 | 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. |
Unaccompanied Minors
- Review Date: August 7, 2007
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2006
Common Sense Media says
Stuck kids run amok; Home Alone this ain't.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that although this film is relentlessly dumb, kids -- especially those who like slapstick violence and watching other kids outsmart adults -- will probably want to see it. (That said, during one preview screening, after about 30 minutes, a 6- or 7-year-old asked his mother if they could please go home.) The stranded kids misbehave both with and without adult supervision, throwing candy and toys, destroying furniture, and piling on top of the man assigned to watch them. They order food they can't pay for, steal a motorized cart, steal items from abandoned luggage, let loose a caged dog, sneak out of the airport, and watch as adults fall, crash, and rage (a chase on sleds/rafts leads to a crash and one man's bloody and bruised face). An aunt drinks herself into unconsciousness (played as comedy), and a boy finds a bra in a suitcase where he's trapped. Some minor name-calling.
What's the story?
Before they're stranded in a Chicago airport by a blizzard, the core group of "minors" are introduced, establishing his or her essential character. With his parents divorced, Spencer (Dyllan Christopher) feels responsible for his little sister Katy (Dominique Saldana). Harvard-bound Charlie (Tyler James Williams) worries about proper behavior and looking smart all the time. Tomboy Donna (Quinn Shephard) hates to be touched but likes to hurt others. Wealthy Grace (Gina Mantegna) acts older than she is. And lonely Beef (Brett Kelly) clings to his Aquaman action figure. Horrified by the chaos of the airport's "unaccompanied minors room," these kids start to bond, mainly over Spencer's problem. See, he left Katy in the terrible room, so he embarks on a mission to bring her a gift so she won't lose faith in Santa. His efforts are paralleled by those of his father, Sam (Rob Corddry), who's driving dangerous conditions to get them. Their mother, Valerie (Paget Brewster), is less effective, watching TV and worrying back home, as Aunt Judy (Teri Garr, in a cameo) drink herself into a stupor while wearing ornaments and a Santa hat. As annoying as such silly displays may be, the children's more immediate concern is with their primary adversary, Scroogey airport manager Oliver Porter (Lewis Black), who calls the kids names and makes it his personal mission to make them feel bad.
Is it any good?
Both tedious and hyperactive, UNACCOMPANIED MINORS is also a strangely careless movie. Given that it ends up preaching the value of adults and kids sharing Christmas together, it spends an awful lot of time showing the extreme incompatibility of the two species by following a group of kids who, understandably frustrated at their seeming abandonment on Christmas Eve, outsmart and abuse any and all adults they meet.
While Unaccompanied Minors might seem to fall into the kids-running-amok holiday subgenre most famously exemplified by Home Alone, Paul Fieg's movie is a disappointment in several ways. Crass and unimaginative, it's more an assembly of disconnected scenes than a movie with a plot. After they're befriended by Porter's disgruntled employee, Zach (Wilmer Valderrama), the kids eventually triumph, of course, but you're left wondering just what they've won. And, more importantly, what better use you might have found for your time.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's premise. How realistic is it that something like this could happen? If real kids did get stranded at an airport, do you think they'd act like this? Kids, how would you behave in that situation? What issues are brought up by kids traveling alone, especially during the holidays. What precautions can families take to make sure these trips go off smoothly? And for fun, what sorts of activities can you come up with during a "snow day"?
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- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Perfect for Kids over the age of 5
It was very amusing. The fact that 5 minors are running loose during a blizzard in an airport, well 4 minors. The other has gone to get a Christmas tree. But the message is pretty clear. And the fact that there is a disillusioned airport manager and a wimpy Mexican assistant makes it more interesting. There are also romantic connections between some of the main characters
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AGE
Fun, family movie to watch together and talk about
True Christmas story with kids with the end filled with healing and joy. Slapstick entertainment perfect for my 10-yr-old and the little girl in the show gives my 6-yr-old someone to root for.
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AGE
Slapstick
Most of the inappropriate violence is slapstick to the nuts.
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AGE
oh, come on, CSM! I can see you and I aren't going to get along...
Have a little holiday spirirt! Very funny movie and I really liked it. I watched it on ABC family a coupld weeks ago, cause I was staying at my grandma's house (ye-haw) and I was like sooo totally bored, flipping channels, and suddenly... I came to this, so I'm like hey, this looks okay for me to watch with my little sister and brother. And so I watched it and I loved Charlie! He was soo funny! But my favorite character was the dad... he was histerical!! I just thought his scenes were the funniest. Okay so the humor is a little corny, but hey, like I said, have a little christmas happiness! This movie is cute the whole family can enjoy it. ~Ivey
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AGE
We loved it!
I put off going to see this movie with grandson(7). I thought I just don't want to see another kids are smarter than adults movie. But this movie was all about learning to make the best of a bad situation (stuck in airport during the holday). You learn every kid has something they are going through. The mean airport guy kind of got on my nerves but even that turns out ok by the end. My grandsons (5 & 7) loved this movie so much we saw it 3 times. I will definitely by the video!
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AGE
I LOVE UNACCOMPANIED MINORS!
i loved this movie, i especially love the part when the charactor, Spencer Davenport said, " divorce kids are more resoceful than others" i thout that was awsome couse its kinda true. also my favorite charactor and kina my role model, Donna Malone! overall this movie is awsome!!!
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AGE
Decent.
Cute, chase scene movie with kids. Very little violence and cute ending. Good holiday movie for the kids.
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| Topics: | holidays |
| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Paul Feig |
| Cast: | Dyllan Christopher, Tyler James Williams, Wilmer Valderrama |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 89 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 7, 2006 |
| DVD release date: | August 7, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | or mild rude humor and language. |
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