Main Cast: Lewis Black, Wilmer Valderrama, Tyler James Williams, Dyllan Christopher
Release Year: 2006
Country: US
Run Time: 89 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
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, All Movie Guide
Gina Mantegna - Grace Conrad; Quinn Shepherd - Donna; Paget Brewster - Valerie Davenport; Dominique Saldana - Katherine Davenport; Jessica Walter - Cindi; Rob Riggle - Head Guard Hoffman; Teri Garr; David Koechner - Ernie; B.J. Novak - Desk Attendant; Mindy Kaling - Restaurant Hostess; Steve Bannos - Tree Salesman; Tony Hale - Alan Davies; Cedric Yarbrough - Melvin Goldfinch; Kristen Wiig - Carole Malone; Nick Thune - Handsome Santa; Heather Beers - Flight Attendant; Sandra Tsing Loh - UM Room Attendants; Ben Falcone - Santa at Mall; Al Roker - Al Roker; Stan Ellsworth - Huge Guy at Hotel; Stephen Liska - Hotel Desk Clerk; Lauren McKnight - Jetsetters; Noah Bastian - Jetsetters; Shareece Pfeiffer - Pretty Mall Girl; Darren Ewing - Admiral's Club Host; Joe Lookinland - Bullies; Brooks Bedore - Bullies; Lerin Porter - Owen Marks; Gary Morgan - Baggage Handlers; Jim Wilkey - Baggage Handlers; Hayden Holbrook - Bathroom Boys; Benjamin Ho - Bathroom Boys; Tyler Scott Drewes - Tough Kid; Kim W. Powell - Ivy League Santa; Micaela Nelligan - Beef's Mom; Conrad Palmisano - Santa; Haley Fife - Beef's Pretty Girl; Alisa Taylor - Girlfriends; Ana Queren Seabra - Girlfriends; Mallory Bouchard - Girlfriends; Thomas M. Conroy - Security Monitor; Wilmer Williams - Zach Van Bourke; Brett Kelly - Timothey "Beef" Wellington; Rob Corddry - Sam Davenport; Michelle Sandler - Mary Lunn; Kevin McDonald - Guards in the Hall; Bruce McCulloch - Guards in the Hall; Mark McKinney - Guards in the Hall; Dave Allen - Gas Station Attendant; Allie MacKay - Perky Presenter; Michael Maiello - UM Room Attendants; Wayne Federman - Airport Attendant; Annette Wright - Airport Attendant
Credit
Erin Cochran - Art Director, Brent Brewington - Boom Operator, Allison Jones - Casting, Judi McKee - Casting, Susan Burton - Consultant/advisor, Tom Calderaro - Conductor, Jacqueline Johnson - Costume Designer, Lisa Tomczeszyn - Costume Designer, Amy Jean Roberts - Costume Designer, Jane Black - Costume Designer, Carolyn Leone-Smith - Costume Designer, Matias Alvarez - First Assistant Director, Paul Feig - Director, George Folsey, Jr. - Editor, Brad Wilhite - Editor, Brad E. White - Editor, Carrie Morrow - Executive Producer, Bruce Berman - Executive Producer, Ira Glass - Executive Producer, Julie Snyder - Executive Producer, Michael Lambert - Executive Producer, Judy Darby - Hair Styles, Jennifer Dunne - Location Manager, Michael Andrews - Composer (Music Score), Jennifer Hawks - Musical Direction/Supervision, John Scott - Camera Operator, Andrews Mitchell - Camera Operator, Aaron Osborne - Production Designer, Christopher Baffa - Cinematographer, Lauren Shuler-Donner - Producer, Michael Aguilar - Producer, Karl J. Martin - Set Designer, Rick H. Josephsen - Special Effects, Garnet Baril - Special Effects, Chris Cline - Special Effects, Ryan W. Nunley - Special Effects, Josh Josephsen - Special Effects, W. Ben Hoopes - Special Effects, Kenneth Nosack - Special Effects, Ryan Roundy - Special Effects, Christopher Aud - Sound/Sound Designer, Bruce Barbour - Stunts, Alex Daniels - Stunts, Gary Kasper - Stunts, Brian Smyj - Stunts, Bonnie Morgan - Stunts, Eddie Conna - Stunts, Toby Holguin - Stunts, Jayson Dumenigo - Stunts, Wendi Bromley - Stunts, John Favre - Stunts, Peter Epstein - Stunts, Keii Johnston - Stunts, Kevin L. Jackson - Stunts, Chrissy Weathersby - Stunts, Kathy Jarvis - Stunts, Delma Miranda - Stunts, Peewee Piemonte - Stunts Coordinator, Carrie Morrow - Unit Production Manager, Jacob Meszaros - Screenwriter, Mya Stark - Screenwriter, Jon Farhat - Visual Effects Supervisor, Kelvin McIlwain - Visual Effects Supervisor, Steve Bissinger - Sound Effects Editor, Adam Johnston - Sound Effects Editor, Paulette Dauber - Unit Publicist, Kenneth J. Little Jr. - First Assistant Camera, Duane Mieliwocki - First Assistant Camera, Dean Aoki - First Assistant Camera, Dennis L. Peterson - Gaffer, J. Todd Taylor - Key Grip, Jason Fife - Key Grip, William B. Kaplan - Music Editor, Tom Kramer - Music Editor, Jacquelyn Dean - Post Production Coordinator, Ilyse A. Reutlinger - Post Production Supervisor, Matthew Harris - Properties, Elliot Tyson - Re-Recording Mixer, Gregory H. Watkins - Re-Recording Mixer, Suzanne Bingham - Script Supervisor, Suzzanne Bringham - Script Supervisor, Christopher J. Barnes - Second Assistant Director, Tobijah Tyler - Second Assistant Director, David Waine - Special Effects Coordinator, Andrews Mitchell - Steadicam Operator, John Bramley - Still Photographer, Catherine