 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Catch That Kid
- Review Date: May 31, 2004
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2004
Common Sense Media says
Painfully bad. A real head-scratcher.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What 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.
What's the story?
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?
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.
What families can talk about
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.
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AGE
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!
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AGE
a family film
the film is about Maddy, a girl who's Dad is paralyzed and her Mom who works at a bank. a problem is that her Dad was paralyzed free climbing and he can be healed for a good bit of money. there are 2 other kids who are really loyal who help her out. she was faced with a choice based on the question of`stealing to save a life, or letting the person die. she formulates a plot with her friends to rob the bank to get the money. there is some violence and suspense (girl almost falls attempting to infiltrate safe, intense chase, a few tazers are used). on the side of sex, there are 2 kisses on the cheeks. in language, you will probably hear some mild words and a cuss word (r*t*rd). you can talk about how much family means. you should only watch it 1 or 2 times. i hope this helps
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AGE
Good Movie!
This movie has a great message and is best for kids under age 10. Good family movie with a positive attitude!
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Kid, 11 years old
October 4, 2011
AGE
Really good!
Hey, this movie is actually really good!
I don't know what you are talking about!
I really think you should be a bit more open-minded with your opinions, Common Sense!
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Kid, 10 years old
September 12, 2011
AGE
Good Movie
I do not know why people do not like this movie! It was really fun, I watched it with a 7 year old and a 5 year old and we all loved it!
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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.
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AGE
catch that kid- lighten up people!!!!!
gosh guys what is your problem!!!????? the kids are NOT praised for what they did, her mom covers up for them because she knows it was for a good cause,what, would you rather all the kids be shown being put into jail cells right before the credits start rolling!!! besides there is no possible way any kid could rob the bank like that because there is NO WAY they could possibly have all that information before they did it!!! i thought this movie was cute, and kristen was so cute in it!!!!
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AGE
Catch that Horrible Movie
I watched this movie a couple of years ago, and when I thought about it, I knew this thing really sucked! They did nothing to follow the plan of robbing the bank just like they said, so they basically wasted their money. The message wasn't good either because it says that if you do something bad to save someone for nobody else's interest but yourself, you'll get away with it! Don't waste your money or 92 minutes of your life watching this bullcrap.
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| Topics: | adventures |
| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | Bart Freundlich |
| Cast: | Corbin Bleu, Jennifer Beals, Kristen Stewart |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 92 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | February 6, 2004 |
| DVD release date: | June 1, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | some language, thematic elements and rude humor |
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