Unaccompanied Minors
for mild rude humor and language.
| Moral Rating: | not reviewed |
| Moviemaking Quality: |
|
| Primary Audience: | Kids Family |
| Genre: | Comedy Adaptation |
| Length: | 1 hr. 30 min. |
| Year of Release: | 2006 |
| USA Release: |
December 8, 2006 (wide) |
| Featuring | Wilmer Valderrama, Dyllan Christopher, Gina Mantegna, Quinn Shephard, Tyler J. Williams |
| Director |
Paul Feig |
| Producer | Ira Glass, Julie Snyder, Michael Lambert |
| Distributor |
“Silent Night… Yeah, right.”
Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “It’s Christmas Eve and a huge blizzard has just shut down the airport, threatening to ruin holiday plans for all stranded travelers. Snowed in en route to their father’s house, two “Unaccompanied Minors”—dubbed UMs—Spencer and his little sister, Katherine, are ushered to the airport’s Unaccompanied Minors Room, a holding cell for dozens of stranded, parent-free kids from all over the country. Caught in the crossfire of projectile cupcakes and juice boxes and desperate to escape, Spencer makes a run for freedom along with four other UMs, who couldn’t be more different if they tried: spoiled rich girl Grace, trailer-park tomboy Donna, academic overachiever Charlie and comic-book geek Timothy Wellington a.k.a. “Beef.”
With the airport’s peevish Passenger Relations Manager Oliver Porter, his lackey assistant Zach Van Bourke and every airport security guard hot on their trails, this group of UMs from cliques that don’t mix learn to ditch their differences and help each other flee the clutches of airport authority.
Meanwhile, Katherine and the other UMs have been herded to a nearby hotel to wait out the storm. Determined to reunite with his little sister and fulfill her unspoiled vision of Santa Claus arriving on Christmas morning, Spencer enlists the help of his UM posse. Working together as an unlikely family of their own, they outwit and outrun Oliver and his crew. Plummeting through baggage chutes, rummaging around unclaimed luggage and canoeing down a snow-covered hill, they turn Christmas at the airport into holiday pandemonium and, along the way, prove that the holidays aren’t about where you are, but who you’re with.”
Offensive / 1½
Good / 4½
Better than Average / 4
As far as acting goes, the children are wonderful, and make this film a cut above other similar films. Young Quinn Shephard, who plays the character of Donna, is particularly memorable. She plays a tough girl, who has a warm heart beneath her defensiveness, which slowly reveals itself as the movie progresses.
The overall message of this film is that no one should have to be alone on Christmas, and that even if you can’t be with your actual family, you should give of yourself to those you are with. Although the children cannot be with their families, they grow together throughout their adventures, and grow to genuinely care about each other, and form true friendships. The childrens' caring extends beyond each other to include the other stranded passengers in the airport, as well as the surly, grumpy airport manager, Mr. Porter.
Also, this film includes virtually no offensive content. It does not include disgusting sexual references, much unlike “Deck the Halls” and “The Holiday,” two other Christmas films that were released recently. It is pure, clean fun that will delight children, and will remind adults of the joys of childlike playfulness.
This film left me with a warm feeling inside, much like drinking a hot chocolate would. It is one of the few movies I plan on seeing again while it is still in thaters, and, coming from me, that is saying a lot.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 5