The Sleepover (2020)

 

The Sleepover (2020)

6/10

Starring

Sadie Stanley

Maxwell Simkins

Cree Cicchino

Lucas Jaye

Ken Marino

Joe Manganiello

Malin Åkerman

 

 

Directed by Trish Sie

I guess there’s something fun about sitting through a movie without knowing what it’s supposed to be about. Unfortunately, that mystery is about to be ruined for anyone reading this review before watching the movie—sorry about that!

The movie is captivating and gives off serious Spy Kids vibes, but this time I found myself more engaged. The plot is clean, the comedy feels wholesome, and the characters are so full of energy that you’ll find yourself needing to stay calm on their behalf. Unlike Spy Kids, this movie isn’t overloaded with special effects or over-the-top action sequences (though it has its fair share). The story feels grounded, making it easier to connect with.

From my perspective, the writing does a great job of keeping you curious about one thing: What will happen when the kids finally get to their kidnapped parents?

The movie introduces us to the Finches—a family of four made up of parents Margot and Ron and their two kids. The eldest child, Clancy, is a teenage girl navigating typical teenage frustrations, while Kevin, her younger brother, is an overly excitable boy.

As usual, the kids think their parents aren’t cool—especially Clancy, who constantly clashes with her mom. Margot seems overly protective, wanting to shield Clancy from pretty much everything, which leads to a mother-daughter fight. This argument gets Clancy grounded, but that doesn’t stop her and her best friend Mim from sneaking out later to attend Clancy’s crush’s birthday party.

Meanwhile, Kevin’s friend Lewis is having a sleepover, and the two boys are camping in the backyard. The girls sneak into the boys’ tent to chill, and while they’re hanging out, Lewis goes inside to use the bathroom. That’s when he sees something shocking: Margot being called “Mathilde” by two strangers who break into the house and kidnap both her and Ron after drugging them. Before being taken, Margot leaves behind a clue for her kids to find.

Lewis alerts the others, and just as they’re trying to process what’s happening, a man claiming to be a police officer shows up. Suspicious, the four kids decide to follow the trail left behind by Margot and set off to rescue their parents, with Mim and Lewis joining Clancy and Kevin.

What I really enjoyed about this movie is how things kept going hilariously wrong for the kidnapped couple while the kids stayed smart and (very) lucky in following the clues.

The Sleepover is available on Netflix, and it’s a great movie to watch with kids. It’s entertaining without trying too hard to impress with unnecessary action or stunts.

The film stars Sadie Stanley, who also plays Kim Possible in the Disney Channel series, and it’s a fun, lighthearted watch for the whole family.