How to Build a Better Boy (TV Movie 2014) Poster

(2014 TV Movie)

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4/10
Forgettable and predictable plot
ilsequinta27 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I can't remember lots of parts, the fight beetween the two girls was an obvious and boring cliche (like most parts of the movie xD)
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5/10
Think of it as Weird Science meets Making Mr Right only its set in High School
lisafordeay23 September 2014
Warning: Spoilers
So this premiered on the Disney Channel last Friday and I got a sneak peak of it on YouTube so I decided to watch it all and see what it was about.So on to the review. I am gonna tell you what I liked and didn't like about this movie. So there maybe a few spoilers in here but anyway lets dive in.

So the movie tells the tale of two best friends (one played by China McClain,while the other is Kellie Berglund)who are teenagers going to high school where prom is approaching. Of course there is this girl who is dating this guy who secretly likes Mae(Berglund)and the girl bullies Mae because she has no one to bring her to the prom. So she makes out that she already has a boyfriend and in order for her to prove she has,her dad who is secretly working for the defense force has a software that creates DNA on a robot and turn them into a human. So Mae and her friend decide to create the perfect man for Mae for homecoming prom and call it Albert by using the robot(who is actually a killing machine used for the army force) and they give him a nice personality and a nice look (blonde hair,blue eyes,caring and modest you know the kind of guy all women wants in life).

So the next day Albert arrives in this orange sports car and Mae is smitten with it. But will Mae's friendship with McClain's charcther be put to the test and how can they pull off their creation when they used a computer and Mae's dad's software as she thought it was for a video gaming company?

Overall this is a sweet movie for the pre-teens. Its not a perfect film by all means as its meant for 13 up, but I like the charcther Albert who is so perfect to look at. The actor that played him was great. Also I thought it was actually pretty good,but there are some problems I have with this film.

Like firstly the guy didn't even look like a robot that they created. yeah sure you see this white robot in the beginning made out of wire and all that stuff. But wires NEVER came out of him when he was a human or was he suppose to be a virtual guy like a hologram or whatever. If he was a robot like I said you would have seen his head come off with wires coming out,but he just seemed human all the time. You hear these stupid robot movement effects but that's it.

Also the ending was a bit of a letdown. I mean if you seen it you know what I'm on about. So did I like the film sure like I said it wasn't bad but if you love Sci-Fi and Weird Science then check it out.

5/10

Out of 5 stars I'm giving it a 2.5/5 stars.

C-
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5/10
Perfect in every way
bkoganbing15 August 2014
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.
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3/10
Really?
Silent_Gaurdian_11 June 2020
I guarantee that if the title were, "How to Build a Better Girl", there'd be an outrage. As a guy, I find the very title and concept of the movie offensive. There are a lot of guys who try our best to make the women in our life happy, who actually care. A movie basically outlining an ideology of how men "should" be to make them "better", could really hurt the self esteem of some young men who try their best. Wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone.
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2/10
This Movie Is Very Cliche!
TheUnknownReviewer12 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I love Disney, but this movie was Extremely cliche, for example, the 2 main characters have to wear glasses and be hated by everybody to show that they are nerds. And the jock has to be bad at math and of course the nerds like him but he doesen't like her back. I also thought this movies acting was very wooden and bland. The only thing I seemed to like was that China Anne McClain was in it. I not saying this movie is a bad movie necessarily, but it's just not Disney's best work.
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3/10
Weird science if Disney was involved.
bloomchanning26 September 2018
This movie just had me in shock and awe. Disney says this is original but I literally stood there in shock realizing that this movie is weird science in every possible way just with different characters genders. Weird science is actually funny with a good message. How to build a better boy is not funny and somewhat of an OK message. I honestly do not recommend this movie because the comedy does not stick. I didn't give a single crap about the characters the boy actually gave me a couple laughs but just to that only a couple of laughs. If you're a Disney fan boy then see It but for anyone who is not, don't watch this movie. Watch weird science, that movie is actually very funny.
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7/10
Classic Kids' Movie
chubbydave31 January 2015
This is a typical movie for kids. The movie is built on the like-ability of China Anne McClain. If you like CAMc, then you'll like the movie, and who doesn't like CAMc.

The movie starts with a conflict between China's BFF and a character played by Ashley Argota. The "bad girl" character is not something I'd expect see Ashley Argota play; plus, isn't she like 21 years old now? A little old to be playing a contemporary of China. Anyway, China's best friend said she had a boyfriend, and Ashley Argota doubted it so China, who plays a computer geek, decides to manufacture a fake online boyfriend.

