The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex
"Everything is not what it seems."
Overview
In this television special following the events of the Wizards of Waverly Place series finale, the Russo family, Harper, and Mason travel to Tuscany, Italy, for a family reunion. Alex Russo, now the Family Wizard, struggles with the constant criticism from her father, Jerry, and the wizarding community who view her as selfish and immature despite her heroics.
Seeking to prove her maturity, Alex attempts a spell to banish her negative personality traits. However, the spell backfires, creating an Evil Alex doppelgänger who escapes the mirror world. This malevolent twin teams up with a charming but villainous wizard named Dominic, who is revealed to be the nephew of the series' former antagonist, Gorog. Together, they plot to rid the world of mortals by trapping them in tiny magical beads.
The film follows Good Alex as she must outmaneuver her darker half and save her family, leading to a high-stakes showdown at the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It is a story of internal conflict made literal, exploring whether a person can truly be good without the 'bad' parts that define their strength and edge.
Core Meaning
The core meaning of the film is that true maturity is the integration of one's entire self, including flaws and darker impulses. By attempting to cast away her 'selfish' and 'irresponsible' parts, Alex Russo realizes that she has also cast away the very traits that give her the strength to protect those she loves.
The director uses the literal separation of the protagonist to argue that 'goodness' is not the absence of 'badness,' but the choice to use one's complex nature for the right reasons. The film serves as a rite of passage for Alex, moving her from a character seeking external validation to one who accepts her internal contradictions.
Thematic DNA
The Duality of the Self
The film explores the Shadow Self through the physical manifestation of Evil Alex. It illustrates that trying to repress negative traits only gives them a life of their own, often with destructive consequences.
Responsibility vs. Freedom
As the Family Wizard, Alex faces the burden of living up to high expectations. The conflict centers on her struggle to balance the whims of a teenager with the gravity of being a powerful protector.
Family Expectations and Acceptance
Alex's primary motivation is to stop her father, Jerry, from scolding her. The film highlights the emotional toll of never feeling 'good enough' in the eyes of authority figures.
The Nature of Morality
By isolating 'Good Alex,' the film shows that 'pure' goodness can be passive or vulnerable, whereas 'evil' is proactive. The resolution suggests that morality requires a balance of both edge and empathy.
Character Analysis
Alex Russo
Selena Gomez
Motivation
To prove to her family that she is a responsible and selfless Family Wizard.
Character Arc
Alex moves from a state of self-doubt and overcompensation to a state of self-acceptance, realizing she needs her 'edge' to be a complete person.
Evil Alex
Selena Gomez
Motivation
To rule the world and indulge in every selfish whim without consequence.
Character Arc
She represents the unbridled ego and selfishness of Alex without any moral compass, eventually seeking total domination.
Dominic
Beau Mirchoff
Motivation
To avenge his uncle Gorog and eliminate the 'nuisance' of mortality from the world.
Character Arc
Initially appearing as a charming ally from WizTech, he is revealed to be the mastermind using Alex's power for his own gain.
Harper Finkle
Jennifer Stone
Motivation
To protect her best friend and keep the Russo family together.
Character Arc
Provides the moral anchor for Alex, reminding her that even her 'bad' side was part of the person Harper loves.
Symbols & Motifs
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
Symbolizes the imbalance of Alex's fractured personality and the precarious state of the world during the climax.
The final battle takes place here, emphasizing that the 'straight and narrow' path isn't always the one to victory; sometimes you have to work with the tilt.
Magical Beads
Represent the dehumanization of mortals and the reduction of complex lives into manageable, collectible objects.
Dominic and Evil Alex use a machine to trap the Russo family and the world's population inside these tiny spheres.
The Mirror
A classic symbol of introspection and self-reflection.
Alex casts the spell into a mirror, literally seeing her 'bad' side step out of her reflection to become an independent entity.
Memorable Quotes
I'm the good one, she's the bad one!
— Alex Russo
Context:
Said during the confusion of the battle when others cannot distinguish between the two Alexes.
