Under Wraps (1997)
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Under Wraps (1997)
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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 Under Wraps is a 1997 Disney Channel Original TV movie that is mostly a fun, silly romp but opens with an intense and scary scene. The story revolves around three young friends -- Marshall (Mario Yedidia), Amy (Clara Bryant), and Gilbert (Adam Wylie) -- and an ancient mummy that has reawakened. The opening scene is shot like an authentic horror movie, with a scary monster smashing through a window, grabbing a man's head, and holding it to a spinning knife in a garbage disposal unit. The corpse face of Harold the mummy is also scary to look at. However, it is soon clear he is a harmless, bumbling fish out of water. Other violence includes a man holding kids at gunpoint and a car smashing through a wall, causing the ceiling to collapse. The three young characters show good teamwork, compassion, and courage. Name-calling includes terms like "cow," "wuss," and "idiot." There is also a recurring joke about celibacy and a teen says they sleep in the nude, which causes another to crash their bike. The film was remade in 2021 with a sequel released the following year.
What's the Story?
In UNDER WRAPS, an ancient Egyptian mummy comes back to life. It's up to horror movie fan Marshall (Mario Yedidia) and his friends Amy (Clara Bryant) and Gilbert (Adam Wylie) to get him back to his sarcophagus so his soul isn't lost forever.
Is It Any Good?
For a film that is presumably aimed at kids, this 1997 Disney Channel Original has a bold opening. Under Wraps starts with a monster smashing through a window, grabbing a parent, and holding their head to a flailing blade. Bold indeed, but maybe not wise. The scene's revealed to be a movie that young friends Marshall and Gilbert are watching in the cinema. It's authentically shot, so only kids with experience of horror movies will be comfortable. Scared, Gilbert leaves, but Marshall's having a great time. So it sets up the characters well, but the movie less so. What follows this hard-edge start is a silly comedy adventure with a bumbling mummy, which plays to a much younger audience than the opening is suitable for.
Under Wraps is at its best when it's imitating E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial's kids-on-bikes youthful adventure feel. Spielberg's classic even gets name checked by Marshall. But families are advised to seek out photos of Harold the mummy before hitting play. The character is certainly unsettling and won't be for everyone. If the visuals and strong horror theme are suitable for your kid, then there's some fun to be had here. Otherwise leave the sarcophagus lid closed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the scarier moments in Under Wraps. Which scenes did you find most frightening? Why do some people like being scared? Did you feel scared after the movie had finished? How much scary stuff can kids handle?
Discuss some of the violence. Did it feel appropriate for a movie like this? Why, or why not? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How did Marshall, Amy, and Gilbert show courage, compassion, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths? Can you think of a time when you've displayed these traits?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: October 25, 1997
- Cast: Mario Yedidia, Adam Wylie, Clara Bryant
- Director: Greg Beeman
- Studio: Disney Channel Original Movies
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Courage, Teamwork
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- Last updated: December 15, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Harry and the Hendersons
A big, Harry family adventure full of laughs.
-
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
Spielberg's family classic is still one of the best.
-
Under Wraps (2014)
Comic mummy tale is spooky fun for kids.
For kids who love scares
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