By Geno McGahee
The impact of HOME ALONE was incredible. It began a trend of children taken on bumbling adults and coming out victorious. It’s a great formula for a film where both children to young teens and adults can enjoy. In the 2006 “UNACCOMPANIED MINORS,” we have a HOME ALONE scenario with a bunch of kids that are flying to see their families but get snowed in at an airport. Unfortunately, the boss of the airport, Oliver Porter (Lewis Black), is also snowed in and is missing his trip to Hawaii, which has made him especially angry. He is also against Christmas and has refused to decorate the airport. He is the airport’s Grinch. I like Lewis Black. When given the right material, he can be very amusing and he found some good stuff here.
Spencer (Dyllan Christopher) and his younger sister, Katherine (Dominique Saldana), are planning a trip to see their father, Sam (Rob Corddry). Stuck at the airport, they are thrown into a large room with a bunch of out of control kids that are also trapped at the airport. They immediately want out until Spencer notices Grace (Gina Mantegna), a rich girl that has also been trapped at the airport. Spencer makes some moves, but his younger sister immediately embarrasses him.
Spencer escapes the room and so too does Grace, the large, strange and quiet, Tim (Brett Kelly), the anxiety-ridden nerd, Charlie (Tyler James Williams), and the tough girl, Donna (Quinn Shephard). They run amuck at the airport and get chased by Porter and his team of security guards and they outsmart them at every turn. When they get caught, they get brought back to the room and find it empty. Even Spencer’s sister is gone. They’ve all been relocated to a lodge and now Spencer must save Christmas for his sister who is waiting for Santa to come. It won’t be easy escaping the clutches of Porter and his goons, but they are going to try.
The group explores the airport and it turns into a really fun film with each personality bringing something to the story. Tim goes to seek out a tree for Katherine as the others try to find a way to the lodge. They discover a discarded luggage section and start going through and find a lot of cool stuff. Spencer and Grace begin to like each other and the same happens for the unlikely couple of Charlie and Donna. This is an oddball buddy movie that really works. I’m quite surprised that this film has gotten so many bad reviews.
A hilarious chase ensues when the kids grab a kayak and team up with airport employee, Zach (Wilmer Valderrama), and begin sliding over to the lodge. Porter and his group of goons follow, all sledding on different things that weren’t meant to do so. One poor guard grabs a big truck tire and before he knows it, it flips on its side and he’s rolling past the group at an incredible speed with his legs flopping around. It was a very funny visual. When Porter thinks he’s finally got them, he realizes he’s going too fast and is launched into the darkness in another funny shot. This chase scene had me laughing out loud. It was very funny.
As all this is going on, Sam, Spencer and Katherine’s dad, is trying to make it to the airport to get them. He’s an environment lover and has a vehicle that runs on vegetable oil or something but it goes very slow. Unfortunately, it breaks down and his only option is a Hummer, which he reluctantly takes, begging mother nature for forgiveness as he drives. You can’t go wrong with Rob Corddry. He’s got great comedic timing and made his role in this really stand out.
After saving the holiday for Katherine, the group returns to the airport with a new mission. They plan to bring back the decorations and this is when Porter begins to come around. All ends well in this holiday flick and we have another to add to your Xmas flick marathon…if you have one.
UNACCOMPANIED MINORS is a fun film with plenty of laughs and a likable and talented cast. Lewis Black was very funny in this and worked very well with the younger cast. The entire cast all brought something very good to the screen and it took the HOME ALONE formula in a slightly different direction to great effect. I highly recommend this one!
Rating: 7.5/10