She hacked into her dad's computer network to make up what she thought was a fake online boyfriend profile for her friend, but China didn't know that her dad was a defense contractor in the process of designing a super human robot soldier. China's hack activated this robot soldier who was programed to be China's BFF's boyfriend. It's a crazy story. And it's fun.

China thought she was just creating a fake online boyfriend who lives in a far away place, but imagine the surprise they got when the guy actually showed up at school. That's when the fun really started.

It's a fun movie. It's got a lot of laughs. It has a lot of adolescent hi jinx. But if you like China Anne, then you'll like this movie. And she is great in this movie.
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2/10
It's called a Disney Channel "original" movie but it's really not
aprilcullen-2445812 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Ok so Disney has brought us amazing original movies and good retellings old stories, but this is just a huge ripoff of weird science. Let's take a look at the similarities.

Weird Science is about two nerds who don't have any friends decide to make a simulation of a girl to get tips on how to get girls only for the simulation to create an actual living breathing girl. The three then go on some wacky adventures

How to build a better boy is about two nerds who don't have any friends decide to make a simulation of a boy so they won't feel sad only for the simulation to create an actual living breathing boy. The three then go on some wacky adventures

There are only two differences. 1. The characters are gender bent 2. Weird science is actually funny and charming. I would recommend Weird Science to anyone any day, but this is just a crap remake. I gave it a 2 only because the acting is ok. Not great,but ok. This is Disney at its worst
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7/10
Cute
SanteeFats18 August 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This is a typical Disney movie. It is cute, funny, semi-serious, and well done. Kelli Berglund and China Ann McClain are the two leads and they do a good job. They are genius level sophomore's who are considered to be dorks by the popular kids. The movie is pretty funny, the acting is decent, the plot is typical Disney, the outcome is as you would expect. The general is funny in his roll. Kelli gets her true idea of a boyfriend, he is a designed, robotic type but is every thing she could ever want in a boy friend. At the end, as all wait for the kiss, she uses the self destruct command and the boy friend goes blooey. Leaving Kelli and the QB yo hook up. Ashley Argota plays the stereotypical protagonist cheerleader dating the football star. She gets her comeuppance at the homecoming dance when she tries to convince everyone the boyfriend is what he actually is, a robot. She doesn't do it and is dumped by the QB. A decent, funny movie with some good acting and a decent plot.
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1/10
Illogical and sentimental
mathur-akhilesh25 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Illogical and sentimental movie. If you are looking for science- there is none. Halfway through the humour dies and it's all mushy romance and emotional dialogues. Apparently the Government is OK with scientists accessing 3 billion dollar black project from the comfort of their home. They are even OK with bunch of kids hacking into their network and even letting them all walk away like nothing happened!

And the girl? Well, she's devastated when she learns her robot boyfriend is doing good stuff like helping people across the globe (like building schools). How could he leave her!? I quote: "Albert would never do this to me! He'll realize he's not a soldier and he'll come back to me!" And this is when I decided to eject the disc.
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8/10
"Super cute candy sugar in my eye holes... Sir!"
khunkrumark4 March 2018
So what's an old man doing, reviewing a so-called 'DCOM'? Well, I'm an English language teacher in Asia, so I skim all these movies to see if there are any that are good enough for me to use in a classroom... that won't make me throw up!

Finally, Disney TV made a movie for teachers like me!

(I'll edit this down to an hour, add hardcoded subtitles and rename it 'My Robot Boyfriend!' and my young students will be gurgling all over this!)

So, here I am reviewing a Disney TV movie!

This movie is great fun. It's silly, of course and the idea of it is preposterous, but it's great fun for the audience it's aimed at. No hidden morality propoganda - other than it's good to have a best friend who's got your back!

It gets the 8 stars, NOT for being an 8-star movie out of all the movies ever made, but for being an 8-star movie in its class.

Kelli and all the young players are great and did their jobs well, but the real star of the show (for me) was Ieva Lucs who plays the seemingly uptight- but inwardly emotional, Major Jenks.

She delivers the best line of the movie. When asked to read off a witness statement about the handsome missing robot she says...

"Yes... she said he was 'super cute candy sugar in my eye holes and the honorary mayor of Hunky Town,' Sir!"

Brilliant!

I would love to have seen the honorary mayor of Hunky Town have more fun with his super powers, but that's the little boy in me and this one is for the little girls!

