Catch That Kid (PG)

Painfully bad. A real head-scratcher.

(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

Common Sense rates it
1
Seen the movie? Review it
1975_orig.jpg
Movie details
  • Studio: Twentieth Century Fox, Twentieth Century Fox
  • Directed By: Bart Freundlich
  • Cast: Jennifer Beals
  • Running Time: 92 minutes
  • Release Date: 02/06/2004
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 06/01/2004
  • Genre: Family and Kids
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • MPAA Explanation: some language, thematic elements and rude humor

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie has some crude humor and schoolyard language. Characters are in peril, including a car chase scene that might be too intense for younger children. Some children may also be upset when Maddy's father is paralyzed. The real parental concern, however, is the movie's apparent endorsement of lying, cheating, stealing, manipulation, and irresponsible behavior.

Families can talk about what made Maddy decide that it was all right for her to steal from the bank. How did she consider the risks and the benefits? A famous study several years ago found that when presented with a question like the one Maddy faced -- should you steal in order to get medical treatment for a family member -- boys were more likely to say yes and girls were more likely to say no. Why do you think that might be? Families could also talk about the lies Maddy tells and the lie her mother tells.

Message

Social Behavior:

Lying, cheating, stealing, manipulation, and irresponsible behavior are condoned. Some crude humor.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Characters in peril, a car chase scene that may be too intense for younger children.

Sex

Kisses on cheeks.

Language

Some schoolyard words, including "retard".

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

Kristen Stewart (Panic Room) plays Maddy, a young girl who inherited her father's love for climbing. He becomes paralyzed from an injury he received climbing Mount Everest, and his only hope is an operation that costs $250,000. The family's insurance won't cover it and they cannot get a loan. So Maddy decides to steal the money from the bank. Maddy, whose mother (Flashdance's Jennifer Beals) designed the bank's security system, gets a tour, taking pictures and getting the security code. Maddy's two best friends, Gus (Max Thieriot) and Austin (Corbin Bleu), agree to help her with the heist.

Is it any good?

1

CATCH THAT KID is a movie about a child bank robber who heartlessly manipulates her two best friends and risks the lives of her friends, her baby brother, and everyone else in her path. And she's the heroine! What were they thinking? The kids do their best, the robbery has one or two clever twists, and there are a couple of funny moments, but the script is so fundamentally misconceived that it is, well, a crime.

The head-scratching moments just keep coming. Why put Taxi Driver references in a movie for children? Is it supposed to be funny or admirable that a child lies about physical abuse in order to persuade a sympathetic adult to give him the information he needs to knock over a bank? Should children find it acceptable to steal from a bank because the boss is really mean? And what is James LeGros doing as an inept security guard who gets knocked out by his own cattle prod-like Taser? The real robbery in this movie is 90 minutes from the lives of the people who watch it.

Other choices

Support Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is a non-profit and will receive a portion of your purchase from Pricegrabber. Learn more.

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 7 reviews.

2

Posted on 11/18/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

This could have been a great movie

The movie starts mildly interesting, but turns really lame with poor acting and the really bad message of "robbing banks," which is portrayed as being OK. Some few cool spots are dominated by the lame ones. Spend your money elsewhere!
0

Posted on 09/30/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Worst dvd ever and such a poor message

What a waste of good suspense for kids. The heroes lie, steal and use (sex) to get what they want...the girl tells both of her best boy friends that she likes each one secretly so they will help her rob a bank. In the end, they are about to get busted when the girl's mom LIES and said that she had hired them to break into the vault at her bank to prove it wasn't safe. Not only do the kids get out of trouble with the police, they don't even get scolded at home. Plus, the bank pays them $50,000 for showing it their security flaws, while they absolutely knew the truth was that they were stealing the money. This is the first review I have ever written because I was so disappointed that anyone would make a kids film with such a poor message in it.
5


Posted on 06/14/06 by steste140 Kid contributor, age 8
3


Posted on 03/12/05 by Kenzie Kid contributor, age 12

Good!

I liked this movie! but It does kinda send out a bad message about going to rob a bank! even thought it was for a good cause! I think this movie was Good!!!
1


Posted on 10/01/04 by Shinjo Kid contributor, age 11

Not a good movie!

Bad movie...no good laughs or anything. Also, it teaches kids that you can lie and cheat and get away with it and that robbing banks is ok, which just isn't a good message. I wouldn't suggest seeing this movie at all.
3

Posted on 06/12/04 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

Bad message

Stealling tons of a banks money and haveing your mom stick up for you is terrible. These kids never got into trouble for breaking all the banks security!
1

Posted on 06/02/04 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Poor values and message

This is a movie that sends the message that you can do the wrong thing, make bad choices, risk your life and the lives of others and in the end all will be ok. Terrible message for kids.

See all 7 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

0

Posted on 09/30/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Worst dvd ever and such a poor message

What a waste of good suspense for kids. The heroes lie, steal and use (sex) to get what they want...the girl tells both of her best boy friends that she likes each one secretly so they will help her rob a bank. In the end, they are about to get busted when the girl's mom LIES and said that she had hired them to break into the vault at her bank to prove it wasn't safe. Not only do the kids get out of trouble with the police, they don't even get scolded at home. Plus, the bank pays them $50,000 for showing it their security flaws, while they absolutely knew the truth was that they were stealing the money. This is the first review I have ever written because I was so disappointed that anyone would make a kids film with such a poor message in it.
1

Posted on 06/02/04 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Poor values and message

This is a movie that sends the message that you can do the wrong thing, make bad choices, risk your life and the lives of others and in the end all will be ok. Terrible message for kids.

Kids Reviews

There are 5 reviews.

2

Posted on 11/18/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

This could have been a great movie

The movie starts mildly interesting, but turns really lame with poor acting and the really bad message of "robbing banks," which is portrayed as being OK. Some few cool spots are dominated by the lame ones. Spend your money elsewhere!
5


Posted on 06/14/06 by steste140 Kid contributor, age 8
3


Posted on 03/12/05 by Kenzie Kid contributor, age 12

Good!

I liked this movie! but It does kinda send out a bad message about going to rob a bank! even thought it was for a good cause! I think this movie was Good!!!
1


Posted on 10/01/04 by Shinjo Kid contributor, age 11

Not a good movie!

Bad movie...no good laughs or anything. Also, it teaches kids that you can lie and cheat and get away with it and that robbing banks is ok, which just isn't a good message. I wouldn't suggest seeing this movie at all.
3

Posted on 06/12/04 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

Bad message

Stealling tons of a banks money and haveing your mom stick up for you is terrible. These kids never got into trouble for breaking all the banks security!
Review It
Who's your favorite TV holiday special character?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
26%
The Grinch
34%
Frosty the Snowman
11%
Charlie Brown
18%
Shrek
10%
209 votes