 | 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. |
Minutemen
- Review Date: January 22, 2008
- NR
- Genre: Science Fiction
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Fun time-travel comedy tweaks social stereotypes.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this made-for-TV Disney movie is heavy on social mishaps. Characters are frequently (and needlessly) bullied, though many of the victims are rescued by the heroes, who go back in time to prevent the incidents. Some of the bullies antagonize their victims simply because they like being mean, and some characters see their social status climb because they choose not to defend friends who find themselves on the wrong side of the jock-geek divide. That said, the movie's message is to show how people can transcend that kind of stereotypical labeling.
What's the story?
If you could go back in time, is there any single event you'd change? For Virgil (Jason Dolley), the answer is obvious: the first day of high school, when he tried to defend a geek from a crowd of football players, an incident that left both of them social outcasts. Fast forward three years, and Virgil's the self-described captain of the dorks, jealous of his childhood friend, who's now the school football star. Virgil's new best pal is Charlie (Luke Benward) -- aka the geek he saved on Day One -- who happens to be a scientific genius. When Charlie invents a time machine, they become the MINUTEMEN, repeatedly traveling back in time to protect their fellow dorks from the wanton attacks of school bullies.
Is it any good?
Minutemen is rife with stereotypes. There are jocks, cheerleaders, and other popular kids, as well as plenty of nerds, geeks, dorks, and other misfits -- including Zeke (Nicholas Braun), a hulking social outcast from shop class who's recruited because Virgil and Charlie need someone who's good with tools.
The film's strength is the way that it lays out these stereotypes and then tweaks them. When Zeke examines the plans for the time machine, he surprises everyone with his knowledge of advanced physics. "Yes, Mongo read," he tells Virgil and Charlie, making it clear that he knows he's considered a brain-dead loser -- and simultaneously proving that he's not. And as the trio saves other nerds from humiliation, the school's dorks and geeks begin to gain confidence, upsetting the entire social order for the better. Though parts of the film are silly and predictable, Minutemen offers a fun look at what school could be.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about social labels. Do you think the movie's depiction of high school cliques is accurate? How can these labels be hurtful? Kids: Do you think anyone has labeled you? How does that feel? Families can also discuss time travel. Why is it such a common plot device? Do you think the characters use their technology wisely? Are there any embarrassing moments in your past you would like to change?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Kid, 12 years old
April 3, 2010
AGE
adults only
Adult Behaviors (Pause): Some Adult Words like "nudity" and "s--iest"
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Kid, 12 years old
October 17, 2011
AGE
minutemen needs to rewind to minute one
Minutemen is a bit boring of a DCOM, endless with at least one hand stuck into sci-fi technology almost every minute of the movie. It's not shown, but one kid does get his towel yanked off when he finds his clothes in bullies' clutches. Otherwise, the movie is pretty much a dull, useless drone as if Microsoft Sam was voice acting as everybody...and that's about as dull, useless, and droning as droning can get.
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AGE
THE awsomeest
This movie is so GREAT!!!!!
I watched the night it premiered. I am like the only 6th grader who got to watch it on premire night cause the rest were at 6th grade wreck night.(Wreck nights' a dance sort of thing.)
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AGE
Nothing Special
Some kissing and love situations leads me to say this should be PG.
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AGE
This show is pretty good! I mean, i have seen better, of course, but this is a very good disney movie!!!
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| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Director: | Lev L. Spiro |
| Cast: | Jason Dolley, Luke Benward, Nicholas Braun |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Run time: | 92 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 25, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | May 27, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
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