by OMAR MAJEED

Stories about children tend to fall into two camps: those that celebrate the giddy wildness of youth, or those about facing responsibilities and maturing. Thankfully, director Paul Feig (co-creator of TV’s Freaks and Geeks) chooses the spirited route with his new holiday film, Unaccompanied Minors.

A group of pre-teen kids of divorced families find themselves stuck at an airport due to a massive blizzard. And, of course, it happens to be Christmas Eve. Most of the U.Ms, as they’re referred to, are carted off to a nearby hotel. Five hapless juvenile mischief-makers are forced to stay behind under the watchful gaze of malicious airport official, Oliver Porter, played by Lewis Black.

Well, of course, you know, this means war.

One of the delinquents, Spencer (Dyllan Christopher), wants to escape and reunite with his kid sister Katherine (Dominique Saldana) at the nearby hotel. He forms an unlikely alliance with his fellow detainees—jazz-loving Charlie (Tyler James Williams), scrappy tomboy Donna (Quinn Shephard), rich princess Grace (Gina Mantegna) and the large and silent Beef (Brett Kelly). They pull stunt after stunt and along the way become an impromptu family.

Alot of the film’s strength comes from its great casting. Despite a fine roster of comic cameos, including alumni from shows like Arrested Development and Kids in the Hall (who in a wink-wink casting decision play the Guards in the Hall), many of the best moments come from the kids themselves.

Then, there’s Lewis Black. Black’s cranky, ranting, super-sarcastic comic delivery turns him into a delicious Christmas villain. I don’t even think Mr. Potter or Ebenezer Scrooge felt such maliciousness towards children. Black’s portrayal is over the top, silly and just right all at the same time.

However, considering Unaccompanied Minors was inspired by a radio piece on NPR’s This American Life, and was directed by Feig, who has a fine pedigree, it’s hard not to feel a bit underwhelmed sometimes. Though he never insults our intelligence, à la the umpteenth Santa Clause movie, his film could do more to stimulate it.

It often feels like we’ve seen bits and pieces of this film before— mostly from John Hughes’ back catalogue. Still, Unaccompanied Minors has a silly, heartwarming charm about it, despite occasional forays into saccharine plotlines.

Unaccompanied Minors opens Friday, Dec. 8

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