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Parents' Guide to

The Adventures of Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Treasure

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Interesting idea marred by amateurish acting, stereotypes.

Movie PG 2013 93 minutes
The Adventures of Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Treasure Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 1 parent review

Artsydo
Artsydo Adult
July 30, 2019
age 6+

Decent Movie for the 6-12 Age Group

This is a decent kid’s movie. The intense situations aren’t extremely scary, but maybe a little too much for children under six. As a southerner, I’m rolling my eyes at the stereotypical bad guys portrayed as an ignorant Confederates who think the Civil War never ended. C’mon Hollywood! Can’t we get beyond that? I thought the script and acting by the young teens and adults was pretty good. I’ve seen far worse, given the budget! My six and nine-year-old grandchildren couldn’t take their eyes off the screen. They loved it!
See all 1 parent review

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?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (3 ):

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

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