My boys and wife and I really rather enjoyed this film. No, we probably won't buy it -- but almost.
It is more of a light hearted romp than a serious film. It reminds me of the film we made in High School only with professional cameras and lighting. It is about the level of what I would expect in a College production. If you watch the film, then watch the making-of afterwards. You will see story boards, steady cams, light diffusers, etc. You will also see what looks like a group of guys and gals from the dorms that got together to have FUN making a movie. If you approach this film with that attitude I'm sure you'll walk away smiling. :-)
OK, here is an amateur attempt at a review... - - - - - The movie is about a young girl (12 ish?) that likes to come up with ways to make a fast buck; bending rules is no problem. Her brother (10ish?) is a bit of a geek, slash programmer, intent on making the next great MMORPG. (That's Massivly Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game if I remember correctly.)
So what could happen if sister comes up with a "great" money making idea and gets brother to "help"... That's where the caper begins -- and might have ended but for a freak accident. A comedy of errors, some simple effects (remember College level), and a few jolts, er. jokes later and the trouble begins. Also caught in this trouble is an expert Crypto guy working for the FBI, an expert cop who gets wrangled into helping, a Senator, a baby-sitter, a Nigerian Ring Leader with her own young Computer Expert (10ish?), a few bad guys, a few side gags and a 6 year old with a few surprises and you have the makings of fairly fun flick.
But the most surprisingly good acting came from the "6yr old", who, in the outtakes you see her staying on focus and completing her lines even when other are losing it; and you'll enjoy the "bad" guy that the little girl cons and softens up; softening up the audience while she is at it...
The sister and brother pair worked well together though I believed and liked and felt more for the brother than the sister. This could be because of writing and directing and also because the sister plays the get-it-now junior scam the scam artist and you're not supposed to like those people. The baby-sitter played quite well; you believe her opening role and her final supporting role. Her transition from one point to the other was difficult most likely, again, because of story line and directing.
The Nigerian's boy computer expert was also very believable; although the batteries on his laptop are way better than mine and his wireless connection is out of this world. I enjoyed him expressing his own little secret plan that *he* had for himself; if he could have his way.
Most of the other characters were too short lived to be very memorable or were somewhat confusing as to their motivations. A second viewing would probably clear some of that up; but, no serious loss as the film is not trying to take itself seriously.
It is more of a light hearted romp than a serious film. It reminds me of the film we made in High School only with professional cameras and lighting. It is about the level of what I would expect in a College production. If you watch the film, then watch the making-of afterwards. You will see story boards, steady cams, light diffusers, etc. You will also see what looks like a group of guys and gals from the dorms that got together to have FUN making a movie. If you approach this film with that attitude I'm sure you'll walk away smiling. :-)
OK, here is an amateur attempt at a review... - - - - - The movie is about a young girl (12 ish?) that likes to come up with ways to make a fast buck; bending rules is no problem. Her brother (10ish?) is a bit of a geek, slash programmer, intent on making the next great MMORPG. (That's Massivly Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game if I remember correctly.)
So what could happen if sister comes up with a "great" money making idea and gets brother to "help"... That's where the caper begins -- and might have ended but for a freak accident. A comedy of errors, some simple effects (remember College level), and a few jolts, er. jokes later and the trouble begins. Also caught in this trouble is an expert Crypto guy working for the FBI, an expert cop who gets wrangled into helping, a Senator, a baby-sitter, a Nigerian Ring Leader with her own young Computer Expert (10ish?), a few bad guys, a few side gags and a 6 year old with a few surprises and you have the makings of fairly fun flick.
- - - - - Character review... - - - - - I felt the best character was the expert cop, you believed his character and felt for him getting wrangled into working with his "partner". His "partner" is non-other than the expert Crypto guy who plays a very serious anti-cracker hacker and also the brain buzzed comedic side kick; he is **so** silly that you can't help but laugh; he does the unbelievable so believably that you enjoy it. All of the other cops played their roles very well. They never got in the way of story or action and even added to the humor from time to time.
But the most surprisingly good acting came from the "6yr old", who, in the outtakes you see her staying on focus and completing her lines even when other are losing it; and you'll enjoy the "bad" guy that the little girl cons and softens up; softening up the audience while she is at it...
The sister and brother pair worked well together though I believed and liked and felt more for the brother than the sister. This could be because of writing and directing and also because the sister plays the get-it-now junior scam the scam artist and you're not supposed to like those people. The baby-sitter played quite well; you believe her opening role and her final supporting role. Her transition from one point to the other was difficult most likely, again, because of story line and directing.
The Nigerian's boy computer expert was also very believable; although the batteries on his laptop are way better than mine and his wireless connection is out of this world. I enjoyed him expressing his own little secret plan that *he* had for himself; if he could have his way.
Most of the other characters were too short lived to be very memorable or were somewhat confusing as to their motivations. A second viewing would probably clear some of that up; but, no serious loss as the film is not trying to take itself seriously.
- - - - - All in all we enjoyed it... - - - - - I rated it 6 for College level tracking shots, format, and low budget effects. Some of the jokes are **very** college dorm level jokes, but nothing far out offensive, though one or two could have been left out without lessing the fun; it maintains a PG rating with *no* foul-language usage that I noticed. It maintained a good pace overall and never dragged. You might be smiling, or you might be laughing, (and maybe cringing,) but never bored. It sure beats "Cheech and Chong" for family fun.