My Journeys

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Unaccompanied Minors

     My wife and I had a great time watching the movie “Unaccompanied Minors” over on Warner TV.  It’s about five kids named Spencer, Grace, Charlie, Donna, and Beef who met at a place in the airport where unaccompanied minors are held while waiting to board their respective planes. The fun begins after the five kids decide to escape the bedlam of the area for unaccompanied minors and begin having fun on their own in different places of the airport. A chase ensues after the airport manager named Mr. Porter and his  security force begin rounding up the kids. But the fun does not stop after the five kids are cornered and returned to the holding area for unaccompanied minors. They give the guy Zach who was responsible for taking care of these kids the slip when Spencer feels the need to reach his sister Katherine who was moved to the hotel airport along with the other unaccompanied minors. If he fails to see his sister by midnight, she would stop believing in Santa Claus. Another chase ensues as the five kids try to get out of the airport to go the airport hotel. Thinking that he has the kids cornered at the area in the airport where they keep unclaimed luggage, the airport manager tries to grab hold of the five kids who gives him the slip again.
Zach then pleaded with Mr. Porter  to just leave the kids alone. Mr. Porter however ignores the plea and goes after the kids who ride a canoe down the snowy hill to reach the hotel. He  finally catches up with the five kids but not until Spencer was able give his sister the doll he got from the area in the airport where they keep unclaimed luggage. Mr. Porter then  keeps each of the kids in a separate room each equipped with a close circuit camera.  He then posts a guard outside each room and monitors each the kids from his office. After talking with his newfound friends using the walkie- talkie he got from the area in the airport where they keep unclaimed luggage to make Mr. Porter think that they were still in their respective rooms, Spencer and his friends manage to escape from each of their rooms via the air vent.
Charlie accidentally falls into the room where Mr. Porter keeps the Christmas decorations that were supposed to be used to spruce up the airport during the holidays. Upon reaching the departure area where the passengers were sleeping while waiting to board their respective planes, the kids suddenly come up with an idea to make the passengers feel the Christmas spirit. Using the decorations they found in a big room at the airport, Spencer and his friends begin putting up the decorations. Mr Porter catches up with Spencer and congratulates the boy for escaping detention. He also learns from Spencer why they still manage to stay happy in spite of what he had done to them. Spence also learns why Mr. Porter does not like Christmas so much.
The movie ends with Mr. Porter dressed up as Santa Claus as he gives gifts to each of the passengers. Everybody is elated when he announces that each of the kids will be able to leave the airport on the first flight out.
The chase scenes are what made the movie enjoyable to watch. But what viewers might dislike is the message that the movie wishes to impart to families with divorced parents. That is, most kids of divorced families seem to become resourceful and stronger instead of becoming weak and depressed.
But in spite of this, I’d love to see the movie again.