Plot: What’s it about?
Spencer (Dyllan Christopher) and his younger sister Katherine (Dominique Saldana) have to fly to spend Christmas with their father, so of course, their mother is worried sick. But as unaccompanied minors, they’re looked after by agents of the airports and they only have one layover to contend with. After they land to board the connecting flight however, a huge snowstorm reigns down on the area, leading to all flights being canceled. Spencer and Katherine are shuffled into a room with the other minors, where they meet an assortment of other stranded kids. When one of them makes a move to escape, a handful or so follow, including Spencer, though his sister is left behind. After a minor detour of mischief, the kids are captured by security, but forced to remain at the airport, while the others, including Katherine, spend Christmas Eve in a lush hotel. Can Spencer somehow save Christmas for his sister, or will the cruel airport manager (Lewis Black) foil his plans?
I don’t expect too much from family friendly comedies, as they’re usually bland and forgettable. Unaccompanied Minors doesn’t exactly reverse that trend, but it is better than anticipated. The story is of course a little out there, but it allows for the required kid chaos and feel good moments. The cast is quite solid, with a troupe of capable child actors on deck, plus Lewis Black in overdrive as he chases them down. I also loved all the cameos from various comedians, from three members of The Kids of The Hall to David Koechner, all quite fun to watch. I do think the movie peaks a little too soon, so there is a slowdown toward the end, but overall the pace is good and the laughs are consistent. As far as family friendly entertainment is concerned, Unaccompanied Minors is solid fun and well worth a rental.
Video: How does it look?
ed Minors is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, with a full frame version on the disc’s flip side. The source print is pristine and shows no grain, which means the visuals come across in sharp and ever impressive form. The colors stream across the screen in vivid hues and no signs of flaws, while flesh tones seem natural and consistent also. No issues in terms of contrast either, as black levels are razor sharp and no visible detail loss is evident. This is just a superb visual treatment from Warner, as the movie looks terrific.
Audio: How does it sound?
As with most family films of this kind, this one has a solid audio presence, but never rises much beyond the basics. But the material is well served, so I can’t complain too much about the soundtrack, as it does sound solid. The film is driven by dialogue, so sound effects aren’t often high impact or dynamic, but as I said, the material doesn’t need those elements. The music comes through well, with a rich presence that engages the surrounds and in the process, opens up the mix a little and that’s very welcome here. No complaints with the dialogue either, which sounds clean and easy to understand at all times. This disc also includes Spanish and French language tracks, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The best of the extras is an audio commentary track, with director Paul Feig, writers Jacob Meszaros & Mya Stark, and star Lewis Black all involved. Feig is a pleasure to listen to, with a lot of worthwhile information, while Black provides an actor’s angle, and the writers cover, well.. the writing process. This disc also includes some additional scenes, a special look at the film’s security guards, Charlie’s Dance Reel, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
