Directed by Stefan Brogren Cinematography by Jim Westenbrink | Featured music see Music | |
Episode no. Season 9
Episode 20, 21, 22, & 23 (The Rest of My Life, when individual) Written by Emily Andras
Michael Grassi
Kate Miles Melville
Duana Taha Produced by David Lowe
Brendon Yorke | ||
The Rest of My Life: Degrassi Takes Manhattan is a 2010 Canadian film adaptation of the popular, long-running teenage drama Degrassi, which was known as Degrassi: The Next Generation prior to this film. The movie premiered in Canada on MuchMusic on 16 July 2010, and in the United States on TeenNick on 19 July 2010. It was directed by veteran Degrassi actor-director, Stefan Brogren. Degrassi Takes Manhattan is the second feature-length movie of the Next Generation cast, and the third feature-length film in the Degrassi franchise, the first being 1992's School's Out. For syndication purposes, the film will also be shown as a four-part episode titled "The Rest of My Life".
Contents
This movie brought TeenNick its highest ratings ever, the most watched telecast on the network, and the most watched telecast by teens on the evening of 19 July. An extended version of the film was released as a bonus on the show's season 9 DVD on 20 July 2010. The special acted as somewhat of a de facto series finale for Next Generation.
Plot
The film begins with the members of Janie & the Studz featuring Peter Stone making their way to the front of Degrassi Community School as the last minutes of the school year tick down. Knowing that Spinner and Jane want to spend more time together in the summer, Spinner hires Emma as a new server, giving her the instructions not to use the sandwich grill until she is fully oriented. With The Dot now employed, Spinner and Jane head to the Coyne's pool party. While in the dressing tent, Holly J. and Jane talk about the time Jane cheated on Spinner with Holly J.'s boyfriend, Declan, with Spinner listening outside. This new information, along with Jane leaving the country to go to college, causes Spinner to break-up with Jane in a big scene. Upon returning to The Dot, Spinner finds it on fire, as a result of Emma using the shorting sandwich grill. This causes Spinner to fall into an even deeper depression, where he violently removes all Jane memorabilia from his loft.
With nothing to do for the summer for Jane, she gets invited to live in the penthouse suite in Manhattan with Holly J., Declan and his sister Fiona. After being a third wheel to Declan and Holly J., Jane continues to explore New York, and gets invited to front an indie band, which will be playing on TVM, the music channel where Holly J. is about to start her internship. TVM is a parody of MTV, but was filmed in the MuchMusic studios in 299 Queen Street West, Toronto. On Holly J.'s first day, she runs into Jay Manuel, as himself, who gives her a warning about her new boss, Kristin, who is played by MTV Canada host Jessi Cruickshank. Holly J. also finds out that Fiona will be interning there, as a result of her jealousy to Holly J.'s time with Declan. A feud breaks out between Holly J. and Fiona, attempting to hurt each other emotionally. Holly J. locks Fiona in a room before a live broadcast, and Fiona attempts to get Declan on her side. She plans a party in their penthouse, to show Holly J., Declan's ex-girlfriends, but when this does not affect Holly J., she proceeds to kiss her brother Declan, to make a scene. This causes Declan to side with his seemingly crazy sister, and Holly J. running out for the night. The following morning, though, he talks to Holly J., winning her back, and asking Fiona to move out.
In an attempt to cheer up Spinner, Emma, Manny, and Jay "kidnap" him, and take him to a casino hotel at Niagara Falls. After some successful games of blackjack, Emma and Spinner become drunk, and wake up the following morning, not remembering what had happened. They find out that they spent their winnings on a legal marriage, and an ugly, unreturnable ring. In the following days they become closer to each other, and begin to think that they may not get a divorce. When Spinner tells Jane that they will hold a ceremony that Saturday, Jane realizes that she still has feelings for him, and convinces Holly J. and Declan to drive her back to Toronto. When Spinner and Emma start to question their marriage, they both say to each other that they want to wait to see if it works. They each go back to their friends, retelling the conversation in their head, until they realize that they do love each other. Spinner runs back to the Simpson/Nelson house to profess his love for Emma, as Snake and Spike have returned home from their vacation. And everyone decides to hold the wedding ceremony.
Not wanting Jane to stop the wedding, Holly J. and Declan try to slow down the road trip, until Jane steals the car. She reaches the lake side party before the ceremony is about to begin, and finds Spinner's tent. After seeing that Spinner is in love with Emma, she allows the wedding to continue. The movie ends at the dance after the wedding.
Cast
Former Degrassi: The Next Generation co-star Aubrey Graham is spoken of in dialogue – under his stage name Drake – by Kristin (Jessi Cruickshank) during her first appearance, making Drake the second Degrassi actor to exist within the Degrassi fictional universe independently of his character. His character, Jimmy Brooks, is neither seen nor referred to in Degrassi Takes Manhattan, and was last seen in season 8. The first actor to do this was Shenae Grimes in Degrassi Goes Hollywood.
Jessi Cruickshank, who plays Holly J's boss Kristin, is the second The After Show host to appear in a Degrassi movie. Her After Show co-host Dan Levy co-starred in Degrassi Goes Hollywood as Paige's boss Robbie, a film producer.
Absences
The following characters do not appear in the movie, but were regular characters on the show during the previous season.
Production
Degrassi Takes Manhattan was filmed in Toronto and in New York City.
Music
Degrassi Takes Manhattan: The Heat Is On (Music from the Original Movie) is the title of the movie soundtrack released by digital download on 13 July 2010, and CD on 20 July 2010. It features songs from Canadian indie bands, the Finnish band Automatic Eye, as well as original songs performed by cast members.
Robert Fletcher, Mike Baskervillem, John Dykstra, Danielle McBride, Dan Sexton, and Virginia Storey, collectively received a Gemini Award nomination for best sound in a dramatic program, for their work in Degrassi Takes Manhattan, but lost to The Pillars of the Earth.