The Thirteenth Year facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Thirteenth Year |
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| Written by | Jenny Arata Robert L. Baird Kelly Senecal |
| Directed by | Duwayne Dunham |
| Starring |
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| Theme music composer | Phil Marshall |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Heidi Wall |
| Producer(s) | Thom Colwell |
| Cinematography | Michael Slovis |
| Running time | 95 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Mike Jacobs, Jr. Productions Dream City Films |
| Distributor | Buena Vista Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | Disney Channel |
| Original release | May 15, 1999 |
The Thirteenth Year is a fun comedy-drama movie from Disney Channel. It first aired on May 15, 1999. The film was directed by Duwayne Dunham. It stars Chez Starbuck and Courtnee Draper.
Plot Summary
The movie is about a teenager named Cody Griffin. He was adopted by his parents. His birth mother is a mermaid. She left him on a boat when he was a baby to keep him safe. A fisherman named Big John Wheatly saw her leave. Since then, he has been obsessed with finding mermaids.
Years later, Cody is a very fast swimmer on his school team. He also has a girlfriend named Samantha. Cody is busy with a big swim meet coming up. He is also struggling in biology class. So, he is paired with Jess Wheatly for a project. Jess is a smart kid and knows a lot about marine biology.
On Cody's 13th birthday, strange things start to happen. He drinks a lot of water. Later, he accidentally gives Samantha an electric shock when he kisses her. The next morning, he zaps his alarm clock. He also finds a milk carton stuck to his hand. Jess notices scales on Cody's hand. He says he has only seen scales like that on frogs and lizards.
As Cody's body changes more, he asks Jess for help. Jess agrees to find out what is happening. In return, Cody promises to teach Jess how to swim. Jess runs many tests on Cody. He learns that Cody can make electricity. He can also hold his breath for a long time underwater. Cody can even climb walls and talk to fish. He swims incredibly fast. When he gets wet, scales appear on his hands, arms, and feet. Jess figures out that Cody is turning into a merman.
When Cody's adoptive parents learn about his changes, they tell him to stay away from water. This means he cannot be in the swim meet. But Cody decides to swim in the ocean the next day. He discovers he has grown jagged fins on his arms. He hides them from Samantha by putting his arms in the sand.
Even with the risks, Cody goes to the swim meet. He wins the race and beats his teammate Sean. He also breaks the state speed record. But his scales and arm fins reappear. He causes a power surge and runs away. The scoreboard breaks. Sean sees the scales and thinks Cody cheated. He follows Cody into the locker room. Cody hides by sticking to the ceiling. Sean says he will find out how Cody cheated. Cody gets home safely with his parents. They try to dry him off, but the scales stay longer now.
Cody tries to calm his parents. He says no one saw his scales. But Jess arrives and tells them everyone is talking about Cody. Samantha also comes over. She faints when she sees Cody's scales. When she wakes up, she is scared. Cody tells her he is becoming a merman. But he says he is still the same person. He asks her not to be afraid. Samantha is sworn to secrecy for Cody's safety. But she is still upset and leaves. That night, Cody goes for a swim. He meets his mermaid mother. However, Big John, the fisherman, spots them. He breaks up their reunion.
The next day, Cody meets Samantha at the beach. She apologizes, and they kiss. Cody walks into the water with her. He says he wants to show her something. Cody's mermaid mother appears. But Cody suddenly feels a sharp pain. He stumbles back to the shore. He is in pain on the ground. He tells Samantha to get his parents. After she leaves, Cody watches in shock. His left foot changes into a flipper. Scales grow on his leg. He thinks Samantha came back. But someone else throws a blanket over him.
Jess comes to the beach. He sees Cody is gone. Then he sees his father's boat. He knows his father saw Cody's arms at the swim meet. On the boat, Cody is drying out. He scratches his scales and begs to get into the water. But Big John throws seawater on him instead. Big John wants to use Cody to attract his mother. He wants to prove that mermaids are real. His plan works when he sees Cody's mother following the boat.
Jess gets on the boat. He removes the blanket. Cody's legs have both turned into fins. Cody asks Jess to help him into the water. Cody and Jess try to warn the mermaid away. But they cannot stop a fishing net from trapping her. Cody asks Jess to help his mother. Jess takes a knife and jumps into the water. He cuts the net and frees the mermaid. But Jess's leg gets caught in the net. He is pulled underwater. Jess passes out. Cody jumps in and brings Jess to the dock. Jess's father, Cody's parents, and Samantha are there. Samantha tries CPR, but it does not work. Cody decides to zap Jess's heart. This makes Jess wake up.
Cody's mermaid mother appears again. She watches him and his family from a distance. Cody explains that she wants him to go with her. She is the only one who can help him with his changes. Cody's adoptive mother does not want him to leave. But Cody shows his fins. He explains he is almost a full merman. The mermaid promises to send Cody back before school starts. Cody's parents let him go. Jess asks Cody to tell him and his dad about the sea life he sees. Samantha makes Cody promise not to fall for mergirls. After saying goodbye, Cody and his mother reunite. Cody fully transforms into a merman. They swim off into a life under the sea.
Cast
- Chez Starbuck — Cody Griffin
- Justin Jon Ross — Jess Wheatley
- Courtnee Draper — Samantha, Cody’s girlfriend
- Brent Briscoe — Big John Wheatley, a fisherman who wants to find mermaids and Jess's father
- Tim Redwine — Sean Marshall
- Dave Coulier — Whit Griffin, Cody's adoptive father
- Lisa Stahl Sullivan — Sharon Griffin, Cody's adoptive mother
- Brian Haley — Coach
- Stephanie Chantel Durelli — mermaid, Cody's biological mother
- Karen Maruyama as Mrs. Nelson
- Regan Burns as Joe
- Joel McKinnon Miller as Hal
See also
In Spanish: The Thirteenth Year para niños
