There is a common trope in films where a main character learns some truths about his or her parents.
Spy Kids featured the two kids learning their parents used to be spies; Star Wars featured Luke Skywalker his father is Darth Vader, the once famed Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker.
Netflix’s The Sleepover puts a twist on this trope by having the kid characters learn their mother was once a thief who is in witness protection.
The Sleepover takes place in Boston and follows the lives of the Finch family. Clancy (Sadie Stanley) is a high school girl sheltered by her seemingly boring mother Margot (Malin Akerman). Her brother Kevin (Maxwell Simkins) is unapologetically himself and has some wild dance moves that are caught on video by some bullies. Dad Ron (Ken Marino) is an awkward pastry chef who tries his hardest to be a relatable parent, often with hilarious results.
Clancy is invited to a party, sparking a fight with Margot over her attending the party and being the only kid in her grade without a phone. She and her friend Min (Cree Cicchino) plot to sneak out that night and go to the party anyway.
Meanwhile, Kevin’s friend Lewis (Lucas Jaye) comes over for a sleepover, which Ron insists must take place in the backyard, with the boys camping out in a tent. Min arrives to the house and scares the boys in the tent. Clancy soon joins them and Lewis, overwhelmed by all rule-breaking, heads inside to use the facilities.
While inside, Lewis witnesses Margot and Ron being taken off by some people with guns who refer to Margot as “Mathilde.” Margot agrees to go with the two people and Lewis warns the other kids.
In the kitchen, Clancy discovers a clue Margot left behind. Suddenly, an old friend of Margot’s, Henry (Erik Griffin) arrives and the kids, believing him an intruder, attack him and tie him up. Henry reveals he is a U.S. Marshals Agent in charge of Margot’s case. He tells the kids Margot is in witness protection due to her testimony against her former crime boss. A viral video of Kevin’s dance and Margot’s confrontation with the bullies went viral and prompted her kidnapping by her former associates.
The kids then follow a trail of clues that they hope with lead them to Margot. The result is a an adventure (all taking place in the course of one night) that the kids will never forget.
While the movie is a little cheesy, it is enjoyable to watch. Kevin is certainly the comic relief of the foursome going after his parents and he always has a quip with whatever situation the kids find themselves.
The film also reverses the troupe of the damsel in distress. Ron had no clue about Margot’s past and he spends the film trying to figure out exactly what Margot was involved in in the past and he constantly tries to “one-up” Margot’s ex-fiancé Leo (Joe Manganiello), with often hilarious results. Ron is also the one to get the criminals into hot water as they try to carry out the heist and he ends up playing a somewhat heroic role in the film’s finale.
The Sleepover’s subverting of tropes makes it a fun and enjoyable movie to watch. The film also has a great message of the importance of family and learning to understand each other.
The Sleepover is available to stream on Netflix.
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