The Adventures of Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Treasure
Common Sense says
- PG
- 2013
- 93 minutes
Parents say
Kids say
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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 The Adventures of Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Treasure is a 2012 low-budget adventure mystery. There is frequent gun violence, as well as fighting with punches and kicks. In one instance, a creepy older character pulls a knife on two kids, and is later shown swinging a shovel at one of the kids. There is also strong regional stereotyping; the Southerners portrayed in the film are cliched dumb bad guys. The lead character is also coming to grips with the recent death of his grandfather. With better acting from the lead characters, this could have been a better movie, but the "community theater"-style acting tends to mar what could have been an interesting idea.
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Pretty Bad...
unrealistic
What's the story?
At the funeral of his beloved Grandpa Jack (Christopher Lloyd), Mickey Matson (Derek Brandon) is disappointed to learn that the only thing he has inherited from Grandpa Jack is a rock. Little does he know that this is more than a rock, but after inspecting it under a microscope, he sees that the rock contains a treasure map. Meanwhile, agents of a Southern Confederate Cabal are seeking to find this rock and the treasure, as they are constructing a machine that will overthrow the U.S. government and create a Confederacy. Joining with strange adults who are part of a group dating back to the Civil War who work to prevent the Confederates from finding these objects, Mickey and his new friend from Chicago, Sully, must stop this machine from coming to life, and find the treasure that will pay off the mortgage of Mickey's parents' house.
Is it any good?
It had the potential to be an interesting idea, but the overall execution leaves this movie both preposterous in its story and amateurish in its acting. There's a "community theater" type of feel to this movie, where actors ham up their stereotypical roles to their fullest extent. The Southern Confederate characters, in particular, are especially obnoxious and cliched.
Some of the problem is simply a matter of trying to do too much with too little. While it could be possible for some to tune out the cliches and the general predictability in the movie's story direction and enjoy this film for the action/adventure/treasure hunt/mystery that it is, there's simply too much unoriginality and poor execution marring the movie overall, preventing it from being as good as it might have been.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about regional stereotyping. What are some examples in this movie?
How does this film compare with other adventure movies in which kids must unlock the secrets and mysteries of the past?
What is your opinion of the acting in this movie? What is the difference between good and bad acting?
Movie details
- On DVD or streaming: October 14, 2013
- Cast: Christopher Lloyd, Ernie Hudson, Derek Brandon
- Director: Harold Cronk
- Studio: Screen Media
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Adventures
- Run time: 93 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: Some action and peril.
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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.