Have you ever wondered what it would be like if Lindsay Lohan or Hayley Mills were thrown into the Star Wars galaxy? Yeah, neither have I but it kind of exists.
The Padawan Trap is a parody fan film which is a mix of Parent Trap and Star Wars – as you might have guessed from the title alone. The short film brings the Jedi and Sith into the modern world as it centers an all-girls Jedi training camp. Abbie, the main character in the film, is a newcomer to the camp who is given an initiation to follow the one sith in camp. Abby does so and that is where the action ensues and the story begins to unravel.
Of course, the film has some callbacks to some key points in the Star Wars mythos. I’m a huge Star Wars fan so the references are obvious but even if you are just the casual Star Wars fan, you can point out the references. I can’t say the same about The Parent Trap because I have never watched any version of the film, original or remakes.
“Abbie…a newcomer…is given an initiation to follow the one sith in camp…”
There are a couple of bright spots in the film. These first of the film’s bright spot is its special effects. The effects are pretty exceptional for a film that doesn’t seem to have much of a decent budget. There are lightsaber fights, an Imperial ship in flight, and even a familiar face can be seen in the short fan film, thanks to its special effects.
The other bright spot is its soundtrack. The soundtrack is made up of highly-recognizable Star Wars themes and even a cover of “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles – my all-time favorite band – so extra points for that one.
Being that it is a Star Wars parody fan film, The Padawan Trap is not meant to be taken too seriously. Instead of being a Star Wars and Parent Trap crossover, it felt more like a Star Wars and Mean Girls crossover. The film is about as indie student film as you can get. The entire cast is made up of children actors who from the looks of it have probably never acted in anything other than schools plays – if that. Yes, the film is definitely a campy fan film that at times will make you wondering what it is you are watching, but It also looks as if the film was made by a bunch of friends that just wanted to have fun creating something. And who can blame them? We have all wanted to do that. Look at Kevin Smith, he made a very successful career out of doing just that. The Padawan Trap even has a positive moral to it, which is don’t judge a book by its cover.
The Padawan Trap (2017) Starring Abbie Britte, Katelyn Carter, Kimberly Hendrickson, Layna Almeida, Emma Hunter, Ella Frank, Jennica Dunn, Rileigh Lloyd, Abbie Lloyd, Autumn Coles.
5 out of 10 stars
