
Dadnapped
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
TV movie blends outrageous fun, positive messages for kids.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Dadnapped
Community Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Not good for 6-year-olds!
Tame and a little lame, but OK
What's the Story?
For Melissa (Emily Osment), being the daughter of a famous writer has its share of drawbacks. For years she's felt like she lives in the shadow of Tripp Zoome (Jonathan Keltz), the hero of her dad's best-selling books; Tripp seems to transcend his fictional existence to disrupt Melissa's life. Now that her long-awaited one-on-one time with her dad, Neal (George Newbern), has finally arrived, Melissa's determined that nothing will interrupt their plans. But when Neal is abducted by obsessive fans, it's up to her to save the day.
Is It Any Good?
Chock full of wacky characters, outrageous antics, and elaborate schemes, DADNAPPED practically oozes kid-pleasing content. Though the story centers on abduction and what's technically a hostage situation (the perpetrators force Neal to write his "last novel," implying that he'll meet an untimely end), there's no tangible danger and very little force from the bumbling bad guys -- which gives the movie a playful feel that even kids will be hard-pressed to miss. As for weapons, the kids' cheese-spewing plastic guns are hardly realistic (though they still manage to help save the day).
While zany improbability antics are the movie's foundation, the story also shows a lot of heart. Melissa's feelings about taking a back seat to her father's work -- and his popular character -- are very relatable for kids, and the strong messages about communication and self confidence stand out from the otherwise silly content. Parents may not enjoy the juvenile humor themselves, but they can rest assured that Dadnapped is a worry-free choice for their grade-schoolers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about communication. Kids: How well do you think you communicate your feelings to family and friends? How does talking about your feelings help you deal with them?
Are there times when it's difficult to talk about how you feel? What do you do then? What kinds of issues come up in your relationships at home and with friends that require communication?
Are there any techniques that you've learned that make talking about feelings a little easier? If so, what are they? How do they help?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 16, 2009
- On DVD or streaming: May 12, 2009
- Cast: David Henrie , Emily Osment , George Newbern
- Director: Paul Hoen
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 86 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate