Minutemen (film)
| Minutemen | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Screenplay by | John Killoran |
| Story by |
David Diamond David Weissman |
| Directed by | Lev L. Spiro |
| Starring |
Jason Dolley Luke Benward Nicholas Braun Chelsea Kane J. P. Manoux Steven R. McQueen Kara Crane |
| Theme music composer | Nathan Wang |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Douglas Sloan |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Salty Pictures |
| Distributor | Disney-ABC Domestic Television |
| Budget | $5 million |
| Release | |
| Original network | Disney Channel |
| Original release | January 25, 2008[1] |
Minutemen is a 2008 science-fiction Disney Channel Original Movie.[2] The movie was the most viewed program on cable for the week, with 6.48 million viewers.[3]
The film was written by John Killoran (writing the teleplay) and David Diamond and David Weissman (writing the story) and directed by Lev L. Spiro, who received a Director's Guild nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programs for it.[4] Andrew Gunn, Ann Marie Sanderlin and Doug Sloan are the executive producers.[2] The movie was originally slated for release in March 2008,[5] however, the movie premiered on Disney Channel in United States on January 25, 2008.[6]
Plot
On the first day of high school, best friends Virgil (Jason Dolley), Derek (Steven R. McQueen), and Stephanie (Chelsea Kane) each decide to try out various activities around the school; however, Virgil's high school career takes a turn when young genius Charlie Tuttle (Luke Benward) interrupts football practice as he tears across the field on a rocket car. As the football team begins harassing Charlie, Virgil comes to his defense only to get bullied as well. Virgil and Charlie are forced to dress as cheerleaders and are hung from the school mascot's statue by their underwear.
Three years later, Virgil and Charlie are still outcasts because of the incident. Charlie informs Virgil that he has invented a time machine. After befriending grease junky Zeke (Nicholas Braun), the time machine is built, and they test the time machine out by attempting to purchase a winning lottery ticket in the past. Forgetting that they are underage, they ask a local street performer to buy it for them, but are forced to return to the present early. This in turn causes the street performer to win the lottery using the numbers they provided. After this failure, Charlie comes up with the plan to only use the machine to undo embarrassing mistakes made by their classmates.
After the group, known as the "Snowsuit Guys", are named local heroes, Virgil saves Stephanie from falling off her cheerleader's pyramid, leading her to confront him. After Derek experiences a humiliating loss at the state championship, Stephanie asks Virgil to help him out; in turn, the former friends are reunited. After hanging with the popular kids, Virgil begins to abandon Charlie and Zeke in favor of Stephanie and Derek. However, Stephanie eventually learns that Derek is cheating on her with his tutor Jocelyn, and Derek pleads with Virgil to go back in time to stop Stephanie from finding out, but Virgil is unsure as he has discovered he now has feelings for her.
The FBI arrives in the town after monitoring suspicious activity. After consulting with the government's top scientists, Charlie learns that their continuous uses with the time machine has damaged the space-time continuum, thus created a black hole. With only hours to live, the trio are forced to venture into the hole and close it.
Once they have entered the black hole, they are transported back to their first day of high school, as the key component from the time machine was in Charlie's rocket cart. Virgil realizes that he can undo the events that caused him to lose his popularity. Charlie bitterly tells him that although Virgil hates this day, it's Charlie's favorite day as it's the day he finally got a real friend. Charlie and Zeke leave Virgil to make a decision, but as Virgil watches the incident unfold, he discovers that Derek had betrayed him in favor of gaining popularity. Having come to his senses, Virgil then reunites with Charlie and Zeke after picking up the rocket car.
They manage to close the black hole and return to the day when they first tried time-traveling. Virgil confronts Derek and tells him to have fun with Jocelyn as he is still aware of his infidelity. Virgil confesses his feelings towards Stephanie (and she for him), but Charlie walks up to them and eagerly suggests a new idea: teleportation. Virgil and Zeke drag him off, arguing amongst themselves.
Cast
- Jason Dolley as Virgil Fox, a social outcast after an embarrassing event
- Luke Benward as Charlie Tuttle, a young genius and outcast who is Virgil and Zeke's best friend
- Nicholas Braun as Zeke Thompson, a "bad boy" outcast who is Charlie and Virgil's best friend
- Chelsea Kane as Stephanie Jameson, Virgil's only former friend who still likes Virgil. Virgil has a crush on her
- J. P. Manoux as Vice Principal Tolkan.
- Steven R. McQueen as Derek Beaugard, Virgil's former best friend who is now dating Stephanie. He chose popularity over Virgil, but once he find out about Virgil's time-travelling, he starts to use him for his own advantage
- Kara Crane as Jeanette Pachelewski, a quirky girl who harbors a crush on Charlie
- Dexter Darden as Chester, an outcast who becomes popular due to the actions of the "Snowsuit Guys"
- Kellie Cockrell as Jocelyn Lee, a stuck-up popular girl who Derek cheated on Stephanie with
- Molly Jepson as Amy Fox, Virgil's annoying younger sister
- Larry Filion as F.B.I. agent (uncredited)
Production
Disney Channel first released an official press via its press release website DisneyChannelMedianet.com on July 14, 2007 to confirm the production of Minutemen. The lead star, plot, writers, director and executive producers of this movie was also announced in this press. In addition, another 2008 DCOM named Camp Rock, scheduled to begin production in September 2007, was also confirmed in the same press.[2]
Location
Minutemen was filmed at Murray High School. Murray High School was also the set of: Take Down (1978), Read It and Weep (2006), the auditorium scene of High School Musical (2006), and High School Musical: Get in the Picture (2008). Filming also took place at Highland High School located in Sugar House.
Featured music
The first single of the movie, "Run It Back Again" by Corbin Bleu was released January 22, 2008 on Radio Disney Jams, Vol. 10 and its music video premiered on Disney Channel. Another single titled "Like Whoa" from Aly & AJ began airing January 19, 2008 around the world, as a music video on Disney Channel. The song could be purchased on album, Insomniatic.
Reception
Minutemen premiered on the Disney Channel on January 25, 2008 with 6.48 million views.[3]
References
- ↑ "Disney Channel MediaNet". Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- 1 2 3 "Production Begins on "Minutemen" and "Camp Rock", Disney Channel Original Movies for 2008" (Press release). Disney Channel Medianet Press. 2007-07-14. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
- 1 2 Robert Seidman (January 29, 2008). "Top Cable Jan 21-27: Minutemen Wins for Disney". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2014-11-30.
- ↑ "McQueen on clock for Dis' 'Minutemen'". Hollywood Reporter. 2007-12-06. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
- ↑ "'Cory in the House' Actor Leads New Disney Movie". Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ↑ Cable Nielsens (January 31, 2008) It premiered with 6.48 million viewers.