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Movies & TV Movies & TV Reviews

Minor fun

UNACCOMPANIED MINORS (Paul Feig). 89 minutes. Opens Friday (December 8). For venues and times, see Movies, page 105. Rating: NN Rating: NN


There’s a kind of uncomplicated joy in watching Rob Riggle , the 6-foot-3 former Marine and current Daily Show correspondent, playing with a Slinky or three of the former Kids in the Hall forgetting the rules to musical chairs.

Unfortunately, these small delights arrive in a generally lousy movie.

Unaccompanied Minors is the third feature by Paul Feig , creator of Freaks And Geeks, who’s also directed episodes of The Office and Arrested Development. His pedigree leads us to expect more from this disappointing generic comedy about tween-age archetypes (the fat kid, the black kid, the rich girl, the nice dork) let loose in an airport over Christmas.

Lewis Black and Wilmer Valderrama do their best with the material, and the kids aren’t awful. Tyler James Williams , of Everybody Hates Chris fame, is a particular standout, as uncomfortable as it is to see the black kid turned into a clown.

The few funny moments are spoiled by all the schmaltz and gaping plot holes. For example, if the fat kid could escape to get a Christmas tree, why couldn’t he let the others out at the same time?

If you’re looking for a holiday flick guaranteed to make your heart grow three sizes, look elsewhere.

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