The J Team is a 2021 American musical-drama film based on the life of the singer, songwriter, dancer, and internet personality JoJo Siwa. It was released on Paramount+ on September 3, 2021[1] and premiered on Nickelodeon on November 7, 2021.[2]
In 2023, The J Team was removed from Paramount+ for unknown reasons. The film can no longer be watched on a subscribed streaming service.
Plot[]
The J Team follows a young girl named JoJo whose life is turned upside down when her beloved dance coach Val decides to retire and is replaced by a sparkle-hating instructor named Poppy. Wanting to stay in the running for an upcoming dance competition, JoJo and her best friends, The Rubies, must try their hardest to abide by Poppy’s new, harsh rules. Realizing she cannot hide her sparkle or bow anymore, JoJo is kicked out of her dance troupe and must rediscover what dance and friendship mean to her while finding her true “sparkle” in the process.
Cast[]
- JoJo Siwa as Herself (fictionalized)
- Marley Winton as young JoJo Siwa
- Tisha Campbell as Coach Poppy
- Kiyoko Rain Gordon as young Coach Poppy
- Laura Soltis as Val
- Kiara T. Romero as Ruby D.
- Kerrynton Jones as Ruby M.
- Kenya Jordan as Pepper
- Kyra Leroux as Jess
- Julia Marley as Nina
- Mya Lowe as Sunshine
- Marlow Percival as Desi
- Chris Francisque as Mr. Melody
Production[]
In February 2020, it was announced that a JoJo Siwa feature-length movie was in production at Nickelodeon. A year later on The Tonight Show the title of the film was revealed to be The J Team. JoJo Siwa mentioned that she will also help produce the film while being the main star. An original soundtrack was also announced for the film which included six songs written by Siwa. Filming took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Due to covid-19, it is unknown if the film was set for a theatrical release originally. The film premiered in a drive-in theater at Pasadena, California the same day it released on the Paramount+ streaming service.
Reception[]
The film received negative reviews from critics and audiences as some have called the film “too unrealistic”. Shortly after the film’s release, a controversy online started with Nickelodeon’s relationship with JoJo Siwa as they forbade her to use the songs she created in the movie for her tour.
Home media[]
The J Team got an official DVD release on July 12, 2022 with the tagline “Her First Feature Length Movie”.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The film was originally set to premiere on Nickelodeon on October 3, 2021, but for unknown reasons, it was removed from the schedule before being rescheduled to premiere on the network on November 7.
- Tisha Campbell stated in an interview that several cultures were represented in the film with the characters.
- This is the first live action film produced by Nickelodeon Movies to release exclusively to Paramount+.
- This film is not canon to the short lived web miniseries The JoJo and BowBow Show Show as none of the characters (aside from JoJo and BowBow) from that show were in this film. JoJo Siwa is the only human character and actress to reprise her role from that series as well. With this film being live action instead of animation, BowBow does not speak and acts like a normal dog with only a minor role.
- This film is inspired by JoJo Siwa’s early years when she was being coached on the reality show Dance Moms. Coach Poppy’s character is heavily inspired by Abby Lee Miller. More references to this were originally written in the script but were removed in the finished draft.
- The film features six original songs performed by JoJo Siwa.
- As of 2023, this is JoJo Siwa’s last project to be associated with Nickelodeon (not counting when her character appeared in various Nickelodeon video games after its release).