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CAP Movie Ministry
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Entertainment Media Analysis Report
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MAR26089

(2006), PG [PG*] (1hr 24min)

Analysis Date
CAP Final Score
CAP Influence Density
MinMax
December 8, 2006
76 out of 100
0.43
-40

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Christian Long Distance

SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:
(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)

If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary / Commentary.



(2006), PG [PG*] -- I know this sounds like the old time country preacher banging his Bible but ...


Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database
Production (US): Warner Bros. Pictures, Donners' Company, Village Roadshow Pictures
Distribution (US): Warner Bros. Pictures
Director(s): Paul Feig
Producer(s): Michael Aguilar, Julie Bergman Sender, Bruce Berman, Ira Glass, Michael Lambert, Carrie Morrow, Lauren Shuler Donner, Julie Snyder
Written by: Jacob Meszaros, Mya Stark
Cinematography/Camera: Christopher Baffa
Music: Michael Andrews
Film Editing: George Folsey Jr., Brad E. Wilhite
Casting: Allison Jones
Production Design: Aaron Osborne
Art Direction: Erin Cochran
Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6


If you are expecting a bright and cheerful report on Unaccompanied Minors  you will be disappointed and are, of course, free to move on to something else.

According to the film, "unaccompanied minors" are children who fly on airplanes without parental supervision. Six kids end up "unaccompanied minors" as airports over the entire northeast and central US are socked in due to snow storms. The kids are not even at home and they still get grounded. And it is Christmas Eve.

A big problem is that there are a few dozen other kids stranded, too. Apparently, every one of them is the victim of divorce. Every one is being shuttled to some distant location to spend Christmas with the other parent.

But the biggest problem is that it seems Hollywood would have you think that all minor children are licentious hooligans out to defy any and all rules and manners. Granted, God tells us that foolishness is bound in the hearts of youth [Prov. 22:15] but we don't need to be emboldening it in the name of entertainment. Though many would try, that such onscreen behavior influences the behavioral choices of your kids is inarguable. How much, when and how it manifests are the only questions.

Spencer "K-Mart" Davenport (Dyllan Christopher) and his sister, Katherine (Dominique Saldana) are being shuttled from mom to dad but are delayed due to all flights being canceled due to a snow storm. Snowed-in in Michigan, Spencer and Katherine are thrown into the fray of a few dozen other unaccompanied minors in the Unaccompanied Minors (UM) room.

In spite of all the class warfare going on a clique soon forms between Spencer, Katherine and four other unaccompanied minors: street-smart Donna (Quinn Shephard); really smart kid Charlie (Tyler James Williams); super hero wannabe Timothy "Beef" (Brett Kelly); snooty beauty Grace (Gina Mantegna). These six kids devise plans to thwart airport security to escape the confines of the dank and barren "UM room."

After laying down the UM Room law, passenger relations manager Oliver (Lewis Black) orders second in command Zach (Wilmer Valderrama) to supervise all the unaccompanied minors. Try as they might to quell the uproar created by a slew of minor children, passenger relations plus airport security learn a few things about minors. Hollywood style.

There are some enjoyable slapstick shenanigans, age-appropriate "car" chases and even some downright believable thespian talents in the kids. The film even has a "message" in the end, but ...

Unaccompanied Minors  certainly earned a CAP final score within the range of scores earned by PG films in the comparative baseline database, giving it the impression of being morally toothless. But rest assured it has teeth. Revealing such is what the Findings/Scoring section (the heart of the CAP analysis model) is for. I was rather offended by the portrayal of middle school sensuality in it and if I had my way it would have earned at least a PG-13. But what I think is immaterial to the CAP analysis model (the Findings/Scoring section).

If you feel that, for example, a teen girl in a very short skirt seemingly being not at all concerned about modesty climbing tightly onto the lap of a "laid back" older male teen (maybe adult) in a dark suit who looked like one of the Selsun Blue(tm) dandruff shampoo commercial actors with a strap-on Santa beard, treating him as "Santa" and pulling off his beard then saying "I knew it! You're hot!" is "PG" material, the MPAA agrees with you. If you feel an undressed young teen girl with only a towel covering most of her lying on a massage table being massaged saying something like "Do you want to see me to run around dressed or naked" is "PG" material, the MPAA agrees with you. If that same young teen flaunting her developing body in tight clothing and using sensual mannerisms to influence is "PG" material, the MPAA agrees with you. If a dog biting a man's crotch, several additional instances of attention to the male privates, a few dozen adolescents wreaking havoc and defying, indeed ignoring fair authority is "PG" material, the MPAA agrees with you.

By the way, Unaccompanied Minors  is another Christmastime story without Christ. Maybe many folks who do know the Christ in Christmas want to kick Jesus out of Christmas but we, the majority, who do  know Him do not have to lose a sacred holiday which as been a CHRISTian holiday from the start for the sake of the minority who reject Jesus. Let those who do not want to celebrate our Savior's birth each December 25th; let those who do not know that He spent three days in Hell so we would not have to spend one moment there develop a yule holiday of their own. If you are one who rejects the deity of Christ you may choose to take Christ out of your Christmas ... but not out of mine.

And if you don't like to hear me say such things, don't visit our pages or email us. No one is forcing you to do either. But I would rather you join us in knowing the immense strength and peace in a personal relationship with Jesus. Let me know if you are interested.

Listening to Christian radio KLTY this afternoon I heard a couple things of interest regarding Christ in Christmas. First, the announcer reported that a survey found that 95% of the people surveyed were not offended by others saying "Merry Christmas" to them. They reported also that 32% of those surveyed were  offended by "Happy Holidays." That rather says a lot for keeping Christ in Christmas.

