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Parents' Guide to

Secrets of the Mountain

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Fun adventure pic is packed with positive family messages.

Movie NR 2010 84 minutes
Secrets of the Mountain Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

Since her divorce from their father, emotions have been strained between Dana (Paige Turco) and her three kids -- teen twins Jake (Crawford Wilson) and Jade (Adelaide Kane) and younger sister Maddie (Kayla Carlson). When she receives a generous offer to sell the land she inherited from her Uncle Henry’s (Barry Bostwick) death years ago, Dana recognizes the opportunity for the family to get away from the hustle and bustle and reconnect with each other. But when they arrive in town and sign away claim to the mountain, fate takes an unexpected turn and sends them on a high-stakes treasure hunt for legendary Aztec artifacts -- and for the family ties they thought they’d lost.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1 ):

Buried treasure, hidden codes, a long-lost map, ever-lurking danger -- this entertaining film has all the makings of an action-adventure flick that could rival peers like the Indiana Jones series. True, the outcome is fairly predictable for anyone who’s not still in grade school, but surprisingly in this case, that pitfall doesn’t detract much from the overall enjoyment of the film. What’s more, the movie pays such close attention to the intricacies of the family members’ emotional journeys toward each other that this heartwarming storyline actually overshadows the treasure quest.

This is a truly worthwhile movie that will please nearly every member of your family. Young kids are the exception because there is a lot of drama, some violence, and plenty of uncertainty – as well as a lingering villain-type character who tries to sabotage them – all of which might upset their sensitive natures. As for adults, the chance to watch a movie with the whole family is enough to compensate for the predictability and blatant product placement.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Parents and their kids can discuss family relationships. Preteens: What aspects of the family’s struggles in this movie could you relate to? How does your family address problems as they arise? How do you stay in contact with each other? How has your relationship with your parents changed as you’ve gotten older?

  • Families can also talk about how we study the past. How do scientists gather data and clues to how people lived centuries ago? How has technology improved their ability to understand what they find? Is it important to study people and places of the past? Why or why not?

  • Tweens: What kind of adventure appeals to you? Do you want to travel and see new places? How can you explore the area where you live? Where can you find out about its history? What local museums and organizations can help you rediscover the places you already know?

  • Talk about cyberbullying. In the movie a character gets a text from someone pretending to be someone else. Teens: Has this ever happened to you? What can you do to protect yourself and others from cyberbullying?

Movie Details

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