Unaccompanied Minors
Encyclopedia
Unaccompanied Minors is a 2006 comedy film
directed by Paul Feig
and starring Dyllan Christopher
, Lewis Black
, Wilmer Valderrama
, Tyler James Williams
, Brett Kelly, Gina Mantegna, and Quinn Shephard
. Unaccompanied Minors has been rated PG by the MPAA
for "mild rude humor and language". It is based on a true story by Susan Burton first told on the public radio show This American Life
under the title "In the Event of an Emergency, Put Your Sister in an Upright Position".
. Donna, Spencer, Grace and Beef escape the chaotic UM room to find some fun (whilst Charlie escapes out of need to go to the bathroom).
Now free, they make a mess in the airport: Grace, a rich girl, exfoliates herself in the airport lounge; Beef transforms the emergency equipment room into his own amusement park; Spencer orders an astronomical amount of junk food in the cafe and leaves it without paying; Charlie finds a working bathroom, but goes on to use a karaoke machine at the electronic shop; and Donna commits grand theft auto
, destroying whatever is in her path.
Once apprehended, they are taken back to the UM room and discover that the rest of the minors have been moved to a lodge, and, as a punishment from the grouchy head of passenger relations, Oliver Porter, they will stay in the UM room over Christmas Eve. Knowing that it would break Katherine's faith in Santa Claus if she does not receive a present by the next day, Spencer asks that, in exchange for a plan to get out again, the other kids will help him make Christmas come true for his sister, which they agree to. Spencer's plan is a success, and they give Zach Van Bourke, the friendly clerk who is guarding them, the slip, but with the five of them missing, the entire airport security is put on the lookout.
Beef escapes to find a tree for Katherine. While out looking, he remembers the saying that his mother’s rude boyfriend told him, “Men are made, not born”. This saying gives him the courage to pursue the biggest tree for Katherine.
Meanwhile, the other four go looking for a present for Katherine in the unclaimed baggage room, Mr. Porter and several security guards following them, but they manage to hide before Mr. Porter could notice. When Mr. Porter bumps into a suitcase Charlie has hidden in and he orders his men to put it on the conveyor. Donna notices this and after Mr. Porter and his men are gone, she hurries to the conveyor to save Charlie.
Spencer and Grace follow them until they reach the unclaimed baggage room. They experiment with all the luggage and find cool stuff. Spencer finds the perfect doll
to give Katherine, and Charlie finds walkie-talkie
s with video recorder
s. They are found and pursued by airport personnel, but make it to the lodge in time, through destroying the vents, crawling in the ceiling and sledding in canoes, to place the doll in Katherine's arms before she wakes up.
The five kids are caught, returned to the airport, and locked into separate rooms. Escaping again with the help of the walkie-talkies, the minors find time to decorate the airport with decorations Mr. Porter had locked away. Beef returns, much to his friends' surprise, with the largest tree he could find (by trading his most prized possession — an Aquaman
action figure). The minors also find presents for everyone from the lost luggage room. Their kindness manages to change the manager's heart.
Also, Spencer's and Katherine's father, an environmentalist
, drives from Pennsylvania
to pick up his children. When his biodiesel
Benz blows up, he is forced to make the choice to either drive a Hummer
or not get to his children in time. He arrives Christmas morning. The children promise to keep in touch, Grace, whose parents are out of town, is allowed to come home with the Davenports. Donna kisses Charlie, and Beef meets a girl, to whom he starts telling of his part in the decorations.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
directed by Paul Feig
Paul Feig
Paul S. Feig is an American director, actor and author. Feig is known for playing Mr. Eugene Pool, Sabrina's science teacher, on the first season of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch as well as Tim a camp counselor on the hit kids movie Heavyweights...
and starring Dyllan Christopher
Dyllan Christopher
Dyllan Christopher is an American actor. He played in one of five major roles in the 2006 film Unaccompanied Minors as Spencer, the leader of a group of kids who get stuck in an airport on Christmas. He worked alongside Quinn Shephard and Tyler James Williams. He acted in Disney Channel's ID...
, Lewis Black
Lewis Black
Lewis Niles Black is an American stand-up comedian, author, playwright, social critic and actor. He is known for his comedy style, which often includes simulating a mental breakdown, or an increasingly angry rant, ridiculing history, politics, religion, trends and cultural phenomena...
, Wilmer Valderrama
Wilmer Valderrama
Wilmer Eduardo Valderrama is an American actor and television personality, known for the role of Fez in the sitcom That '70s Show, hosting the MTV series Yo Momma, and voicing the character of Manny in the children's show Handy Manny.-Early life:Valderrama was born in Miami, Florida the son of...
, Tyler James Williams
Tyler James Williams
Tyler James Williams is an American teen actor and voice actor. He is most recognizable for having played the title character of the Chris Rock-inspired sitcom Everybody Hates Chris.-Life and career:...
