CATCH THAT KID
US, 2004, 91 minutes, Colour.
Kristen Stewart, Corbin Bleu, Max Thieriot, Jennifer Beals, Sam Robards, John Carroll, James le Gros.
Directed by Bart Freundlich.
I don't want to seem puritanical, but... The IMDb website indicates that the tagline for the film is "They're on a mission without permission" and that the plot summary says that it is an Ocean's 11 or Mission Impossible for kids.
When Dad, who runs a go-kart derby ground, has an accident that will mean he will not be able to mountain climb anymore, his tomboy daughter and friends decide to rob the bank where her mother is the security adviser. So we watch the unlikely gang outwit everyone to get away with $250,000. But it's a good cause, so it's OK!! Well, not quite, there is a moral tacked on at the end but it looks like a manifestation of the 'greed is good' philosophy rather ruthlessly applied by the children. Kristen Stewart (Jodie Foster's daughter in Panic Room) is the ringleader, Jennifer Beals her mother.
The US MPAAA rates it PG but is concerned about 'language' and 'rude humour'. It also mentions 'thematic elements' but does not elaborate.
I know it's supposed to be good fun, but...
1. Children's film? Family film? The title, the alternate title, Mission Without Permission?
2. The locations, the town, the bank, homes, school, the go-kart area? The streets? Used for the plot, for the chase, for special effects? The musical score?
3. The situation: Maddy, the tomboy, her friends Austin and Gus, the strained relationship with her mother who was always busy, her love for her father and his work at the go-kart club, his action and mountain climbing? The go-kart races, her supervising, her tomboy activity and her parents forbidding her? Her father's accident, the prospect of not being able to climb mountains? Her wanting to do something, the hospital's advice about the cost for an operation in Denmark?
4. The plan, with Austin and Gus, their devotion to her? Their scouting out the bank, learning the security measures? The old owner of the bank? Mr Hartman? The plan, the devices, the use of the go-karts, the use of their own machines to get the money? The clash with the security officer, the boy who was his assistant?
5. The robbery itself, the timing, the luck, the plans, the security guard, the boy and his collaboration? The dangers, their getting stuck? Eventually getting free, through the party, through the streets?
6. The character of Maddy? Her relationship with Austin and Gus, their both thinking she was in love with them? Their participation in the plan? Their different characters, action and thought? The finale with her wanting to choose one or the other?
7. Molly, her work at the bank, security, the rich old man and his not approving the security, the tests? The social, the borrowing of the money, the future of the bank? The alarm, the robbery? The consequences for Molly? Her saving the day by saying that the children's behaviour was all a security test? Tom, loving his daughter, in hospital, the need for the money to go to Denmark, the result of the robbery, the irony of the children getting the reward? Mr Hartman and his genial advice? Tom recovering?
8. Feral, the comedy with the inept security guard, slapstick, Brad and his helping him?
9. The adults, the adult world, the bank, socials, security, the police? Contrasting with the world of children - innocence yet knowing how to rob a bank, even if for a good cause?
