"Unaccompanied Minors" isn't a particularly good movie. In fact, it's pretty much a rip-off of "Home Alone" and its various sequels, though it features more than one prankster kid and is set in a hectic airport.
But one thing the comedy may have going for it among local audiences is that it was shot entirely in Utah, which makes watching parts of it kind of fun — the parts that feature local hot spots.
The most recognizable of these are the Salt Lake City Library and the Salt Palace Convention Center, which subbed for the fictional Hoover International Airport in Chicago.
Also used were portions of The Gateway Center, Crossroads Plaza and Trolley Square Mall, as well as a few homes in Salt Lake City's Avenues.
The film was shot during the summer, which required some trickery on the part of filmmakers, in order to make the locations appear to be snowed in.
It's not the worst comedy produced in Utah — there are several locally made productions that make this film's brand of slapstick and groin-smashing humor look positively inspired.
But it does waste the talented cast.
"Unaccompanied Minors" stars several actors from television comedies, including Tyler James Williams of "Everybody Hates Chris," "That '70s Show's" Wilmer Valderrama and "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" commentator Lewis Black, as well as "Kids in the Hall's" Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney and Bruce McCulloch; B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling from "The Office"; Tony Hale and Jessica Walters from "Arrested Development"; and Teri Garr, who definitely deserves better.
"HOME-GROWN" SUNDANCE. There are also three upcoming Sundance Film Festival selections that were filmed entirely in Utah — two features and one shorter-length work.
"Mother Superior" was directed by Salt Lake teens Alex Mack and Diana Montero and looks at the rise in methamphetamine use by stay-at-home mothers.
Mack and Montero produced the short while participating in Spy Hop, a not-for-profit, youth media center. And according to Utah Film Commission marketing and communication executive, "It is very gratifying to see Utah's young filmmakers produce a film of Sundance caliber, and it is a true testament what Spy Hop does.
"We are proud of the girls and happy to see their hard work and dedication pay off," added McGibbon, who has worked with Spy Hop.
One of the feature films is the drama "Dark Matter," which will be screening in the American Spectrum section, and which stars Meryl Streep and Aidan Quinn, based on the experiences of a Chinese science prodigy. The film was shot at Utah Valley State College and in Federal Heights.
The other film is "It is Fine. Everything is Fine!" to be screened in the Park City at Midnight section. This one is actor-turned-filmmaker Crispin Glover's follow-up to the perplexing 2005 film "What is It?" which also played in Sundance's Midnight series.
For more information on the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, which runs Jan. 18-28, go online to sundance.org.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com