Unaccompanied Minors (2006)

30% of critics liked it
(86 reviews)
61% of users liked it
(44,325 ratings)

A handful of kids stranded without their parents is determined to make the most of a bad situation in this comedy. It's Christmas Eve, and Oliver Porter (Lewis Black), the passenger relations manager at a busy airport in the Midwest, is looking forward to spending Christmas in Hawaii with his wife… More A handful of kids stranded without their parents is determined to make the most of a bad situation in this comedy. It's Christmas Eve, and Oliver Porter (Lewis Black), the passenger relations manager at a busy airport in the Midwest, is looking forward to spending Christmas in Hawaii with his wife after 15 years in a row working on the busy Yuletide holiday. However, fate conspires against him when a massive snowstorm sweeps in and all flights are canceled. Porter suddenly has to deal with a number of stranded passengers, including six tween-age kids who are each flying unaccompanied from one divorced parent to another -- spoiled little rich girl Grace (Gina Mantegna), geeky but likable Spencer (Dyllan Christopher), his pesky little sister Katy (Dominique Saldana), plus-size comic book fan Beef (Brett Kelly), grumpy tomboy Donna (Quinn Shephard), and bright but mischievous Charlie (Tyler James Williams). With his hands full and determined to make his way to the islands, Porter puts his assistant Zach Van Bourke (Wilmer Valderrama) in charge of the kids. Zach doesn't care for this assignment and the kids don't care for him, and before long they've escaped from the basement conference room where he's stashed them and turned the airport into their playground. Unaccompanied Minors also features Paget Brewster, Rob Corddry and Teri Garr. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Paul Feig
Written By: Jacob Meszaros, Mya Stark
Genres: Comedy, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Dec 8, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Aug 7, 2007
Studio: Warner Bros.

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
Most Saturday morning cartoons are more realistic, and actually funnier.
A.O. Scott, New York Times
Not for the faint of heart, the movie is unsettling and startlingly true to life.
Bill Zwecker, Chicago Sun-Times
Unaccompanied Minors may not be the worst holiday comedy ever made, but frankly I can't think of something from that genre that sinks lower than this frighteningly bad movie.
Susan Walker, Toronto Star
If you really must find something to distract your children from Christmas shopping and material yearning, this one gets top recommendation for happily occupying 90 minutes at the mall.
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle
Filmmaker Paul Feig has proven his creativity directing The Office and Freaks and Geeks (which he created). With Unaccompanied Minors, he piles on one unfunny gag after another, leaving little room for character development.
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
A noisy, not particularly charming collection of skits and skirmishes.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
Stuck kids run amok; Home Alone this ain't.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
The DVD of Unaccompanied Minors is considerably more appealing than the movie itself.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
There are fragments of good comedy packed amidst the many forgettable scenes that you've seen a dozen times before in a dozen other forgettable comedies
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
Why, and at what point, did Feig choose to ally himself with the bullies of the world and substitute broad stereotype for insight into character?
Kam Williams, Mount Desert Islander
Predigested drivel.
Kam Williams, EURWeb
Predigested drivel.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Maybe there were worse films in 2006, and I just didn't see them.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The kids in the film behave badly. The adults behave worse.
David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
Unexpectedly warm and huggable, and far funnier than you'd ever guess... one of the wittiest, most endearing holiday films in recent memory.
Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)
Designed only for the youngest of children, who might be roused by the silly action, or perhaps for John Hughes, who might delight in the fact that his influence continues to color the landscape.
Dan Lybarger, eFilmCritic.com
Feig's sympathies toward young misfits are still thankfully evident, but the mature, realistic approach that made 'Freaks and Geeks' so refreshing is missing here.
Derek Adams, Time Out
Irresponsible content notwithstanding, it's the low standard of filmmaking that really defies belief.

Read all 18 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

KJ P

Good for a kids film, but if your not into that sort of thing, then don't even bother to watch the opening credits!
Ginny

"Six kids, snowbound in an airport without supervision. Someone please call security! A snowstorm has cancelled all flights at Hoover International, and all are stranded. That's bad news for most. But for children shuttling unaccompanied from one place to… More
"Six kids, snowbound in an airport without supervision. Someone please call security! A snowstorm has cancelled all flights at Hoover International, and all are stranded. That's bad news for most. But for children shuttling unaccompanied from one place to another, its a ticket for adventure!" Warning! Unless you want yourself and the kids to go to sleep, stay away from this! I know its a kids film... But I thought this was just flat out lame. I was expecting to watch clean fun chaos, but this had no originality, no interesting kiddie escapades, an insult to every rich girl there is, and please dont tell me parents these days let their kids have that "Jon Bon Jovi" hairstyle! --- If theres any consolation to watching this, you get to see Wilmer Valderrama (Fez, That 70's Show) on screen again, but he just plays a character that goes in and out of the movie, and even his lines were weak and recycled. Theres also a couple of dancing scenes where Tyler James Williams (kid from Everybody Hates Chris) shows off his funky side, but other than that.. There really isnt much to get from this flick. <center><img src="http://content6.flixster.com/photo/35/70/52/3570524_gal.jpg" width=200></center> It really is just a kids version of The Breakfast Club IN The Terminal, except... those two movies were atleast good. Youre better off watching something else. Now if you would excuse me, I have to whap my head for getting this thing... Directed by: Paul Feig Genres: Comedy, Kids & Family
Dean M

