Unaccompanied Minors (2006)

User Rating:

3.6/10   

Director:

Paul Feig

Writers (WGA):

Jacob Meszaros (written by) &
Mya Stark (written by)

Release Date:

8 December 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family

Tagline:

Silent night... Yeah, right.

Plot:

A group of unaccompanied minors bond while snowed in at the midwestern Hoover International Airport during the holiday season and ultimately create a makeshift holiday themselves. |

Plot Keywords:

Airport | Gas Station | Pennsylvania | Love At First Sight | Unruly Children

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Lewis Black	...	Oliver
Wilmer Valderrama	...	Zach Van Bourke
Tyler James Williams	...	Charlie
Dyllan Christopher	...	Spencer Davenport
Brett Kelly	...	Timothy 'Beef' Wellington
Gia Mantegna	...	Grace Conrad (as Gina Mantegna)
Quinn Shephard	...	Donna Malone
Paget Brewster	...	Valerie Davenport
Rob Corddry	...	Sam Davenport
Dominique Saldaña	...	Katherine Davenport
Jessica Walter	...	Cindi
Rob Riggle	...	Head Guard Hoffman
Michelle Sandler	...	Mary Lynn
David Koechner	...	Ernie
B.J. Novak	...	Desk Attendant

Also Known As:

Grounded (UK)
Grounded: Unaccompanied Minors (UK) (trailer title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild rude humor and language.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG | Ireland:PG | Australia:PG | UK:PG | Netherlands:MG6 | Argentina:Atp | Singapore:PG | Germany:o.Al. | South Korea:All | Norway:10 (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Echo, Utah, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The Guards in the hall: Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, and Mark McKinney all used to be on the Canadian sketch comedy show "The Kids in the Hall" (1988) .

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sam's car explodes, the tree is no longer visible through the windshield.

Quotes:

Baggage Handler: [teasing the caged barking dog] No Christmas dinner for you, Cujo!

Movie Connections:

References "The Kids in the Hall" (1988)

Soundtrack:

Silver Bells

Strictly for under tens

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.