Minutemen (2008) (TV)

Director:

Lev L. Spiro

Writers:

John Killoran (teleplay)
David Diamond (story) ...

Release Date:

25 January 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A comedy/sci-fi/adventure about three high school kids who invent a time machine to spare others just like them from the humiliation they've endured.

Plot Keywords:

Time Machine | School | High School | Boy Genius | Geek

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jason Dolley	...	Virgil Fox
Luke Benward	...	Charlie Tuttle
Nicholas Braun	...	Zeke Thompson
Chelsea Staub	...	Stephanie Jameson
Steven R. McQueen	...	Derek Beaugard
Kara Crane	...	Jeanette Pachelewski
Dexter Darden	...	Chester
J.P. Manoux	...	Vice Principal Tolkan
James Jamison	...	Agent Renquist
Jason Tatom	...	Winthorpe
Trenton James	...	Connors
Kellie Cockrell	...	Jocelyn
Charlie Fratto	...	Eugene von Hoserberg
Joe Pitti	...	Street Performer
Shawn Carter	...	Grunge Kid

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

Murray High School - 5440 S. State Street, Murray, Utah, USA

Company:

Disney Channel

Trivia:

Vice Principal Tolkan is named for actor James Tolkan who played the similarly bald and bow-tied principal in Back to the Future (1985).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the Minutemen are heading toward the vortex in the cart, you can see the tracks from the previous takes imprinted in the grass.

Quotes:

Charlie Tuttle: [about to step in his time machine when he notices what Zeke has in his hands] Oh yes, we mustn't forget the grappling hook.
Zeke Thompson: Oh, everybody's gotta make fun of the hook... you'll be sorry.

Movie Connections:

References Blazing Saddles (1974)

Soundtrack:

Run It Back Again

One of the best written of all the Disney TV movies

This one is clever and funny and very well acted. The stories of time travel and and nerds becoming heroes have been done before, but seldom this well. The dialogue is fast-paced and funny, and unlike other teen comedies, is not totally dependent upon pop-culture references for its humor. The teen stars look like real high school students, and are not meant to look model perfect like in "High School Musical" or the "Cheetah Girls". (Okay, Chelsea Staub is the exception, but she's still perfect in her role). Like in real life, the good guys and the bad guys are not 100% good or evil, but are products of their decisions.

But more than anything, this is a very entertaining and fun, smart movie. If Disney had tweaked the special effects just a little, it could have been released in theatres, and I'd bet it would be a box office hit. Who knows? They are making a theatrical sequel to "High School Musical", why not "Minutemen"? I'd pay to see it. Well done.