, Brett Kelly, Gina Mantegna, and Quinn Shephard
Quinn Shephard
Quinn Shephard is an American actress who starred in the film Unaccompanied Minors in 2006. She has also appeared in three other films: Harrison's Flowers in 2000, From Other Worlds in 2004, and Assassination of a High School President in 2009.She was part of a group nominated for a Young Artist...
. Unaccompanied Minors has been rated PG by the MPAA
Motion Picture Association of America
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. , originally the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America , was founded in 1922 and is designed to advance the business interests of its members...
for "mild rude humor and language". It is based on a true story by Susan Burton first told on the public radio show This American Life
This American Life
This American Life is a weekly hour-long radio program produced by WBEZ and hosted by Ira Glass. It is distributed by Public Radio International on PRI affiliate stations and is also available as a free weekly podcast. Primarily a journalistic non-fiction program, it has also featured essays,...
under the title "In the Event of an Emergency, Put Your Sister in an Upright Position".
Plot
Six unaccompanied minors — Spencer Davenport, his little sister, Katherine, Charlie Goldfinch, Timothy "Beef" Wellington, Grace Conrad, and Donna Malone — are snowed in at the Hoover International Airport for Christmas EveChristmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
. Donna, Spencer, Grace and Beef escape the chaotic UM room to find some fun (whilst Charlie escapes out of need to go to the bathroom).
Now free, they make a mess in the airport: Grace, a rich girl, exfoliates herself in the airport lounge; Beef transforms the emergency equipment room into his own amusement park; Spencer orders an astronomical amount of junk food in the cafe and leaves it without paying; Charlie finds a working bathroom, but goes on to use a karaoke machine at the electronic shop; and Donna commits grand theft auto
Motor vehicle theft
Motor vehicle theft is the criminal act of stealing or attempting to steal a motor vehicle...
, destroying whatever is in her path.
Once apprehended, they are taken back to the UM room and discover that the rest of the minors have been moved to a lodge, and, as a punishment from the grouchy head of passenger relations, Oliver Porter, they will stay in the UM room over Christmas Eve. Knowing that it would break Katherine's faith in Santa Claus if she does not receive a present by the next day, Spencer asks that, in exchange for a plan to get out again, the other kids will help him make Christmas come true for his sister, which they agree to. Spencer's plan is a success, and they give Zach Van Bourke, the friendly clerk who is guarding them, the slip, but with the five of them missing, the entire airport security is put on the lookout.
Beef escapes to find a tree for Katherine. While out looking, he remembers the saying that his mother’s rude boyfriend told him, “Men are made, not born”. This saying gives him the courage to pursue the biggest tree for Katherine.
Meanwhile, the other four go looking for a present for Katherine in the unclaimed baggage room, Mr. Porter and several security guards following them, but they manage to hide before Mr. Porter could notice. When Mr. Porter bumps into a suitcase Charlie has hidden in and he orders his men to put it on the conveyor. Donna notices this and after Mr. Porter and his men are gone, she hurries to the conveyor to save Charlie.
Spencer and Grace follow them until they reach the unclaimed baggage room. They experiment with all the luggage and find cool stuff. Spencer finds the perfect doll
Doll
A doll is a model of a human being, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have traditionally been used in magic and religious rituals throughout the world, and traditional dolls made of materials like clay and wood are found in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. The earliest documented dolls...
to give Katherine, and Charlie finds walkie-talkie
Walkie-talkie
A walkie-talkie is a hand-held, portable, two-way radio transceiver. Its development during the Second World War has been variously credited to Donald L. Hings, radio engineer Alfred J. Gross, and engineering teams at Motorola...
s with video recorder
Video recorder
A video recorder may be any of several related devices:*Digital video recorder ; Personal video recorder *DVD recorder*Videocassette recorder *Video tape recorder...
s. They are found and pursued by airport personnel, but make it to the lodge in time, through destroying the vents, crawling in the ceiling and sledding in canoes, to place the doll in Katherine's arms before she wakes up.
The five kids are caught, returned to the airport, and locked into separate rooms. Escaping again with the help of the walkie-talkies, the minors find time to decorate the airport with decorations Mr. Porter had locked away. Beef returns, much to his friends' surprise, with the largest tree he could find (by trading his most prized possession — an Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
action figure). The minors also find presents for everyone from the lost luggage room. Their kindness manages to change the manager's heart.
Also, Spencer's and Katherine's father, an environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
, drives from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to pick up his children. When his biodiesel
Biodiesel
Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl esters. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids with an alcohol....
Benz blows up, he is forced to make the choice to either drive a Hummer
Hummer
Hummer was a brand of trucks and SUVs, first marketed in 1992 when AM General began selling a civilian version of the M998 Humvee. In 1998, General Motors purchased the brand name and marketed three vehicles: the original Hummer H1, based on the Humvee; and the H2 and H3 models that were...
or not get to his children in time. He arrives Christmas morning. The children promise to keep in touch, Grace, whose parents are out of town, is allowed to come home with the Davenports. Donna kisses Charlie, and Beef meets a girl, to whom he starts telling of his part in the decorations.