Meaning:
Highlights the simplistic and flawed logic Alex uses to try and solve her internal identity crisis.
Being good is hard.
— Alex Russo
Context:
Alex venting her frustration to Dominic before she casts the separation spell.
Meaning:
Reflects the exhaustion of trying to live up to perfection while suppressing one's natural instincts.
I am Alex Russo!
— Alex Russo
Context:
The climactic moment before she makes the ultimate sacrifice to defeat her evil self.
Meaning:
A declaration of self-reclamation, asserting that she is the master of her own identity, both light and dark.
Philosophical Questions
Can a person be virtuous if they have no capacity for vice?
The film suggests that 'Good Alex' is ineffective and even weak without the cunning and drive that characterized her 'bad' side. True virtue requires having the capacity for selfishness but choosing to be selfless instead.
Is identity a fixed essence or a collection of parts?
By separating the traits, the film asks if 'Alex' exists in the traits themselves or in the vessel that holds them. The conclusion favors the idea that identity is an integrated whole that cannot be divided without losing the 'soul'.
Alternative Interpretations
The Celebrity Metaphor: Critics have suggested that the split between 'Good Alex' and 'Evil Alex' represents Selena Gomez’s own public persona struggle. Evil Alex, with her darker clothes and rebellious nature, mirrors the 'Spring Breakers' era of Gomez’s career, while Good Alex represents the sanitized Disney image her fans expected.
The Failure of Perfectionism: Another interpretation is that the film is a critique of helicopter parenting. Jerry’s constant scolding is what drives Alex to 'cast out' her bad parts, suggesting that the pressure to be perfect actually creates the monsters parents fear the most.
Cultural Impact
The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex served as a bridge between the 'Golden Era' of Disney Channel sitcoms and the emerging solo stardom of Selena Gomez. In 2013, Gomez was transitioning into a more mature music and film career, and this special allowed her to say a proper 'goodbye' to the role that made her famous while showcasing her range through a dual role.
Critically, it was seen as a high-budget 'encore' that capitalized on the massive popularity of the Russo family. It maintained a high viewership of nearly 6 million people, proving the enduring legacy of the show. Philosophically, it contributed to the trend of 'darker' Disney specials that dealt with the burden of fame and public image, paralleling Gomez's real-life struggle with the 'good girl' persona.
Audience Reception
The film was largely praised by the Wizards of Waverly Place fanbase for bringing back the original cast and providing a more action-oriented story than the typical sitcom episodes. Viewers specifically highlighted Selena Gomez's performance as Evil Alex, noting that she seemed to enjoy playing the villainous role.
Criticism was mainly directed at the absence of David Henrie (Justin), as many felt the sibling dynamic was the heart of the show. Some critics also noted that the special effects, while improved for television, felt a bit dated even for 2013, and the 'evil twin' plot was considered a well-worn trope.
Interesting Facts
- Selena Gomez served as an executive producer for the film, her first time taking on that role for the franchise.
- David Henrie (Justin Russo) is the only main cast member from the series not to appear, as he was busy with other projects; his character's absence is explained by his new job at WizTech.
- The movie was filmed at Hollywood Center Studios in California, using extensive green screen and sets to recreate Tuscany and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
- The special aired over a year after the series finale of Wizards of Waverly Place.
- Selena Gomez performed her own stunts during the fight scene between the two Alexes, which took an entire day to choreograph and film.
- The film was the third most-watched Disney Channel UK broadcast ever at the time of its release.
Easter Eggs
Justin's absence and WizTech
Multiple mentions of Justin Russo being the 'Headmaster of WizTech' connect the movie directly to the ending of the original series.
The Sub Station Banner
The party at the beginning features a banner for Justin, mirroring the many celebrations and sibling rivalries seen throughout the show's four seasons.
Dominic's Lineage
Revealing Dominic as Gorog's nephew ties the special back to the Wizards vs. Everything saga from the series finale.
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