Olivia and Jackson hope that the $1 million will alleviate their dad’s money troubles and save their house, which is in danger of foreclosure. (Didn’t The Goonies do something similar when they claimed One-Eyed Willy’s treasure in the hopes of saving the Goon Docks?)
The kids’ adventure movie can almost be a subgenre of its own: The Goonies, Jumanji, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, even the Harry Potter movies could be included. Movies like this are fun for kids because they actively engage children’s imaginations as they project themselves into the plot and ride along on adventures with the characters. Who didn’t want to be a Goonie when they were young?
“… not a terrible idea, and younger kids might get a kick out of it.”
Within this context, The Terrible Adventure is not a terrible idea, and younger kids might get a kick out of it. However, for the adults in the room who unwisely choose to remain sober while watching The Terrible Adventure, viewing the film as a parody of the much better films in the kiddie adventure canon is probably the best course of action to maximize enjoyment.
One can only excuse the clumsiness of Thompson’s screenplay for so long before one concludes that the entire enterprise must be an elaborate in-joke. The film exists in a kind of cartoonish alternate universe (the movie takes place in South Florida, so that might not be too much of a stretch) where everyone speak-yells, parents are presented as oblivious stock types, and by unconvincingly pretending to be adults through the piggy-back-hidden-by-a-long-overcoat trick, young kids are able to rent motorboats!
Unlike say, The Room, you can’t even ascribe the label of “unintentional camp” to The Terrible Adventure because it is clear that this is precisely the movie that Thompson wanted to make. And while not a “good” movie by any stretch, the bright colors, smooth photography, and energy of the cast ensures that it is never dull. In other words, The Terrible Adventure is a perfectly good movie for the little ones.
"…you can't even ascribe the label of 'unintentional camp'..."
Looking for a FABULOUS FUN FILLED FAMILY ADVENTURE MOVIE THE TERRIBLE ADVENTURE MOVIE IS AN EVENING WHERE THE ENTIRE FAMILY TAKES PART TO SAVE THEIR HOME AND THE BROTHER AND SISTER WORK AS TEAM. I had the pleasure to be part of this adventure and family. KEL Thompson father of Jackson and Olivia director was a experience to watch his love of the children and direct this film. Please watch for the WORLD WIDE RELEASE .
Every kid has a movie that inspires and challenges their minds, no matter how silly it may seem. This comedy does exactly that…. it shows kids that they can be their own creators and make a difference in this world! The off the wall and over the top antics is what makes this movie a gem for all kids of this generation! Very inspiring and funny with an underlying message of having determination and focus in order to achieve a goal!
This movie held my interest from the very start. I loved the story ! The over the top characters, comedy, and awesome panoramic scenes and cinematography make this movie a very fun adventure to watch. I laughed a lot !
What an amazing experience to work with a visionary like Kel Thompson. His children are the next leaders of the world. What a great cast and crew and a really fun fun adventure.
We need more kids’ movies like this…a fun adventure with deeper meaning! It shows just how smart and resourceful kids are, and yes, as the catchy song in the movie says…kids WILL save the world. This is good, clean fun that holds the interest of its target audience, and all kids will love going on this terrible adventure with Jackson and Olivia. And, they will walk away feeling like they can do anything!
Fun adventure for the kids. Definitely preschool & primary school kids would love this movie. Really enjoyed the over the top characters. Kids can throw themselves into the movie like it’s their adventure too. My kids and I really enjoyed it.
This is such a fun and well written review! Thank you for taking the time to watch the film and publish this! We’re thrilled to have received awards from, Dances With Films, and Awareness film festivals out of LA and from several others from around the country!
Fun for the entire family