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Disney may be best-known for its animated feature films and live-action classics. However, its Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) lineup proved popular on the small screen. Among the bevy of DCOMs, 1999 Disney Channel Original Movie “Smart House” offered a forward-thinking, entertaining glimpse at smart home technology.
13-year-old Ben Cooper (Ryan Merriman) vows to become the caretaker in his household following the death of his mother. Ben’s younger sister Angie (Katie Volding) desperately hopes that their father Nick (Kevin Kilner) begins dating so that she’ll have a new mom. However, Ben concocts a plan to prevent this: winning a smart house which will in turn take care of all household needs.
On the surface, 1999 Disney Channel Original Movie “Smart House” is a typical 90s set up. There’s the rebellious teenager, annoying younger sibling, cheesy dance party, and teen romance.
“Smart House” succeeds through its emotive qualities and forward-thinking presentation of technology. A gut-wrenching scene shows Ben watching home videos of his deceased mother, with a haunting reprise of “Hush little baby.” His determination to care for Angie and his father, sacrificing basketball so as to tutor his younger sister, paint a heartbreaking portrait. But for each moving moment, there’s a ridiculous teen party. Thankfully, “Smart House” doesn’t quite hit “Teen Witch,” level ridiculous though it’s still replete with an eclectic range of emotions.
Yet where the film truly shines is its tech focus. LeVar Burton handles directional duties, so it’s no surprise when the smart home goes full on Holodeck. Early on, Sara speaks to PAT in what’s reminiscent of artificial intelligence (AI) assistants like Siri, Cortana, and Alexa. “PAT, what’s the current temperature please?” Barnes asks. “Climate control on target at 72.5 degrees,” PAT kindly replies.
Further, even the marketing and questions from the general public mimic responses to smart home tech and AI. Sara touts PAT as “user-friendly,” while reporters wonder how PAT gets to know its new occupants. Barnes reveals that it’s through increased familiarity and learning their habits, essentially a crude explanation for machine learning. As a smart house, PAT concentrates on home control and automation, the foundation for present-day smart home technology. Just as “Brainstorm” hinted at where virtual reality would thrive, so too does “Smart House” suggest the future of smart homes.
Naturally, the third act sees PAT go haywire. Here, “Smart House,” almost treads into horror territory with a virtual projection of PAT terrorizing the Coopers and Sara. There’s a clever “2001: A Space Odyssey” reference where Nick demands “Open the door PAT,” to which PAT replies, “I’m sorry, I can’t do that Nick.” While the average Amazon Echo might not become sentient and spawn a virtual projection, malfunctions regularly occur. Case in point: during a brief intermission to grab a carton of vegan chocolate ice cream while watching “Smart House,” my smart bulbs failed to function properly. “Why don’t you just flip the switch?” Melissa (who introduced me to this DCOM gem) wondered aloud. I took the faulty lights as foreshadowing to PAT’s malfunction in the third act.
Ultimately, “Smart House” remains a unique, enchantingly futuristic Disney Channel Original Movie. The 1999 DCOM offers a shockingly ahead of its time portrayal of AI, machine learning, and smart home automation. Moreover, its subplots deliver an emotionally-charged narrative. These elements combine to make “Smart House” a surprisingly enjoyable romp.
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