Mel J In terms of family films, 'Masterminds' would be rather average were it not for the fact it has somehow manages to boast a talented group of adult actors cast in key roles. The film focuses on sixteen-year-old delinquent Oz, who has just been expelled form his private school for yet another prank gone wrong. But after walking his eight-year-old step-sister to school one morning, he finds himself caught up in a ploy by a criminal group to hold the children hostage in exchange for a million-dollar ransom. Oz must then use his talent for pranks to free his step-sister and the other children.Vincent Kartheiser (better known as Connor in 'Angel') give a reasonable performance as Oz although a few might find the character too cocky and a bit annoying after a spell. But it is the adult actors who steal the show. Patrick Stewart is excellent as Rafe, the criminal heading the heist on the school and a man who is initially cool and reserved until his patience is increasingly tested by Oz. He has some great lines that he utters with the right amount of collected decorum. Brenda Fricker is a nice surprise as the disapproving school head teacher and Callum Keith Rennie is hilarious as one of Rafe's low-class henchmen.This film will probably entertain kids aged six to twelve who like action flicks and but are a little young for Bruce Willis yet want something more hard-hitting than 'Home Alone'. But for adults, it's worth a look-in for the adult cast. Besides, there aren't many films where you get to see Patrick Stewart in a Man. United shirt shouting 'United'!

ontario_gal I just watched this movie for the first tune this afternoon - a cold windy blustery day - when the best thing one can do is stay in and watch a movie. I turned it on with no idea as to what the movie was about.I very soon recognized the plot line as being almost identical to that of 1991s TOY Soldiers (staring Sean Astin and Wil Wheaton). An exclusive school is taken hostage by a band of terrorists - and along with it the children of the wealthy of the wealthy. Using the children as bargaining chips the bad guys hope to achieve a particular set of goals.What the terrorists didn't count on however is that a group of misfit students who have never done anything worthwhile in their lives turn out to be more worthy opponents than the trained professionals who are attempting to free the hostages and negotiate with the terrorists.All in all a good movie even if the plot was a bit tired - it did mirror one of my all time favorites!! 8 out of 10!!

izz999 i loved this movie, not only because i love Vincent Kartheiser, but because I liked the movie in a whole the script was entertaining and the things the character did were just so crafty, so well thought out it was kind of like home alone in a sense. A kid taking on an adult, outsmarting him. i enjoyed watching it. i would recommend it.

bob the moo When I started watching this, I basically just had the TV on and I didn't know what it was about. After about 20 minutes you realise what it is - it's Die Hard in a School for teenagers! Kartheiser plays Bruce Willis' character with Patrick Stewart doing Alan Rickman duties. The film even has elements of the Die Hard movies - comic interplay over the radio, twisty escape plans, running down corridors and through ventilation shafts etc.The only problem is that this is a kids movie - it's too basic for adults with too little tension or drama and it may even be a bit scary for young children. Which only leaves teenagers as it's audience. It's a shame, because this is not as bad as it sounds - it's reasonable undemanding fun. True, the action is not exactly what we've come to expect from an action movie - but for a kids version of Die Hard it's not bad!Patrick Stewart is good as the bad guy and plays the whole thing with his tongue in his cheek - at one point in the film making his getaway wearing a Manchester United strip! The rest of the adult cast is ok (including well known faces such as Brenda Flicker and Whitford), but the weak link is unfortunately Kartheiser who, for most of the film plays it like a really annoying version of Malculy Culkin! It's unfortunate because it's hard to care about him when he's being a snotty arrogant teenager.This won't satisfy many adults and will be too scary for kids (all the plot twists will be lost on them as well). But as a Die Hard for 12-15 year olds then this will satisfy most boys going through puberty.