Quints
Lackluster coming-of-age comedy fails to make the grade.
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Quints
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Quints is a Disney TV movie and coming-of-age drama about an only child, Jamie (Kimberly J. Brown) whose wish for more freedom comes true when her mother has quintuplets. The movie deals with the pressure put on children by parents, and how that can lead to children struggling to find themselves. There is a scene where the mother, Nancy (Elizabeth Morehead) goes into labor, though nothing is shown beyond contractions. In a scene played for laughs, when Nancy first discovers she's pregnant and remarks that she doesn't know how it happened, Jamie tries to explain to her the "ins and outs" of biology. The stress and exhaustion of having new babies in the house is amplified -- five times -- with a number of scenes featuring all five babies crying at once. Financial struggles are referenced and the parents treat their babies like a business in order to make ends meet, though they gradually understand the importance of individual identities, both for the babies and Jamie. Throughout the movie, Jamie turns to camera and addresses the audience directly. But the delivery feels awkward and fails to land.
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What's the Story?
In QUINTS, 14-year-old Jamie Grover (Kimberly J. Brown) is sick of her father, Jim's (Daniel Roebuck) strict plan for her future and wishes her parents would spend less time focusing on her. That wish comes true when her mother, Nancy (Elizabeth Morehead) has quintuplets, bringing instant fame in the process. With her parents attention now on using the babies' popularity to make some much-needed money, Jamie finds she has all the freedom she wants and discovers a talent for art. But when an important art show clashes with her parents attending a special dinner with the Governor, there are some tough choices to be made.
Is It Any Good?
Easy and inoffensive, the movie will likely amuse younger viewers with its playful montages and relatively fast pace. But other devices -- such as the to-camera pieces and voice-overs that never quite hit the right tone -- will make Quints an uncomfortable watch for older, more savvy audiences. There are some strong messages about finding yourself, the importance of family, and accepting people as individuals, but they don't hit home particularly strongly as the narrative becomes muddled in favor of a catch-all ending.
The acting is a little hit and miss, with Jamie's school friends, Zoe (Shadia Simmons) and Brad (Jake Epstein) turning in the most natural performances. Also the scenes don't always flow particularly well together -- the voice-overs often proving an unwelcome interruption rather than the clever interjections they aspire to be. Overall it's a fun notion that lacks the energy and style to really make it work.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how family is portrayed in Quints. How does Jamie feel about her new siblings and how does this change? Do you have younger siblings? How did you feel when they were born? Have your feelings changed over time?
What does Jamie learn when she has time away from her parents? How does the way her parents treat her at the beginning of the movie change by the end?
What did you think when Jamie's parents used their quintuplets for financial gain? Can you understand why they did so?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: August 18, 2000
- Cast: Kimberly J. Brown, Daniel Roebuck, Elizabeth Morehead
- Director: Bill Corcoran
- Studio: Disney Channel Original Movies
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters
- Run time: 83 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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