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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Since 1996 |
Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Unaccompanied Minors Stars: Lewis Black, Wilmer Valderrama, Tyler James Williams, Dyllan Christopher, Brett Kelly, Gina Mantegna, Quinn Shephard, Paget Brewster, Rob Corddry, Dominique Saldana, and Teri Garr Director: Paul Feig Scriptwriters: Jacob Meszaros and Mya Stark Music: Michael Andrews Warner Brothers Running Time: 90 minutes Rating: PG The dread of adult travelers is to sit next to a kid traveling alone. You never know what to expect--maturity or screaming brat. In Unaccompanied Minors, the kids are seasoned travelers, who, unfortunately, have parents who don’t really care about them. This makes the film a bit different that what the trailers would have you believe. There are some moments of good dialogue between the kids who eventually form their own family over a Christmas Eve, to replace the ones they don’t have. Director Paul Feig (“The Office”) knows just when to dive in for a close-up and zoom away for the wider picture. The story centers on six kids who are stranded at an airport on Christmas Eve. A blizzard is in the area and the airline is attempting to make the grounded passengers comfortable. The kids won’t have it and want some action of their own. We begin to see that this is a cover for the loneliness in their lives. First there is Spencer (Dyllan Christopher who looks like a young Kirk Cameron) and his sister Katherine (Dominique Saldana), then rich gal Grace (Gina Mantegna), tough gal Donna (Quinn Shephard), over-achiever Charlie (Tyler James Williams from television’s “Chris”) and finally Beef who loves Aquaman (Timothy Wellington). As airport director Lewis Black tries to gain control over the kids, they come up with yet another idea to thwart him. Who would know there could be so many places in an airport terminal to hide? The best sequences are those involving Beef and Spencer’s sister, Katherine. Beef decides to sneak away and get a Christmas tree. He barely speaks to anyone except his action figure, Aquaman, and his tough-guy size frightens people. Katherine gets to stay in a nice room with “ladies” until she comes under the control of someone’s daughter who decides to give Katherine a make-over involving hair-braiding and make-up. In no time at all, Katharine looks like a fugitive from What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? The film goes from one escape
to another and yet after each attempt, a truth comes out. The kids bond
into a group. On the home front, Spencer’s Mom and Dad (divorced) are trying
to communicate. She (Paget Brewster) is with her inebriated sister (Teri
Garr) hoping the kids are OK while her ex (Corddry) is learning that even
an environmentalist has to use a gas-guzzler in an emergency.
Casting is essential in a film and here, Lewis Black's airport director is a far cry from George Kennedy in Airport. The kids are likable, sympathetic and, as with Williams, show a natural flair for humor. The audience can see that family is important and this element in one's life is what is lacking for the principal's involved. Christmas is the perfect time of the year to find companionship even during a blizzard in an airport terminal. Copyright 2006 Marie Asner
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