stevens” ended, reality TV was beginning, which is evident in this movie, as The New York Times jokingly called the film: “Survivor: The Disney Version.”
In the movie, Miles McDermott (Tim Meadows), the producer of a hidden camera show called “Family Fakeout,” dupes the Stevens family. Steve (Tom Virtue), Eileen (Donna Pescow), Donnie (Nick Spano), Ren (Christy Carlson Romano), Louis (Shia LaBeouf), and Beans (Steven Anthony Lawrence) accept Miles’ offer of a paid tropical vacation. Unbeknownst to them, “Family Fakeout” flies the group around in circles until they end up not too far off the California coast. The luxurious “vacation” quickly becomes a living nightmare with no food or lodging. Family members turn against each other in a fight to survive. (You think your family’s bad? Try being stuck with them on an island!)
“Even Stevens” was always about Louis (Shia LaBeouf) and Ren (Christy Carlson Romano) squabbling and having separate friend groups. This DCOM puts their brother-sister relationship to the test. The influence of this film can be seen in Disney series-to-movie projects that followed, particularly “The Proud Family Movie,” “Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas!,” “The Suite Life Movie,” and more. These stories take their characters away from day-to-day life at home, entertaining fans and possibly suggesting a break from the daily grind might lead to some wacky adventures.