Second, KLTY hosts "Plugged In", a film review service of Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family. Their review for Unaccompanied Minors  reported "nothing negative." I guess the reviewer forgot about God's Word against crude humor [Eph. 5:4] and against disrespect of fair authority [Heb. 13:17] and parents [Eph. 6:2]. Or I guess they feel "acting" excuses violation of His Word: that the emboldening properties of "acting" are gossamer [1 Cor. 15:33]. And there are those nagging verses which condemn teaching and/or causing our youth to sin: Matt. 18:7, Luke 17:2, Rom. 5:19 and many others such as Ps. 12:8 and Jude 1:4. And let us not ignore Matt. 25:40 where Jesus Himself warns us that whatever we do to our youth we do to Him. Even the MPAA agrees disagrees with "nothing negative" since it slapped "mild rude humor and language" on this film.

Indeed, after watching this film do not be surprised if your little girl starts screaming "I DON'T WANT TO" with intense anger on her face instead of her typically more humble manner. Let us hope, however, that your adolescent does not start punching adult men in the crotch like the preteen girl in this film. "Nothing negative", huh?

I know this all sounds like an old crusty preacher banging his Bible but maybe it is time we start taking God's Word seriously. Maybe it would be wise to stop trying to excuse defiance of His Word with situational redefinition, counterfeiting and conditional application of it to excuse ignominious content in entertainment. Though there is nothing anyone can do to stop God's prophecy, I get so troubled as Hollywood uses children to fulfill the letter of Ps. 12:8.

Though this film has a warm and loving ending, remember that a noble destination does not excuse an ignoble path.

Nothing negative? Ha!

Wanton Violence/Crime (W)
Aside from adolescent trespassing, theft, vandalism, fleeing from rightful authority and a couple other matters of the violent and/or criminal nature, there is little else.

Impudence/Hate (I)
The instances of arrogance against fair authority, including parental, the lie and two uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary comprise the majority of the Impudence/Hate findings.

Sexual Immorality (S)
Regarding sexually immoral behavior, the instance of the young girl climbing onto the lap of a male while wearing a very shirt skirt, Mantegna parading as if her only statement was sensual for a large part of the screen time and all the attention to the male crotch are the most bold matters in the show.

Drugs/Alcohol (D)
One instance of Spencer's aunt being drunk was the only finding regarding the presence of alcohol and/or tobacco.

Offense to God (O)
The two uses of three-syllable sentence with God's name trailing it in this film, once by a teen, will likely convince other adolescents that it is okay to do so even though God says it is not. [Deut. 5:11] The teens gambling may embolden others to do likewise with the lunch money you give your kids, mom/dad.

Murder/Suicide (M)
There were no instances of murder or suicide noted.


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SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S)
If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ] or bold. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page.

CHAPTER/VERSE

  • Prov. 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; ...
  • Eph. 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
  • Heb. 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you [fair *and* responsible authority, properly appointed], and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account [report to God], that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
  • Eph. 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
  • Matt. 18:7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
  • Rom. 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, ... ["Man" in 'by one man's" is anthropos, meaning human being generically to include all humans individuals and can be plural such as the characters onscreen.]

    ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry***
  • Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about [e.g., create progressively vile/offensive entertainment with impunity and no consequences and present it to younger and younger audiences every year] when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to defend it, embrace it, pay for it, enjoy it, want it, submit to it. I call attention to Ps. 12:8 to warn of the creeping desensitizing power of "entertainment."]
  • Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man [by his influence] spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
  • 1 Cor. 15:33 Be not deceived: evil [kakov: of a bad nature, not such as it ought to be] communications corrupt good manners.
  • Rom. 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
  • Jude 1:4 For there are certain men* crept in unawares [secretly slipped in among us], who were before of old ordained to this condemnation [whose condemnation was written about long ago], ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [a license for immorality], and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. [*men: anthropos {anth'-ro-pos}, generic, a human being, whether male or female]
  • Matt. 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
  • Luke 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. [Offend: skandalizo {skan-dal-id'-zo} - scandalize; to entice to sin; to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey; to cause to fall away.]
  • Ps. 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me [let no sin rule over me].
  • John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
  • 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. ["Evil" includes all things that are sinful.]


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    As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie.
  • FINDINGS / SCORING:
    (The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)


    Unaccompanied Mionors (2006) CAP Thermometers

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W)
  • adolescent trespassing
  • adolescent theft and vandalism
  • adolescent flight from fair authority
  • adolescent threat of another to force performance/compliance
  • car explosion

    Impudence/Hate (I)
  • two uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary
  • adolescent balk-talk to mother
  • teen arrogance at parent and other fair authority, repeatedly
  • lie
  • adolescent-caused mayhem
  • adolescent defiance of fair authority
  • treating the "criminal" as the victim

    Sexual Immorality (S)
  • sexual expressions by young teen in dress and mannerisms
  • teen hit to adult crotch
  • teen speaking of herself as nude
  • crotch humor, repeatedly, including a dog biting an adult male's crotch
  • women as ornaments ("Santa's helpers)
  • young teen ogling women's underwear with comments of enjoying what it represents
  • repeated choreography focusing attention on male privates.

    Drugs/Alcohol (D):
  • drunkenness

    Offense to God (O)
  • two uses of God's name in vain, once by a teen and once by an adult
  • teen gambling

    Murder/Suicide (M)
  • none noted














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    There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our more than eight years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings.




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