Disney juvenile star Jason Dolley gets a chance to set things right so to speak in high school life in the new Disney television film, Minutemen. He and another young man get hung out to dry on the horns of a ram statue which is their high school mascot. After that it's nerd city for him and young Luke Benward.
But you don't mess with a young genius and Benward with the help of some purloined downloaded files from NASA invents a time machine. They get another assistant in 6'4" Nicholas Braun who because of his height is also something of a high school misfit. And then with the best of intentions they go back in time and start righting a few wrongs as they see them. Life for them becomes one big do-over. Naturally as things work out some really unforeseen consequences occur.
It's a Disney product so the cast has that fresh scrubbed look, but the film is charmingly done and the performances are easy to take. I must make note of two other people in the cast. Young Steven R. McQueen is the grandson of the famous movie legend who if he were still with us would be 78. He plays the jock rival for Chelsea Staub who Dolley is crushing out on. You look hard and you can see some resemblance to Steve McQueen, but his character here is hardly the rebel persona of say, Nevada Smith.
One other cast member, J.P. Manoux took his character of the snoopy, supercilious vice principal from that Disney television series, Phil of the Future, and brought it over intact for this film. He's a pretty funny guy, Manoux, he's the best reason for adults to watch Minuteman.
By the way the title is something that Dolley, Braun, and Benward dream up to call themselves. They outfit themselves in white snow gear like they were going on a secret military operation in the polar region.
Well you didn't think it meant anything else? After all this is a Disney production.
