How to Build a Better Boy (2014)

Teenage tech whizzes unwittingly use military software to program a robotic boyfriend.

Director:

Paul Hoen

Writer:

Jason Mayland

Stars:

China Anne McClain, Kelli Berglund, Marshall Williams

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
China Anne McClain	...	Gabby Harrison
Kelli Berglund	...	Mae Hartley
Marshall Williams	...	Albert Banks
Matt Shively	...	Bart Hartley
Ashley Argota	...	Nevaeh Barnes
Noah Centineo	...	Jaden Stark
Roger Bart	...	Dr. James Hartley
Ron Lea	...	General McFee
Ieva Lucs	...	Major Jenks
Paulino Nunes	...	Zephyr
Matthew G. Taylor	...	Weevil (as Matt Taylor)
Alex Karzis	...	Pox
Christina Fox	...	Ella
Sasha Clements	...	Marnie
Jesse Camacho	...	Tony

Storyline

Follows high school sophomores Mae Hartley and Gabby Harrison, two tech-savvy best friends who devise a plan to create the perfect boyfriend with just a few strokes of the keyboard and a wireless connection. What Gabby and Mae don't realize is that the computer they use is set up to generate a robotic super soldier, which they have inadvertently activated in the form of Albert, a macho yet sensitive super cute boy.

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Plot Keywords:

artificially created boy | best friend | high school | taxi | shakespearean quotation | 

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Taglines:

Never underestimate two girls with a plan.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

15 August 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

How to Build a Better Boy

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Schorr Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

Roger Bart, Doctor James Hartley in the movie, has been connected with Disney. In the past, he was the singing voices of the Title Character in Hercules (1997), and Scamp in Lady and the Tramp 2: Scamp's Adventure (2001). He also made an appearance in the Disney Channel series, Jessie (2011) in the Season 3 episode "Krumping and Crushing" earlier the same year this movie came out, as the dance teacher of Luke Ross.

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Goofs

Events are supposed to be taking place in the United States, yet they are playing football on a Canadian-styled field.

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Quotes

Gabby Harrison: High school boys are like old smart phones. They're buggy, they think too slowly...
Mae Hartley: ...and they crash when you need 'em most.

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Connections

References Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

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Soundtracks

Stand Out
Performed by Sabrina Carpenter

User Reviews

Perfect in every way

A couple of veterans from the Disney Channel, Chyna Anne McLain and Kelli Berglund are best friends and science geeks. That does not guarantee popularity in those frustrating high school years and after being put down by the high school trend setting teen queen Ashley Argota these two decide to create a boyfriend in Berglund's father's laboratory.

What they don't know is that the father Roger Bart is considerably more than a video game designer. He works for Uncle Sam and is developing a new weapon. Instead of a virtual boyfriend to holograph every now and then, the girls trigger a prototype of a new robot whom they program to be the dream boyfriend that anyone would want. When the program is complete, tall, blond, athletic and sensitive Marshall Williams comes into their lives. The perfect boyfriend for every girl and gay man around. Definitely these girls have learned How To Build A Better Boy.

But it's not just Argota who's upset. The government has discovered someone has hacked into Bart's laboratory and has put the program in motion. National Security is imperiled.

Watching this film a whole lot of possibilities occurred to me. For instance if one got an army of these one could take over the world unless someone put a worm in the program. And the race to make bigger and better robot soldiers, an interesting possibility for this country and other budding economic giants.

Still this is a Disney teen film and the first order is to get Berglund a love life. Williams does this for her, but not the way Berglund and McClain thought it would happen.

Not a great film, but a pleasant enough comedy with teen angst in it from the Magic Kingdom.