Recess: All Growed Down

The final Recess project was released as a direct-to-video sequel in 2003 alongside Taking the Fifth Grade. This one, All Growed Down stared Myles Jeffrey, Rickey D’Shon Collins, Jason Davis, Ashley Johnson, Courtland Mead and Pamela Adlon.

After being taken hostage by kindergarteners, who are bullied by a leader called Chief Stinky, the gang (Jeffrey, Collins, Mead, Johnson, Adlon, Davis) tells them stories of past episodes to be freed. But soon, Gus is made to join them and he tells them a story of how he met the gang in kindergarten.

This film takes the established canon of Recess and throws it completely out the window. It shouldn’t have been made and the creators should have let the series end with Taking the Fifth Grade.

First off, it starts off with a clip show. And, yet again, this doesn’t warrant a full length film. But it goes beyond that when it establishes that the gang actually met Gus in Kindergarten. And it goes on from there, that they actually became who they are thanks to Gus. Then why does no one remember him when he shows back up in fourth grade? Someone was bound to remember that far back. 

This also doesn't even make sense in regards to how schools actually work.

Gus’ story was true, even after he denied it. The clip with Ms. Finster reveals this. So then, he’s forced to leave the school. Why, then, would he be allowed back as a fourth grader? It makes no sense, even for a children’s cartoon.

Also, like the other dtv Recess films, it’s paced terribly, making it feel slower than it actually is. This is a disgrace to the show and does not deserve to exist. 

#85