I love this funny Christmas family movie in the airport I ever watched since Home Alone series. I couldn't stop laughing at the scene of 4 kids and a flight attendent riding in a canoe on a snow hill from the airport to the hotel while the head of Passenger… More
I love this funny Christmas family movie in the airport I ever watched since Home Alone series. I couldn't stop laughing at the scene of 4 kids and a flight attendent riding in a canoe on a snow hill from the airport to the hotel while the head of Passenger Relations and his security guards are also on after them. COOL!
Jose Z

It was a decent movie nothing excellent but viewable. The story is based on real childhood experiences from writer Susan Burton, but it makes me very difficult to believe that a bunch of pre-teens do that kind of things. The plot was kinda weak and undeveloped. the cast has decent… More
It was a decent movie nothing excellent but viewable. The story is based on real childhood experiences from writer Susan Burton, but it makes me very difficult to believe that a bunch of pre-teens do that kind of things. The plot was kinda weak and undeveloped. the cast has decent acting, all performances were good but the best one in my opinion comes from Tyler James Williams. Wilmer Valderrama's performance was so unconvincing and dissapointing, its like watching him in his role of Fez but working in an airport and Lewis Black as the movie villian was good. In conclusion, this movie is dull but enjoyable to watch it on a boring weekend.
Leigh R

Funny. Good film to watch to feel better.
Steve K

I enjoyed this. Not a perfect flick, but it made me laugh. The cast was fun.
Dannielle A

It was okay. A lot of cheesy acting and a stupid script but still... we got some laughs.
William G

Twice as funny as Deck the Halls. That is, I laughed twice.

Read all 8 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Lewis Black as Oliver Porter

            Wilmer Valderrama as Zach Van Bourke

            Tyler James Williams as Charlie

            Dyllan Christopher as Spencer Davenport

            Gina Mantegna as Grace Conrad

            Quinn Shepherd as Donna

            Paget Brewster as Valerie Davenport

            Dominique Saldana as Katherine Davenport

            Jessica Walter as Cindi

            Rob Riggle as Head Guard Hoffman

            Teri Garr
            
            David Koechner as Ernie

            B.J. Novak as Desk Attendant

            Mindy Kaling as Restaurant Hostess

            Steve Bannos as Tree Salesman

            Tony Hale as Alan Davies

            Cedric Yarbrough as Melvin Goldfinch

            Kristen Wiig as Carole Malone

            Nick Thune as Handsome Santa

            Heather Beers as Flight Attendant

            Sandra Tsing Loh as UM Room Attendants

            Ben Falcone as Santa at Mall

            Al Roker as Al Roker

            Stan Ellsworth as Huge Guy at Hotel

            Stephen Liska as Hotel Desk Clerk

            Lauren McKnight as Jetsetters

            Noah Bastian as Jetsetters

            Shareece Pfeiffer as Pretty Mall Girl

            Darren Ewing as Admiral's Club Host

            Joe Lookinland as Bullies

            Brooks Bedore as Bullies

            Lerin Porter as Owen Marks

            Gary Morgan as Baggage Handlers

            Jim Wilkey as Baggage Handlers

            Hayden Holbrook as Bathroom Boys

            Benjamin Ho as Bathroom Boys

            Tyler Scott Drewes as Tough Kid

            Kim W. Powell as Ivy League Santa

            Micaela Nelligan as Beef's Mom

            Conrad Palmisano as Santa

            Haley Fife as Beef's Pretty Girl

            Alisa Taylor as Girlfriends

            Ana Queren Seabra as Girlfriends

            Mallory Bouchard as Girlfriends

            Thomas M. Conroy as Security Monitor

            Wilmer Williams as Zach Van Bourke

            Brett Kelly (II) as Timothey "Beef" Wellington

            Rob Corddry as Sam Davenport

            Michelle Sandler as Mary Lunn

            Kevin McDonald as Guards in the Hall

            Bruce McCulloch as Guards in the Hall

            Mark McKinney as Guards in the Hall

            Dave Allen as Gas Station Attendant

            Allie MacKay as Perky Presenter

            Michael Maiello as UM Room Attendants

            Wayne Federman as Airport Attendant

            Annette Wright as Airport Attendant

            Quinn Shephard
            
See full cast