TV Review: Flight 29 Down: The Hotel Tango

By Emily Ashby

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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this movie -- which features High School Musical co-star Corbin Bleu -- wraps up the tween-targeted series Flight 29 Down. Flashback clips show brief glimpses of the plane crash that stranded the characters on a tropical island, but it's nothing graphic enough to affect tween viewers. In general, there's not much iffy content (no language, violence, or even sexual references) ... but there aren't really any strong positive messages, either. Mostly, watching these castaways is just a vacation for the brain.

Families can talk about how this movie (and the series it's part of) compares with real life. How believable is the characters' situation? Are any aspects of the story more realistic than others (i.e., the interpersonal struggles among the group)? How does experiencing a stressful situation affect a group of friends' dynamics? Does it make them stronger or tear them apart? Parents and tweens can also discuss and practice outdoor survival skills and what to do in an emergency situation.

Common Sense Media Review
Made-for-TV movie FLIGHT 29 DOWN: THE HOTEL TANGO wraps up the tale of the stranded passengers and pilot whose aircraft crashed onto a deserted island in the South Pacific at the start of the series Flight 29 Down.

The movie picks up the story as the core group of eight survivors parts ways following the arguments that ended the series' second season. It's been nearly a month since the crash, and Melissa (Kristy Wu), Abby (Tani Lynn Fujimoto), Jackson (Johnny Pacar), and Eric (Jeremy Kissner) are packing their bags and heading off down the beach in search of help. The foursome is determined to find a more effective coexistence than the problem-ridden democracy established by self-appointed leader Daley ( Hallee Hirsh).

Feeling safer staying near camp, Nathan ( Corbin Bleu), Taylor (Lauren Storm), and young Lex ( Allen Alvarado) hang back with Daley, though their relationships are strained by the departure of their peers -- and the fact that some feel Daley's power trip is to blame for the separation.

As both groups struggle to survive the elements and their dwindling supplies, the castaways realize something drastic has to happen for them to be rescued. While the team at camp brainstorms ways to be seen by far-off ships, the explorers happen upon a crumbling, deserted building that just might hold the answers they've been seeking about their two missing peers and the plane's pilot.

For fans of the series, The Hotel Tango will answer questions raised during the show's two seasons and reveal the ultimate fate of the entire cast. But newcomers would be better off brushing up on previous episodes before watching this movie, since little of the interpersonal relations and surprise revelations will mean much without enough background.

Overall, the movie suffers from the same pitfalls as the show. There's little reality to the supposed dangers the characters face. In fact, most of their woes relate to their personality clashes rather than to the severity of their situation, and, in typical Hollywood fashion, they all manage to look clean and groomed at the start of the day, despite having no makeup or hair gel in sight.

But it's not likely that tweens will gripe about these obvious exaggerations, and at least parents can rest easy knowing that, as far as content goes, there's virtually nothing of concern here.

Tweens may also enjoy Get Out There! . Teens and parents might like Lost , Alive, and Castaway.