Premiered: August 6, 2004

On: Disney Channel

Starring: Hayden Panettiere, Bill Pullman, Bianca Collins, Nathaniel Lee Jr., Mercedes Colon, Mechad Brooks, Jansen Panettiere, Lisa Dean Ryan, Troy Evans, Ty O’Neal, Chris Ellis, Gary Weeks, Barbara Niven & Jennette McCurdy

With its focus on the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Tiger Cruise deviates from the typical Disney Channel Original Movie formula and allows for deep emotion amongst a scary, real-life situation.

Maddie Dolan (Hayden Panettiere) joins a week-long cruise for military families aboard the USS Constellation where her dad Gary (Bill Pullman) is a commander. She longs for him to retire from service and be home with their family but on the second day of their cruise, the September 11^th attacks take place.

To focus briefly on the negative, the plot is predictable and the green screens are terribly done.

However, this film must be commended on the storyline it’s presenting to a younger audience. It allows kids who were young at the time of the attacks to understand what was happening and never drifts into melodramatic.

Final say: Dated but strong. ★★★☆☆