Anyway, my point is that even grown ups won't have to have a bucket on stand-by when they sit down to watch this. It's fast moving, great fun and a super little modern fairytale.
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7/10
I like to watch...
RosanaBotafogo23 April 2023
Teenage tech geniuses unwittingly use military software to program a robotic boyfriend. The film stars China Anne McClain (Talent Program) and Kelli Berglund (Lab Rats) in the lead roles, and tells how technology-savvy students Mae Hartley and Gabby Harrison develop a plan to create the perfect boyfriend with just a few keystrokes. And a wireless connection. What Gabby and Mae don't realize is that the computer they use is programmed to generate a super robotic soldier, which has been activated in the form of Albert, a brave and cute boy at the same time.

A silly children's film that genuinely captivated me, all very exaggerated like all Disney teen films, all much more of the same, but captivated me, which actually has more to do with our peace of mind than technical quality in itself, everything is perfect, however artificial... I like to watch...
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5/10
Decent movie with nice message towards the end
evenamiracle19 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
There were some fun and interesting moments throughout the film although like most Disney movies it's very cliché which is not always a bad thing but can a lot of times hold back a film from reaching greater heights. China Anne McClain's character was my absolute favorite throughout the film while I found her friend to be pretty annoying although in the end she received much needed character development. The machine guy was very likable while the other characters played their part well enough.

One complaint I have is I want to see more movies where not everyone ends up with someone and that's seen as more than okay, and on the flip side of that I want to see more lgbtq characters on Disney channel especially more lgbtq main characters (and no that doesn't mean I don't want to see anymore straight characters it's just I want to see more of a balance because I can't even count any good lgbtq Disney representation on one hand). I feel that they really missed an opportunity with China's character because to me she seemed either aroace or lesbian which would really explain her mindset throughout the movie and those longing stares because if she was aroace than to her being best friends is already the ultimate relationship and if she were lesbian or even bi and just really in love with her best friend then that would explain those stares and just her overall behavior but instead they just randomly paired her up with her friends brother although there was zero chemistry there on her side. However I did like how in the end her friend did tell her former/ current crush? that they could maybe dance later and instead chose to spend time with China's character which is something they should have been able to balance already in my opinion considering how great of a friend she was.

Overall I enjoyed the film and feel like it was a stepping stone, leading Disney channel out of it's brief drought after the end of its previous era although I did enjoy the Good Luck Charlie series and it's Christmas movie. This movie however was much better than most Disney Channel movies around its time; as much as I love Zendaya and like her current Disney show KC Undercover, her Disney channel movie Zapped bored me to tears. I would recommend this movie if you're bored and have some downtime, and I also would say it's a decent movie for your kids to watch, I would just make sure they finish it so they too can know that there's more to life than having someone to date and that they don't have to be any rush unless they find the movie eyeroll worthy and are already ten steps ahead, and in that case smart kid.
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5/10
emm
youyuzhen-0732321 April 2020
Ha, I don't know why I saw this movie. AHA. Can be regarded as history, the ugliest Disney film, in addition to the male master can watch a little bit, everyone else is ugly. Is that mean girI sure it's not from Thailand? And I speak French all day. Is it true that her brother, the lady, is not here to be a guest? Ha, like. If you don't like me, that's your problem. Right
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5/10
"Un-possible!"
whimsalwhale13 November 2022
This movie was kind of cliche, but very enjoyable. My favorite character is Gabby because her outfits are so cute (also I like China Anne McClain.) I loved the dress she wore to the dance. I kept thinking, "I want one just like that." Also, Ashley and Mike were okay. I like how Noah Centineo played Jaden. (He's Atom Smasher in Black Adam.) Though, why does everyone hate Mae and Gabby just because they're nerds? Nerds rock! Though I hate it that the annoying main character always gets to be prom queen. I personally think Gabby is kind of smarter than Mae, despite them having the same iq level. I mean, Mae gets all obsessed over a really dumb robot boy. Also, he makes these really weird machine noises.. :I

