Here’s a cool option DVD for Halloween night, Under Wraps. Aimed at the youngsters between the ages of 6 and 10, the film is short enough to show after the gang returns from trick or treating. The animation, voice cast and story are fun elements and there’s just enough action and scary images to keep the target audience interested and laughing.
The story opens with 12-year-old Danny reading a history book about a Pharaoh who was overthrown by his people wrongly then incarcerated in a sarcophagus (an Egyptian casket) within a pyramid. It’s his archeologist parents last day of their exploration trip at the pyramid tomb of the very pharaoh in Egypt that is featured in his book. Danny is excited and wants to join them when they go into the area where the pharaoh is entombed, but due to his awkwardness and an incident at their last exploration, his parents think not.
He is told to hang around the tent with his teenage sister Eleanor until they return. But, being a boy with an imagination for adventure, he disobeys his father and enters the pyramid on the opposite side. He goes into a room and falls through a wooden bridge that crosses within the chamber. The bridge breaks and Danny sees a huge casket with an amulet attached. Being a curious boy, he pulls on the amulet and it becomes unattached. Placing it in his pocket, Danny leaves the area just in time to see his parents getting into to their trailer.
They return to their home in the United States, and Danny retires for the night. He drops the amulet on his bedroom floor and his mom picks it up with the laundry. When her husband kicks the laundry basket while enjoying a rest on the couch, the two turn into mummies. So begins an adventure of major proportions when the Pharaoh comes looking for his amulet and finds the family ‘under wraps’.
The animation is very good and colorful, just what most youngsters like in a cartoon. The comedy gets very child funny and the story provides some chills and thrills that their young age group will like. Most children that have been watching the Disney channel and Nickelodeon should have no problem understanding the film and relating to the comedy. Even though the Pharaoh mummy is a bit scary, if you’re close enough to your very young so he can give you a hug, it may be even ok for them as well.
Under Wraps has been rated PG for some scary images, rude humor and action. I like Under Wraps for children, but always remember to watch any animated movie for kids first, so you can decide whether it is appropriate for them.
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Brooke Shields, Drake Bell, Matthew Lillard
Director: Gordon Crum
MPAA Rating: PG for some scary images, rude humor and action
Genre: Comedy, Animation
Running Time: 48 min
Video Release Date:
Original Film Release Date:
Language: English
Format: DVD
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: 16×9 Widescreen
Subtitles: Closed Caption
Number of Discs: 1 Disc
Distributed by: ARC Entertainment