Sudolcan - Visual Effects Producer, Thomas J. O'Connell - ADR Mixer, Jerry W. Mundy, Jr. - Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Jennifer S. Miller - Assistant Location Manager, Andrew Hodge - Assistant Location Manager, Glen R. Feldman - Assistant Properties, Stephanie Brown - Assistant Sound Editor, Jeff Cranford - Assistant Sound Editor, Allen Dial - Best Boy Electric, Richard Handricks - Best Boy Grip, Dorian Frankel - Casting Assistant, Katie Rampey - Casting Assistant, Andrew Glover - Chief Lighting Technician, Gary A. Krakoff - Construction Coordinator, Wendy M. Craig - Costumes Supervisor, Benjamin Beardwood - Dialogue Editor, Tyler Meiners - Dolly Grip, KC Olsen - Dolly Grip, Gayle Minkevitch Jensen - Extra Casting, Edna Delbuono - First Assistant Accountant, David Lee Fein - Foley Artist, Hilda Hodges - Foley Artist, Amy Fegely - Key Costumer, Julie Kreger - Key Hairstylist, Greg T. Moon - Key Make-up, Kelly Kougias - Personal Assistant, Michael Plewa - Personal Assistant, Sara Gunther - Personal Assistant, Brandon Lang - Personal Assistant, Gavin J. Behrman - Production Accountant, Cody J. Harbaugh - Second Second Assistant Director, Scottie Meek - Set Dresser, Brent Miller - Transportation Captain, Timothy M. Erwin - Transportation Coordinator, Illusion Arts - Visual Effects, Inc. Look Effects - Visual Effects, Jennifer Gentile - Set Decorator, Susan Burton - Book Author, Mark L. Mangino - ADR Supervisor, Lisa J. Levine - ADR Supervisor, Tomkats, Inc. - Craft Service/Catering, Don L. Draper - Craft Service/Catering, David Jobe - Foley Mixer, Bob Beher - Foley Supervisor, Kate Holland - Production Secretary, Elizabeth Williams - Production Secretary, Jonathan "Earl" Stein - Production Sound Mixer, Ant Farm - Title Design, Nancy King - Art Department Coordinator, Charles Kaplan - Assistant Editor, Scott Eddo - Department Head Makeup
"Six unaccompanied minors will become one unbelievable family."
"Silent Night. Yeah, right!"
"Six kids, snowbound in an airport on Christmas Eve, without supervision. Someone please call security."
"All Flights Cancelled. Christmas Isn't!"
Plot
Six unaccompanied minors are stuck at fictional Hoover International Airport for Christmas Eve. The five minors try to make Christmas come true for Katherine Davenport, a young girl who believes in Santa Claus (even though she's afraid of him).
The five minors (Charlie, Spencer, "Beef", Grace and Donna) escape the UM room and are not taken to the hotel the airport is providing for the UM's. The airport locks up for the night, since the snowfall is so high. "Beef" escapes to find a tree for Katherine.
Meanwhile, the other four experiment with all the airport equipment (i.e. baggage claims, the lost luggage room, etc.). They are found and chased by airport personnel. They are caught and locked into separate rooms. Escaping again with the help of walkie-talkies, they make it over to the hotel in time to place a doll from the lost luggage room in Katherine's arms before she wakes up.
The minors return and find time to decorate the airport with decorations the manager (a non-believer) had locked away. "Beef" returns with the largest tree he could find (by trading his most prized possession—an Aquaman toy). 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, drove from Pennsylvania to pick up his children. When his bio-dieselBenz broke down, he was 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, and 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 Christopher as Spencer Davenport, the protagonist of the film. He concocts numerous schemes to help the others escape the airport.
Lewis Black as Oliver Porter, the antagonist of the film. He makes several attempts to prevent the kids from escaping the airport.
Wilmer Valderrama as Zach Van Bourke a.k.a. Van Dork, Porter's soft-hearted assistant who befriends the kids.
Gia Mantegna as Grace Conrad, a spoiled teenage girl
Quinn Shephard as Donna Malone, a sensitive girl who punches people when she is touched
Dominique Saldaña as Katherine Davenport, Spencer's younger sister who is terrified of Santa Claus. At the end of the film, she overcomes her fear of Santa.
Brett Kelly as Timothy "Beef" Wellington, a blond, curly-haired boy who possesses an Aquaman doll.
Mario Lopez as Part-Time Substitute minors watcher.
Reception
Unaccompanied Minors was not an initial success at the box office, having earned only $16,655,224 domestically against its $25 million budget, not counting DVD sales. Its worldwide box office gross was $21,994,214. The film received generally negative to mixed reviews from critics, It has a "Rotten" rating of 28% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 43 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[2]
