Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Ho-hum mystery/comedy for tweens; no edgy content.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Minor Details
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 18 kid reviews
Kids say the movie features a great theme of female friendship and humor amidst its mystery, although many reviews point out that the acting and production quality are subpar. While it's deemed appropriate and enjoyable for younger audiences, some find the storyline clichéd and the overall experience lacking for adult viewers.
- friendship theme
- acting quality
- audience suitability
- plot clichés
- mystery elements
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
All is not well at the Danforth Academy, a boarding school that caters to the wealthiest teens. Students are falling ill left and right, and nobody seems to know why. Cheerleaders are the first target; soccer players are next, then the theatre kids -- and so on. It's up to newcomers Paige (Caitlin E.J. Meyer) and Claire (Danielle Chuchran) and their old-timer friends Taylor (Lauren Faber) and Abby (Kelsey Edwards) -- who starts off on the wrong foot with Paige -- to find the culprit and bring stability back to Danforth.
Is It Any Good?
The acting in MINOR DETAILS is so over the top that it's hard to concentrate on anything else. As if that weren't bad enough, so many of the characters are caricatures, too -- the indifferent nurse, the eye-rolling tweens, the handsome jocks, the mean girls who are so stereotypically mean. You'd think soccer would look thrilling, but the few scenes on the film look dull and lifeless.
Just because a film is aimed at tweens doesn't mean it ought to be trite. Nevertheless, the plot keeps the film somewhat interesting, perhaps interesting enough to let time pass if there's nothing else to do, if only to witness kids band together for the common good.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why the perpetrator is terrorizing the school. What does this person get out of it?
How does this mystery bring together the four main leads? The school community?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 2, 2009
- On DVD or streaming : October 13, 2009
- Cast : Caitlin EJ Meyer , Danielle Chuchran , Jennette McCurdy , Kelsey Edwards , Lauren Faber
- Director : John Lyde
- Studio : SunWorld Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Run time : 85 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mild thematic elements
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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