Dadnapped
Encyclopedia
Dadnapped is a Disney Channel Original Movie which premiered February 16, 2009. Starring actors from Disney Channel Original Series, the movie had 4.6 million viewers for its premiere. Although the story centers on a hostage situation, the kidnappers are inept and the film "practically oozes kid-pleasing content".
) desperately tries to gain more attention from her always preoccupied father, Neil, a best-selling author (George Newbern
). Melissa lives in the shadow of Tripp Zoome (Jonathan Keltz
), the adventurous and clever hero from her father's popular spy novels. Before a long overdue father-daughter vacation, her father gets kidnapped by obsessive fans: Wheeze (David Henrie
) with his friend, Sheldon (Denzel Whitaker
), and his brother, Andre (Moises Arias).
The tables turn however, when she must team up with them to find and rescue him from Merv (Jason Earles
), and brothers Maurice (Phill Lewis
) and Skunk (Charles Halford
). It turns out Merv is just using Skunk and Maurice as part of a plan to get Neil to write one final book using his daughter as a reader. Wheeze, Andre and Sheldon get all of the Trip Zoome fans in town to gather together to rescue Melissa and Neil and they attack when Melissa manages to signal them.
The fans attack Merv, Maurice and Skunk and they try to run but are stopped by more fans. Merv sneaks out with Neil while Skunk and Maurice go after Melissa who escapes. Melissa defeats them and ties them up. Merv nearly gets away, but Sheldon, who had been trying to find where everyone went, spots him and alerts everyone else. Neil is rescued, but Merv tries to get away.
As he runs, Skunk and Maurice, still tied up, come out and see this and regretting what they've done use what they're tied up with to trip Merv, knocking him down and ending his escape. The police arrest Maurice and Skunk while Neil thanks his fans. Wheeze gives his number to Melissa before she and her father leave on their long-overdue vacation.
, which premiered at the same time, by 39%.
Despite its commercial success and positive fan response, it was negatively received by critics. David Nusair called the movie (along with Hatching Pete
) "typically underwhelming Disney Channel fare."
Plot
Melissa Morris (Emily OsmentEmily Osment
Emily Jordan Osment is an American teen actress, singer-songwriter and voice actress born in Los Angeles, California. After working in several television films in her childhood, she gained fame for co-starring as Gerti Giggles in Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over...
) desperately tries to gain more attention from her always preoccupied father, Neil, a best-selling author (George Newbern
George Newbern
George Young Newbern is an American television and film actor best known for his roles as Bryan MacKenzie in Father of the Bride and its sequel Father of the Bride Part II as well as Danny in Friends...
). Melissa lives in the shadow of Tripp Zoome (Jonathan Keltz
Jonathan Keltz
Jonathan Lippert Keltz is an American television and film actor known for his work as Jake Steinberg in the HBO television series Entourage in 2009-10, and his work in the recent Disney film Prom.-Background:...
), the adventurous and clever hero from her father's popular spy novels. Before a long overdue father-daughter vacation, her father gets kidnapped by obsessive fans: Wheeze (David Henrie
David Henrie
David Clayton Henrie is an American actor, television writer, and producer. He is noted for playing Ted Mosby's future son on How I Met Your Mother, Justin Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place and Larry on That's So Raven...
) with his friend, Sheldon (Denzel Whitaker
Denzel Whitaker
Denzel Dominique Whitaker is an American actor, playing key roles in the films The Great Debaters and Training Day, as well as TV shows ER, Brothers & Sisters and The War At Home. He later went on to be a featured cast member during the tenth and final season of the Nickelodeon sketch-comedy...
), and his brother, Andre (Moises Arias).
The tables turn however, when she must team up with them to find and rescue him from Merv (Jason Earles
Jason Earles
Jason Daniel Earles is an American actor, known for his role as Jackson Stewart on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana and his role as Sensei Rudy in his new Disney XD series Kickin' It.-Personal life and philanthropy:...
), and brothers Maurice (Phill Lewis
Phill Lewis
Phill Lewis is an American film and television actor,director and comedian, often seen in comedic roles. He is best known for his role as Mr. Moseby on Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and its spin-off, The Suite Life on Deck. He also played T.C...
