Spare Parts

Parental Rating: PG-13

Contains: Language    Violence    Adult Content    

Jill's Review

Opens January 16, 2015

Runs 115 minutes

A group of undocumented high school kids enter an underwater robotics contest against the best of the best (like MIT, the reigning champion), surprising everyone, including themselves, with their hard work and determination.  Dr. Cameron (George Lopez) is killing time substituting at Carl Hayden Community High School while he looks to land a new engineering job.  The school is so lacking in funds and support even the subs are in charge of extracurricular activities. Dr. C gets the Engineering club, and he is assured by the Principal (Jamie Lee Curtis) that no one will show up. Wrong! Lacking any kind of budget, supplies or support, these kids break down Dr. C's walls and together they learn the meaning of grit and determination.  

This is a really good, pull at your heart-strings, based on a true story, kind of film. The kids are all smart and determined and you can't help but pull for them. My only gripe is the political bent of the film. The kids are undocumented and are forced to run and hide from ICE. I'm not sure that ICE is so over-staffed that they have time to chase smart, hard-working high school students. And, of course these kids are all worthy of any help that we can give them. I thought it got a little heavy handed. Overall, though, I really liked this film. You can't help but appreciate what these kids were able to accomplish with pool noodles and tampons (yes, Tampons!). Pure ingenuity. Definitely worth seeing.

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