Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tweens solve mystery in so-so tale with magic and suspense.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Adventure Club
What's the Story?
When their most recent experiment fails quite colorfully, the young members of THE ADVENTURE CLUB, a do-it-yourself organization for three budding scientists, are eager for another challenge. Especially Ricky (Sam Ashe Arnold), who has inherited both his mom's and his grandfather's interest in all things scientific. The curious Ricky scours his deceased grandfather's artifact-crammed den, looking for something to spark his interest. He finds just that, a hidden key, along with a blueprint for a building that just might be recognizable. After some reluctance, Sandy (Dalila Bela) and Bill (Jakob Davies) follow their leader in an unauthorized, after-hours search of the science museum that Ricky's mom, who's in charge, is barely keeping afloat. It's in the museum that they find their adventure, and along with it comes a secret room, a mysterious note, an ancient box that grants wishes, and Langley (Billy Zane), a crafty villain who is driven to find something he believes was stolen from him.
Is It Any Good?
The three central young actors are solid and engaging, but a sluggish pace, along with some hammy adult performances, hurt the otherwise earnest effort. And, while forgiveness is a virtue, it can go too far, as evidenced by some questionable storytelling choices the creative team has made in Adventure Club. (Wouldn't it have been more graceful -- and believable -- if Martin was a suitor rather than an already ensconced live-in "member of the family?") Kim Coates, as an eccentric collector of all things, and Gabrielle Miller, as Ricky's beleaguered mom, turn in strong performances, but watching the erstwhile villain try to upstage everyone else by chewing the scenery does nothing less than take the viewer out of the story every time he's in a scene. Still, as adventures go, it's amiable enough, with some nice comic moments and an appealing production design given its low budget. Wish-granting tales do have a universal appeal.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the scientific world as a springboard for fictional stories and adventure. Think about the all fields of science that involve exploration, discovery, and suspense (i.e., medical research, astronomy, or archeology as shown in The Adventure Club). List some of your favorite movies that have science at the core of the drama.
Forgiveness plays an important part in this film. What did you think about the resolution between Jane (Ricky's Mom) and Martin? Did you agree or disagree with Jane's ultimate decision? Why or why not?
Why do you think the filmmakers included the bully and his friends in this movie? What did it add to the story's mix of mystery and suspense? Or, may it have been used simply as an issue to make the film more relatable to the target audience -- kids?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 10, 2017
- Cast : Sam Ashe Arnold , Dalila Bela , Jakob Davies
- Director : Geoff Anderson
- Studio : Gravitas Ventures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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