) and Skunk (Charles Halford
Charles Halford
Charles Halford is an American actor. In 2009, he starred in the DCOM Dadnapped as Skunk. He has also co-starred in dozens of other television shows and movies such as The Luck of the Irish.-Filmography:...
). It turns out Merv is just using Skunk and Maurice as part of a plan to get Neil to write one final book using his daughter as a reader. Wheeze, Andre and Sheldon get all of the Trip Zoome fans in town to gather together to rescue Melissa and Neil and they attack when Melissa manages to signal them.
The fans attack Merv, Maurice and Skunk and they try to run but are stopped by more fans. Merv sneaks out with Neil while Skunk and Maurice go after Melissa who escapes. Melissa defeats them and ties them up. Merv nearly gets away, but Sheldon, who had been trying to find where everyone went, spots him and alerts everyone else. Neil is rescued, but Merv tries to get away.
As he runs, Skunk and Maurice, still tied up, come out and see this and regretting what they've done use what they're tied up with to trip Merv, knocking him down and ending his escape. The police arrest Maurice and Skunk while Neil thanks his fans. Wheeze gives his number to Melissa before she and her father leave on their long-overdue vacation.
Cast
- Emily OsmentEmily OsmentEmily Jordan Osment is an American teen actress, singer-songwriter and voice actress born in Los Angeles, California. After working in several television films in her childhood, she gained fame for co-starring as Gerti Giggles in Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over...
as Melissa Morris - David HenrieDavid HenrieDavid Clayton Henrie is an American actor, television writer, and producer. He is noted for playing Ted Mosby's future son on How I Met Your Mother, Justin Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place and Larry on That's So Raven...
as Wheeze - Jason EarlesJason EarlesJason Daniel Earles is an American actor, known for his role as Jackson Stewart on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana and his role as Sensei Rudy in his new Disney XD series Kickin' It.-Personal life and philanthropy:...
as Merv Kilbo - Moisés Arias as Andre
- Denzel WhitakerDenzel WhitakerDenzel Dominique Whitaker is an American actor, playing key roles in the films The Great Debaters and Training Day, as well as TV shows ER, Brothers & Sisters and The War At Home. He later went on to be a featured cast member during the tenth and final season of the Nickelodeon sketch-comedy...
as Sheldon - Phill LewisPhill LewisPhill Lewis is an American film and television actor,director and comedian, often seen in comedic roles. He is best known for his role as Mr. Moseby on Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and its spin-off, The Suite Life on Deck. He also played T.C...
as Maurice - Charles HalfordCharles HalfordCharles Halford is an American actor. In 2009, he starred in the DCOM Dadnapped as Skunk. He has also co-starred in dozens of other television shows and movies such as The Luck of the Irish.-Filmography:...
as Skunk - Jonathan KeltzJonathan KeltzJonathan Lippert Keltz is an American television and film actor known for his work as Jake Steinberg in the HBO television series Entourage in 2009-10, and his work in the recent Disney film Prom.-Background:...
as Tripp Zoome - George NewbernGeorge NewbernGeorge Young Newbern is an American television and film actor best known for his roles as Bryan MacKenzie in Father of the Bride and its sequel Father of the Bride Part II as well as Danny in Friends...
as Neil Morris
Reception
Its premiere attracted 4.6 million viewers, outshining Nickelodeon's movie, Spectacular!Spectacular!
Spectacular! is a 2009 Nickelodeon musical TV-movie. It stars singer Nolan Gerard Funk, Australian singer Tammin Sursok, Zoey 101 and Victorious star Victoria Justice, and Simon Curtis. Filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, it premiered February 16, 2009...
, which premiered at the same time, by 39%.
Despite its commercial success and positive fan response, it was negatively received by critics. David Nusair called the movie (along with Hatching Pete
Hatching Pete
Hatching Pete is a 2009 Disney Channel Original Movie which first aired on April 10, 2009 on Disney Channel UK and later Disney Channel and Family. It was released on DVD in America on May 12, 2009 together with Dadnapped....
) "typically underwhelming Disney Channel fare."