Unaccompanied Minors

I didn't have high expectations of this movie going in but was surprised to find out how much I enjoyed it. There was humor for both my 12 year old son and his friend, as well as for myself and my wife. It was a bit like a teenager version of home alone, yet better, more grown-up basically to appeal to more than young kids. Yet it also had enough slapstick to entertain the very young children in the audience. A nice plus is that it didn't contain any language inappropriate, inappropriate sexual scenes/innuendo and the ending message was family friendly and pro-Christmas. For the adults there was some humor that went over the heads of my kids, I especially loved the scenes with the main characters eco-conscious father on his way to the airport. We'll definitely be getting the DVD when it comes out. Tyler James Williams (as Charlie) was absolutely hilarious and had the entire audience laughing hysterically. I recommend this to anyone with kids. My one caution would be that I was always hesitant with my own child, when he was much younger, to expose him to movies where, as in this case, it's implied that Santa isn't real. Since one of the major tasks for the kids in the movie is to prevent one of their younger siblings from being disappointed Christmas morning by not having received a present from Santa.

It won't win any Oscars. It doesn't have any debauchery, violence, or depressing issues that the critics love but make you want to slit your own throat. Well, a little bit about children of divorce, but done in a positive way. But I was very entertained from start to finish. Funny lines, lots of slapstick, and the child actors were all very good. Lewis Black was also funny as the airport manager who doesn't like kids or Christmas. It reminded me some of "Home Alone". If you want serious, see something else. If you want clean and funny and to walk out of the theater in a good mood, see this.

If you are bored in the remaining days of the holiday season, then cancel all your plans and get the whole family (Mom, Dad, Uncle Frank, etc. LOL) out to the theaters this season for the feel- good family film of the season, "Unaccompanied Minors." It's about a whole bunch of kids who get stuck at an airport in, say, Nevada or something. To kill the time, these kids go "Home Alone" in the airport (in a nice, post-9/11 strict kind of way) and have fun!!!!! Their parents, however, get so worried over time!!!!! While this is no "Home Alone," this film does have some elements which flashes viewers back in time with that other film. And why the low reviews????? We all know that "Santa with Muscles" is the bad holiday movie king!!!!! "Unaccompanied Minors" is such a wonderful holiday film that will live on for generations. Merry Christmas from your friendly neighborhood Bottom 100 fans!!!!! 10 stars

Seriously the movie is good and quite entertaining. Now my comments. The writing and promos did this movie no favors. When I first saw the promos I thought it was nothing but a movie about teen wrecking things and making the adults look like fools. Well, I was wrong. Unaccompanied Minors, which started off slow and predictable really picked up in the last 45 mins. Or as soon as the Kids ran from the guards and all end up on the luggage cart to escape. To me, this is where the movie picked up and became very enjoyable to the end. I say the best performances in Unaccompanied Minors, easily goes to the kids who plays Charlie and Donna. Not saying the rest sucks, but those 2 were quite good and made the film enjoyable. I so wanted more scenes of them because they had great chemistry and loved how they hook up in the end. There many scenes that are cringe-worthy but there also many scenes that are LOL funny and I was surprised that I found myself laughing at them. The movie is splatter with many cameos to name a few; The couple from The Office(Kelley and Ryan), Arrest Development(Buster and the mother), the hippy dude from Ned Declassified, and Terri Garr. If I sound older than a teen or kid, its because I am and saw this movie with my nephew and he seemed to enjoyed it okay, and I enjoyed it a lot. Good movie and good for the holidays.

This movie is every kids fantasy, and is every adults worst nightmare. This movie makes the kids the hero's, and most of the grown ups the villains. This movie takes place in an airport on Christmas Eve, where six kids are forced to stay over night, when there flight gets canceled due to bad weather, under the strict watch over airport manager Oliver Porter(The very funny Lewis Black), but these kids are not gonna sit still and be bored, they are gonna make this a Christmas to remember, by having fun and trying to outwit Mr. Porter and airport security. This is a fun movie for the whole family, everybody performs well, but it's Tyler James Williams(Everybody Hates Chris) as Charlie Goldfinch who seems to steal the movie, with his flair for comic timing, I hope he has a long career ahead of him.

