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COLLEGE ROAD TRIP

"Sweet, Kind and Frenetic"

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What You Need To Know:

COLLEGE ROAD TRIP is a sweet family father-daughter movie with broad comedy. James Porter, the police chief of a suburban Chicago town, is an over-protective father. His 17-year-old daughter, Melanie, wants to go to Georgetown, far away from their Illinois home. He wants her to go to Northwestern, only 28 minutes away. His son is a genius who has bred a brilliant pig who can play chess and keeps his eye on James. Melanie has a chance to get into Georgetown, but she has to get to the interview in three days. James offers to take her in the police cruiser, but he does everything to sabotage the trip. Father and daughter bicker, banter and careen from one disaster to another.

COLLEGE ROAD TRIP is very clean and shows the need for fathers to love their children enough to listen to them. The movie has a wonderful story about the reconciliation of a father and a daughter, but the story is not as well crafted, deep or rich as THE GAME PLAN. At many points, it is a thin excuse for broad-based, slapstick comedy. Thus, viewers may end up wanting more.

Content:

(BB, C, V, M) Strong moral worldview with one positive prayer and some dialogue about the daughter being grown up and going off on her own, although the Bible always has children under the protection of their parents until they get married, and the father says he prepared her to be equipped to be her own person; no foul language, although pig makes some scatological sounds; lots of action but very mild such as car rolls over, father under sorority bed while girls jump on it, father falls off ladder, father hangs off ledge, and other pratfalls; very mild discussions of relationships and several dance scenes, one song “Double Dutch Bus”; no nudity and no provocative dressing; no alcohol; no smoking or drug references; and, father tries to trick daughter into going to local college.

More Detail:

COLLEGE ROAD TRIP is a sweet family father-daughter movie with some broad comedy.

James Porter, the police chief of a suburban Chicago town, is an over-protective father. Even his mother thinks he’s too over-protective. His 17-year-old daughter, Melanie, wants to go off to Georgetown Univ., far away from their home in Illinois. He wants her to go to Northwestern, which is only 28 minutes away. His son is a little genius who has bred a brilliant pig who can play chess, assemble a Rubiks Cube in seconds and who keeps his eye on James. His wife, Michelle, loves James but wants Melanie to get out into the real world. Melanie is upset that her father treats her as a little girl.

In the story, Melanie is arguing a moot court case at her high school. The judge tells her he can get her into Georgetown, which is her dream, but she has to get to the interview in three days.

James is horrified because he has prepared for Melanie to go to the closest college. When he finally decides to drive her to Georgetown in the police cruiser, he “accidentally” takes her to Northwestern and has his deputies, one of whom is quite cute, try to interest her in Northwestern. Melanie discovers the ruse, and they get back on the road.

James takes a little country backwoods route and trashes the police cruiser. Melanie gets them to a hotel, where they book themselves on a Japanese tour bus. They end up at his mother’s house in Pittsburgh, and she goes to the sorority at Pitt. He spies on her, but gets caught the next morning sleeping under the girl’s bed. James gets thrown in jail. They miss their plane to Washington, but they hitch a ride on what, unknown to them, is a sky diving plane.

The good news of COLLEGE ROAD TRIP is that it is very clean and shows the need for fathers to love their children enough to listen to them. The movie has a wonderful story in it about the reconciliation of a father and a daughter, but the story is not as well crafted, deep or rich as THE GAME PLAN. At many points, it is a thin excuse for broad-based, slapstick comedy. The end of the movie has a great heart-rending hook, so most of the audience will walk out satisfied, but be aware that this is very thin soup. It tastes good, but it will leave you wanting much more.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.