Train Master

Review

Common Sense Media says

Runaway train story boring, but has some positive messages.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this slow-paced runaway train story shows taunting and nonviolent bullying between kids, though the main characters eventually learn to get along. The scenes of children trapped on a runaway train might be too much to handle for younger viewers. 

  • Positive messages3
    Sometimes it is necessary to put aside past differences and work together to solve pressing problems. Clear messages about the benefits of respecting others and building friendships.
  • Positive role models3
    Jeremiah is a grandfather who loves his family and loves spending time with his grandkids as he shares with them his love for both model trains and real trains. 
  • Violence1
    The scenes of children trapped on a runaway train may be a bit much for younger viewers. There are also some instances of verbal bullying, as a new kid in school taunts others for playing with toy trains and dinosaurs. 
  • Sex0
    Not applicable.
  • Language1
    In a mealtime argument, one sibling calls the other a "fruit." Characters call each other "morons," "rednecks" and variations of "old-timer" throughout. 
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking1
    In an early scene, a character brings a bottle of champagne and two glasses into an office. The bottle is opened but no one drinks. 
CloseExpand to see more details

What's the story?

Jeremiah Wilson loves working for the Willamette Western Railroad as much as he loves playing with model trains with his grandchildren. All this changes when Brett Banner, the heir to the New York Eastern railroad, buys out the WWR and unceremoniously fires Jeremiah. But when Brett's bratty son Daniel ends up on a runaway train with Jeremiah's grandkids, everyone must figure out a way to work together and stop the train before it is too late. 

Is it any good?

 

While you might think it would be difficult to take something as exciting as a runaway train story and make it plodding and boring, TRAIN MASTER manages that nearly miraculous feat. The acting is uniformly excruciating, and for kids and families eager to see the action of a train out of control, that doesn't happen until nearly the first hour of the film has passed. 

The first half of the film is so bogged down with attempting to "get to know" the characters, by the time you get to what's at stake with them with their work, their lives, and -- yes -- the runaway train, it's difficult to care about whether or not the train will slam straight into a nuclear power plant, thus taking the lives of the children, and, presumably the entire Pacific Northwest. 

Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how the kids respond to being on a runaway train. What would be the real consequences of this situation? How do you think you would react if you were stuck on a train like this? 

  • How accurately does this film portray the struggles people go through after losing their jobs? Do you have family members or friends who have lost their jobs and struggling to get by?

  • How are new kids treated when they first come to your school, and how do they respond to being in a new school? 

This review was written by Brian Costello

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title below.
This review was written by Brian Costello
Topics:trains
Studio:MTI Home Video
Director:Phil Bransom
Cast:Jonathan Hall , Mercedes Rose, Michael Biesanz
Genre:Family and Kids
Run time:94 minutes
DVD release date:May 12, 2009
MPAA rating:NR
This review was written by Brian Costello
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

Better train movies
For kids who love travel
Browse more movies
 

vote now

Will you see Train Master?

Won't miss it
On the fence
No way

Already seen it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 
More from Common Sense Media
Age-appropriate reviews
Top advice and articles

Been There? Tell us about it