I don't want to say too much about the movie, but I would like to share my thoughts upon certain aspects. When I first saw a poster for this movie, I said to myself "God, not another home alone/Christmas knock-off." Later on I was invited to a private screening and I was skeptical as to whether it was worth my time or not. I decided to go, out of boredom (Monday night = nothing). So walking into this movie with absolutely no positive expectations, I was surprised. First off, this is a kid's movie. Actors are kids, theme is about kids, crazy chases involving kids, etc etc. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the subtle adult humor within the movie. I'm not saying there was anything explicit, but one scene for example had a security guard singing the theme song of a classic toy that only adults would know. It was content like this and the inclusion of Brett Kelly that made this movie for me. (If you haven't seen Bad Santa, I suggest you do before you see this movie) I see a lot of critics already shoving this movie into the ground; 40 year-old adults that are dissing a movie about and made for kids. The way I see this movie is that the kids want to see it, and the parents, expecting nothing, will laugh out loud. A lot of the themes and ideas aren't too complex within the movie, but it is for the kid's to understand, is it not? Overall this movie was a nice little surprise for me. The actors they picked were perfect (maybe not Wilmer, but anyone lesser-known may not do). The subtle adult based humor was good, and there were a couple of scenes that just made me crack up in my seat. When you go see this movie don't expect anything, don't take into account anything I said. A good thing to do would be to bring your kids, it's their movie anyhow. This review is just to get you to buy a ticket; after that open your mind and pretend like you saw the poster for the very first time.

I had the misfortune of catching 'Grounded' the other day and found it to be a rather pointless little film not worth the ninety minutes or so it takes to view it, and I'm usually lenient on Christmas films. The film revolves around five kids of divorced parents, aged between twelve and fifteen, who are travelling alone before Christmas to visit their other parent. When the airport in snowed in, they go on a rampage with predictable 'Home Alone'-style tricks and out-smarting of airport staff. I can't complain too much about the acting of the kids. It's nothing special but neither are they terrible, although it is only Tyler James Williams (better known as Chris, from the TV show 'Everybody Hates Chris') who stands out for his expressive ways and wide-eyed sweetness. The adult cast are forgettable since they barely make much of an appearance other than the brief scenes where they come across as inept losers in face of the kids' antics. 'Grounded' fails, largely, because the five kids are far too old to be carrying on like the eight-year-olds they are depicted as nor is there much of a point to their unruly behaviour. They were locked up because they acted like brats and don't deserve to be portrayed as heroes we should all hail. At least, in 'Home Alone', Kevin was not only just eight but he was justified in his tricks because he was defending his home. The toilet humour and the dumbed down show of kids outsmarting big, stupid adults only added to why this film is aimed at undiscerning youngsters under the age of ten. What didn't help elevate the film was the way it portrayed divorced kids as being 'special' and somehow less well-off than children of married parents when there are many well-adjusted kids of divorced parents out there who would be offended by this idea. This film is pointless for anyone who's seen 'Home Alone', a superior Christmassy film about a kid trumping the adults. I can't see many folk past primary school-age who will find much interest in it.

I had low expectations for this movie based on the trailer, but was pleasantly surprised. My kids loved it and it does have some good messages, such as an older brother who genuinely cares about his little sister, racial harmony, and a truly happy ending. Apparently the movie was based on a "This American Life" incident in which some children who were traveling without adults were stranded in an airport during Christmas because of bad weather. To avoid the horrible "unaccompanied minors" room they lead the officious airport authority on a chase through the airport. The PG rating is apt -- it's not G but has very few objectionable parts. I wouldn't pay full price to see it but it's worth the price of twilight admission.

I gave this movie a 5, which is a compromise. There were a few smiles in it, but mostly not such a great plot - but my kids, 11 and 14, enjoyed it, the 11 year old the most. If I were making the decision for myself alone, I wouldn't watch it until it came on TV, but it was worth it for a couple hours of enjoyment for the kids. The acting by the child actors was surprisingly good; it was the story that was not well-developed. I guess I should have realized that it wasn't that great when I discovered that it was located in the smallest theater in the multiplex! Overall, I'm sorry I spent over $17.00 to get us all in, but somewhat mollified by the fact that my daughter laughed out loud, repeatedly.

Well I went into the theater a fan of this movie and new what to expect. The kids get trapped in an Airport on Christmas Eve. Five of them escape and run a muck and the others 50 get to go to the lodge. The main point is the kids (Donna, Charli, Beef, Spencer and the rich chick) have to get to Spencers sister and like save Christmas. Actors: Quinn Shephard stole the show and brought the movie up a lot! She was genius and did a cute diddy with Charlie. I'll enjoy more of her work. Spencer and Beef played great roles and only a few times looked amateur at acting. Charlie and the rich girl were great acting skills and were flawless. The whole way the movie ran was amazing and ended great. Beef getting to tell his story, Donna kissing Charlie!! Spencer and the rich girl spending Christma together. Though some parts seemed pointless and unrealistic yet funny the movie ran great and is a keeper. Flaws weren't great in this movie because it was a kids movie an Christmas.