Cast
- Dyllan ChristopherDyllan ChristopherDyllan Christopher is an American actor. He played in one of five major roles in the 2006 film Unaccompanied Minors as Spencer, the leader of a group of kids who get stuck in an airport on Christmas. He worked alongside Quinn Shephard and Tyler James Williams. He acted in Disney Channel's ID...
as Spencer Davenport - Tyler James WilliamsTyler James WilliamsTyler James Williams is an American teen actor and voice actor. He is most recognizable for having played the title character of the Chris Rock-inspired sitcom Everybody Hates Chris.-Life and career:...
as Charlie Goldfinch - Gina Mantegna as Grace Conrad
- Quinn ShephardQuinn ShephardQuinn Shephard is an American actress who starred in the film Unaccompanied Minors in 2006. She has also appeared in three other films: Harrison's Flowers in 2000, From Other Worlds in 2004, and Assassination of a High School President in 2009.She was part of a group nominated for a Young Artist...
as Donna Malone - Brett Kelly as Timothy "Beef" Wellington
- Wilmer ValderramaWilmer ValderramaWilmer Eduardo Valderrama is an American actor and television personality, known for the role of Fez in the sitcom That '70s Show, hosting the MTV series Yo Momma, and voicing the character of Manny in the children's show Handy Manny.-Early life:Valderrama was born in Miami, Florida the son of...
as Zach Van Bourke/Van Dork - Dominique Saldaña as Katherine Davenport
- Lewis BlackLewis BlackLewis Niles Black is an American stand-up comedian, author, playwright, social critic and actor. He is known for his comedy style, which often includes simulating a mental breakdown, or an increasingly angry rant, ridiculing history, politics, religion, trends and cultural phenomena...
as Oliver Porter - Wayne FedermanWayne FedermanWayne Federman is an American comedian, actor, author, and comedy writer. He is noted for his numerous stand-up comedy appearances in clubs, theaters, and on television; his biography of "Pistol" Pete Maravich; and his supporting comedic acting roles in The X-Files, The Larry Sanders Show, Curb...
as Airport Attendant - Teri GarrTeri Garr-Early life:Garr was born in Lakewood, Ohio in 1947. Her father, Eddie Garr , was a vaudeville performer, comedian and actor whose career peaked when he briefly took over the lead role in the Broadway drama Tobacco Road...
as Valerie's Sister (uncredited) - Mario LopezMario LópezMario Michael Lopez, Jr. is an American actor who has appeared on several television series, in films, and on Broadway. He is best known for his portrayal of the character A.C. Slater on Saved By The Bell, which he also portrayed as a regular on Saved by the Bell: The College Years...
as Part-Time Substitute minors watcher - Paget BrewsterPaget BrewsterPaget Valerie Brewster is an American actress. She is currently known for playing Special Agent Emily Prentiss on the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds. In June 2010, it was said that her role on Criminal Minds would be reduced in the sixth season. In March 2011, Brewster's character left the series...
as Valerie Davenport - Rob CorddryRob CorddryRobert William "Rob" Corddry is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his work as a former correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and for his starring role in the comedy film Hot Tub Time Machine...
as Sam Davenport - Jessica WalterJessica WalterJessica Walter is an American actress, known for the films Play Misty for Me, Grand Prix, and for her role as Lucille Bluth on the sitcom Arrested Development...
as Cindi - Rob RiggleRob RiggleRobert Allen "Rob" Riggle, Jr. is an American actor, comedian and United States Marine Corps officer. He is best known for his work as a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show from 2006–2008, as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2004–2005, and for his comedic roles in films such...
as Head Guard Hoffman - David KoechnerDavid KoechnerDavid Michael Koechner is an American comedian, musician, and character actor. Koechner began studying improvisational comedy in Chicago at the ImprovOlympic, under the teachings of Del Close, before joining the Second City Northwest...
as Ernie - Tony HaleTony HaleTony Hale is an American actor, best known for his role in the Fox comedy series Arrested Development as the neurotic Byron "Buster" Bluth.-Early life:...
as Alan Davies - Cedric YarbroughCedric YarbroughCedric Yarbrough is an American comedian and actor.Yarbrough was born in Burnsville, Minnesota. Yarbrough attended Burnsville Senior High School and later Minnesota State University, Mankato. He is also an alumnus of Dudley Riggs' Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis.Yarbrough starred on the Comedy...
as Melvin Goldfinch - Kristen WiigKristen WiigKristen Carroll Wiig is an American film and television actress who currently appears as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. Wiig was a member of improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings, and has appeared in several films and television series, including Bridesmaids, MacGruber, Flight of...
as Carole Malone - Al RokerAl RokerAlbert Lincoln "Al" Roker, Jr. is an American television meteorologist as well as an actor and book author. He is best known as being the weather anchor on NBC's Today. On Monday, July 20, 2009, he began co-hosting his new morning show, Wake Up with Al, on The Weather Channel, which airs weekdays...
as Himself