And the thing is, Albert is a soldier, so Mae's father makes sure he does his job helping people all across the globe. "How could he leave me?!" Mae whines. Girl, he didn't leave you. Also, does technology even work like that? No, but maybe it will in the future.
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3/10
I HATE THE FL
fkoesmo20 October 2021
OK now don't get me wrong I enjoyed the movie and I love the actors who playing in it. But the female lead oh my gosh she was so annoying she changed completely after meeting the guy and ignored her best friend she acted kind of like she was all that and she got her head stuck in the clouds and so obviously she started to ignore her best friend who is trying to help her and they got an argument going to fight whatever whatever right she doesn't even end up apologizing the best friend apologizes and she's like " I held you back" like I found out so annoying.
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10/10
How To Build A Better Boy Is Better Than Most
marymarcusfiction21 August 2014
"How To Build A Better Boy" is a charming, beautifully written farce that is unlike most of these anodyne TV movies with teenage girls. First, the girls are the scientists, not the boys, and they are convincing scientists at that. I was laughing from the first five minutes in and I was touched at the end. Characters exceedingly well drawn, plot taut as a tightrope and within the confines of this genre, it shined with wit and humor. Girls will love this movie, and guess what boys will too. Everyone will. The robot they build was smooth, convincing and reminded me of a lighthearted "Terminator." This romp is a winner in every way!
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10/10
Two genius high school girls build a dream boat
jgoodman-la22 August 2014
Terrific movie by Disney standards and any standards. The cast was excellent, it was very well written and funny. I liked the scientists being girls (girls so badly need good geek role models!) I also thought the boy they created was great: a dream boy but he was so smooth and charming and funny in a completely easy way. Girls will relate to this one and boys will too. The old Disney Family Movie model is alive and well and really enjoyable. The ending was fast paced, action packed and full of sentiment though oddly not that sentimental. In short, this is a real winner. I would watch it again. And probably laugh in all the same places. If you are looking for family entertainment, this is the right pick.
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10/10
Weird Science but with nerdy girls
galaxymoncho30 August 2022
My fave DCOM! The 2 leads are outcasts but dress like the popular girls. Kara Saun the costume designer for this also did the costumes on all 3 Descendants movies and was a former contestant on Project Runway. For ppl who are confused as to how a teen was able to hack the Pentagon. It's simple coz it's a kids movie. The more you try to over analyze this movie, the more you end up not fully appreciating this masterpiece of a movie. If you've seen Weird Science then you sort of know what to expect. Weird Science was actually incredibly unrealistic and yet has a huge fanbase. Whereas this movie was a little more believable and deserves the same accolade.
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10/10
Awesome movie
kutivastu11 December 2021
This is a really awesome movie. You should definitely check it out. Great acting. Funny. Romantic. Etc.

I love Kelli Berglund. She's pretty awesome. She also played in Lab Rats.

It's a good movie that the whole family could enjoy. I'm sure many girls would love it. I'm sure many boys would learn some useful life lessons by watching it.
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8/10
Un-possible
nogodnomasters11 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This is a very entertaining film for the young boy crazy teen girl who still giggle about kissing a boy. Mae (Kelli Berglund) and Gabby (China Anne McClain) are two geeky BFFs. Mae tutors the high school QB (Noah Centineo) and they make eyes at each other. The QB of course must date the stereotypical shallow head cheerleader (Ashley Argota) who gives Mae a beat down. Mae lies and claims she has date for home coming. Gabby hacks into Mae's dad military computer and manages to create the perfect boy (Marshall Williams) in a Disney version of "Weird Science" for young teen girls. Mae and Albert become close as "Boys are a distraction" Gabby becomes the third wheel.

The formula plays itself through with the stereotypical ham characters whose over acting will have a child appeal. The film has cute lines, but not overly clever. For instance at one point Gabby says, "I hacked into the Pentagon. Whoopsie."

The film is supposed to take place in the US, but was filmed in Canada....note the extra wide Canadian football field... "Whoopsie."
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10/10
GREATEST DISNEY CHANNEL MOVIE EVER!!!!!
jared-2533116 August 2022
Back when I was a boy, I was really into Disney Channel alongside Cartoon Network & Nickelodeon, I remember watching this movie back in 2014 when it first premiered on the Disney Channel, & really enjoying it.

As an adult, I enjoy this movie even more & it's become my favorite Disney Channel Original Movie. One of the reasons why I love this movie is because of Kelli Berglund, who played Bree Davenport on Lab Rats & now plays Crystal Tyler on Heels, & it was cool to see Kelli back in her early days before she really started to rise in the acting world. Aside from that detail, everyone else from China Anne McClain to Marshall Williams also give great performance, which is saying a lot especially given the fact that this is a Disney Channel Original Movie.

Overall, How to Build a Better Boy (2014) is a absolute blast from start to finish, so if you haven't seen this movie yet, I highly recommend you give this movie a watch.
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