Utah stars in Disney Channel movie "Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!"

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

"Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!" was filmed right here in Utah.

The TV movie, which premieres Friday at 9 p.m. on the Disney Channel, is not set in Utah, but the state does show its versatility. It stands in for Denver. And Palm Springs, Calif. And even Las Vegas.

Really. The Gateway is made to look like the Strip. Which is sort of weird.

Actually, that's REALLY weird.

Southern Utah becomes eastern California. The Salt Palace becomes an airport. An airport where Mountain West Airlines flies in and out.

Actually, there is one scene in this sitcom-turned-TV movie that is set in Utah. Probably.

As is the case with the "Good Luck Charlie" sitcom, Teddy (Bridgit Mendler) carries around a camera to make video diary entries for her toddler sister, Charlie (Mia Talerico). Much of the movie's plot involves Teddy and her mom, Amy (Leigh-Allyn Baker), trying to reunite with the rest of the family for Christmas and being forced to embark on an ill-fated road trip to do so.

"Well, Charlie, here we are," Teddy says. "Typical Christmas Eve day. Somewhere in the desert. I think it's Utah."

"Who cares?" Amy says.

How rude.

Well, not really. Amy has a good reason to be cranky. A reason that will play out when new episodes of the sitcom start airing early next year.

This is a show that's all about goofy. "Good Luck Charlie" is sort of a throwback to "The Brady Bunch" and shows of that less cynical TV era.

It's about a happy family that includes put-upon father Bob (Eric Allan Kramer), girl-crazy teenager PJ (Jason Dolley), and smart-aleck preteen Gabe (Bradley Steven Perry). They have ridiculous adventures that sometimes border on slapstick. Sometimes they're entirely slapstick.

And "Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!" is a two-hour episode of the sitcom that's designed to appeal to the Disney Channel audience. It has its heart in the right place. It's enormously silly.

And you'll enjoy it more if you haven't gone to middle school yet.