Genre Fantasy, comedy-drama Music by Kenneth Burgomaster | Directed by Victor Gonzalez | |
Based on Wizards of Waverly Place
by Todd J. Greenwald Written by Ben Montanio
Vince Cheung
Dan Berendsen Starring Selena Gomez
Jake T. Austin
Jennifer Stone
Gregg Sulkin
Beau Mirchoff
Maria Canals Barrera
David DeLuise | ||
The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex is a 2013 American made-for-television comedy-drama fantasy special episode based on the Disney Channel Original Series Wizards of Waverly Place. It was directed by Victor Gonzalez and filmed primarily in Disney Studios in October and November 2012. The full cast of the series starred in the special, with the exception of David Henrie, although the character was mentioned frequently. The film focuses on the Russo family, Harper, and Mason visiting Italy for a family reunion. The special premiered on March 15, 2013 on the Disney Channel in the United States, and is rated TV-G. The special received 5.9 million viewers.
Contents
Plot
The Russo family, Harper, and Alex's boyfriend, Mason, arrange "another" congratulations party for Justin for taking over WizTech. A student named Dominic visits the family to inform them that Justin is too busy to get away from work, and flirts with Alex, which makes Mason jealous. Jerry announces a family reunion in Tuscany, Italy. Alex creates a portal between Italy and New York to ease the travel, but gets scolded by Jerry for being immaturely selfish.
After a talk with Dominic, Alex tries to prove that she is not the irresponsible wizard she used to be by casting a spell to expel the negative parts of her personality, but accidentally creates an evil reflection of herself in the mirror. The evil Alex escapes the mirror and runs to Italy. Meanwhile, Max gets the attention of an Italian girl and tries to find her, and Jerry and Theresa follow to get him back. They accidentally meet with their cousins and the reunion begins early.
Evil Alex shrinks and imprisons Max, Jerry, and Theresa with the help of another anonymous wizard, who is later revealed to be Dominic. Harper and Alex follow them to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, where Harper is also captured. Dominic wants to take over the world by using Alex's magic to capture all mortals in tiny beads through a spell replicator installed at the top of the tower. When she refuses, Evil Alex goes to capture Mason.
To save her family, Alex goes through with Dominic's plan, and, when she gets the bracelet her family is trapped in, is about to reverse the spell. She is instantly transported away and found guilty of attempting to destroy the mortal world, with Dominic's twisted testimony. She is later saved by Mason who manages to escape captivity. The two race back to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, where evil Alex and good Alex end up in a battle by magic and combat at the Russo house and the Jumbotron, while Mason fights Dominic. Alex manages to rescue her family from Evil Alex's hands.
When Dominic knocks out Mason, Alex is about to defeat him. Evil Alex and Dominic join forces against her, but she manages to destroy one of them and free her family. After that, Mason pushes Dominic off the tower. Evil Alex reforms and Alex gives up all of her powers to destroy her evil twin. In the end Alex is given her magic back. The Russo family, Harper and Mason enjoy the rest of their family reunion before heading back to the Sub Station.
The movie ends with Alex telling Harper that they should have to stay in Italy for a while because Jerry and Theresa got upset about their living room being destroyed from the battle between both Alexes.
Cast
Casting
The majority of the cast of the Disney Channel Original Series Wizards of Waverly Place (with the exception of David Henrie as Justin Russo, who was frequently mentioned) starred in the special.
Filming
The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex was filmed in California, with background sets for the Italy scenes. The special was filmed from October 22, 2012 to November 10, 2012.
Release
The special premiered on Disney Channel as a TV special on March 15, 2013 in the United States.
Reception
The episode was viewed by 5.9 million viewers on the day of its initial release. In the United Kingdom, the episode premiered with 575,000 viewers making it Disney Channel UK's third most watched episode ever.
Home media release
The special was released exclusively on DVD on June 25, 2013 in a release that included the hour-long final episode of Wizards of Waverly Place, "Who Will Be the Family Wizard?" as a bonus feature. The actual special was presented in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio, with English, Spanish and French audio and subtitle tracks.