Hatching Pete

Hatching Pete is a 2009 American comedy film released as a Disney Channel Original Movie. It first aired on April 24, 2009, on Disney Channel UK and later Disney Channel and Family. It was released on DVD in America on May 12, 2009, together with Dadnapped.

Plot
Brewster High School student Pete Ivey finds that Cammie Poole, his crush, has already been asked out by Dill, the captain of the basketball team. At home, Pete's father tells him that to get Cammie's attention, he has to give her something to notice.

On their way to the Brewster High basketball game, Cammie's brother and Pete's best friend, Cleatus Poole, comes over to ask Pete for a favor. Cleatus is the Brewster High mascot, but he has discovered he is allergic to the suit. He pleads for Pete to wear the chicken suit instead. As part of the bargain, Cleatus tells Pete he will get his sister on a date with him. After a rocky start, Pete realizes that he is attracting Cammie's attention and acts more adventurously inside the suit. Upon seeing his own new-found natural talent for being mascot, Pete agrees to be "The Chicken" full-time. Meanwhile, Pete develops a crush on cheerleader Angela Morrisey. They are both chosen for the parade float committee and become friends while working together on the float.

On the day of the parade, the town shows up for the festival and "The Chicken" is a big hit. During a dance number however, Cleatus is accidentally discovered. Pete, escaping the crowd, steals the sheriff's car to get away. Angela sees him walking and offers him a ride. Angela expresses relief that "The Chicken" is not Cleatus because of her developing romantic feelings for whoever is inside. Based on the adoration that the town shares for "The Chicken" and due to the financial incentives of having people attending the games, the sheriff decides to drop the charges.

Pete returns during the final game to rally both the players and the crowd. During a time out, Pete removes the mascot head at the urging of the audience. Cleatus congratulations him for his talent as the chicken and the audience cheers for him as well as Pete's parents, who express how proud they are of their son. The team finishes with a last second score to win the game, and when the cheerleaders tumble in their celebration, Angela falls on Pete and they kiss. Cleatus tells Pete to put his chicken head back on and join the Brewster Roosters to celebrate their only win of the year.

Cast

 * Jason Dolley as Pete "The Chicken" Ivey
 * Mitchel Musso as Cleatus Poole
 * Tiffany Thornton as Jamie Wynn
 * Josie Loren as Angela Morrissey
 * Sean O'Bryan as Leon Ivey
 * Amy Farrington as Doris Ivey
 * Crawford Wilson as Dil Jensen
 * Aramis Knight as Wendell Pate
 * Edward Herrmann as Principal Fred Daly
 * Brian Stepanek as Coach Mackey
 * Madison Riley as Cammie Poole

Reception
The premiere of the movie was viewed by 4.1 million viewers, becoming the third Disney movie in three years with less than 5 million viewers for the premiere.

David Nusair called the movie (along with Dadnapped) "typically underwhelming Disney Channel fare."