Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mature, misguided comedy about faked child kidnapping.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
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Austin Found
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In AUSTIN FOUND, former beauty pageant queen Leanne (Linda Cardellini) is now a Texas mom who obsessively enters her 11-year-old daughter, Patty (Ursula Parker), in a new round of competitions. Unfortunately, Patty's dance and voice classes are depleting the family bank account, so Leanne gets a wicked idea. She reconnects with an old boyfriend, Billy (Skeet Ulrich), and concocts a fake kidnapping scheme. Billy's pal, J.T. (Craig Robinson), agrees to watch Patty for several weeks; as the search for the "missing" girl commences, the two hit it off, bonding over video games and a shared love of music. Unfortunately, Billy comes unhinged and starts acting erratically, and a local TV news reporter (Kristen Schaal) senses that something's amiss.
Is It Any Good?
Packed with talented comedy stars, this misguided misfire isn't just unfunny; it doesn't seem like it was ever supposed to be -- it wanders, lost between a serious crime drama and a biteless satire. Though Cardellini is a terrific, often underrated performer, she can't generate much sympathy or interest in her bitter, selfish character. She's supposed to be a metaphor for media-obsessed Americans, but Austin Found doesn't dig any deeper than that. And even a solid pratfall can't generate any laughs.
The fake kidnapping plot is really just dumb, not to mention not terribly original, and the filmmakers lazily ignore all the logistics of a story that takes place over a month's time. Can the police really find no clues? Hasn't Patty changed her pajamas in four weeks? At least Robinson's scenes with young Parker are sweet, and Jaime Pressly and Patrick Warburton each earn a few giggles in very small roles. But the filmmakers leave no clue as to what they were really trying to say or what they thought was funny; Austin Found is as misguided as they come.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Austin Found's violence. Does it seem more intense or shocking when it's directed at a young girl? Why? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How does the main character use sex to her advantage? Does this come across as empowering? Why or why not?
What does the movie have to say about Americans' obsessions with beauty and/or the media? What lessons are learned?
How is drinking portrayed in the movie? Is it appealing or destructive? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 7, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : September 5, 2017
- Cast : Linda Cardellini , Skeet Ulrich , Craig Robinson
- Director : Will Raee
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Gravitas Ventures
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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