Film

Kidnapped

Name: Kidnapped
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Family
Released: 2017
Cast: Brian Lykke, Luca Reichardt Ben Coker, Alfred Bjerre Larsen, Mette Svane Pedersen, Samuel Hallas

Other titles called Kidnapped: the 1938 film, the 1948 film, the 1960 film, the 1988 film, the 2010 film.

Crime
Comedy
Light-hearted

A Danish family comedy heist film where a bumbling uncle involves his relatives in a kidnapping scheme to raise money for a new apartment. It's *Ocean's Eleven* for kids—silly, cheerful, and genuinely concerned with whether everyone gets along. For families who like their crime capers light and funny, and for adults who don't mind being the oldest person laughing in the cinema.

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you enjoy a scrappy family caper where the plan keeps unravelling and the chaos is played for warm, broad laughs rather than cynicism.

Skip it if you want a tight, grounded crime thriller; this is a light, goofy romp with cartoonish stakes and a plot that happily sacrifices logic for set pieces.

What it asks of you: Roughly eighty minutes of easy, bouncy attention, with no homework and no emotional heavy lifting, just a quick ride that moves briskly from one mishap to the next.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Paddington 22017

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But If you find British whimsy cloying or have no patience for talking animals in waistcoats, this won't convert you. It's relentlessly wholesome.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople2016

Taika Waititi's New Zealand comedy about a gruff old man and an orphan on the run. Perfect tonal balance—funny, touching, and genuinely exciting without losing its humor or heart.

But The quirky indie sensibility might feel forced if you prefer mainstream plotting. Some jokes land better if you catch New Zealand cultural references.

The Grand Budapest Hotel2014

Wes Anderson's caper about a legendary concierge and his lobby boy, structured like a heist with gorgeous visuals and genuine stakes beneath the whimsy. Funny and unexpectedly moving.

But Anderson's artificial aesthetic and narrative frame-within-frame can feel precious or exhausting. The pacing is deliberate; it won't rush you through anything.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Kidnapped

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Marrowbone2017

Both 2017 films feature families in crisis trying to survive through unconventional means and teamwork, but one chooses whimsy and the other chooses dread—they're tonal inverses exploring family loyalty from opposite ends.

A Spanish psychological thriller disguised as a Gothic house mystery. Four orphaned siblings trapped in a creepy manor, fractured timelines, and a twist that recontextualizes everything. Serious and haunting where *Kidnapped* is light.

But It's genuinely dark and disturbing—isolation, trauma, betrayal. Completely incompatible if you're looking for feel-good entertainment. The twist also requires close attention on first viewing.

Spy Kids2001

Robert Rodriguez's family action-adventure where kids are the heroes. Fast-moving, inventive with practical effects, and genuinely fun without talking down to its audience. Stands up surprisingly well.

But The CGI hasn't aged gracefully in places. If you need sophisticated humor or contemporary sensibilities, early-2000s kid-appeal will feel dated.

Storks2016

Animated heist-comedy about a stork and a delivery driver on a mission. Sharp writing, gorgeous animation, and actual character stakes—it respects its family audience's intelligence.

But Animated film fatigue is real. If you've seen dozens of animated comedies, the formula will feel familiar no matter how well-executed.

The Parent Trap1998

Nancy Meyers' remake is a masterclass in light comedy construction. Smart dialogue, real plot mechanics, and genuine charm. A film that trusts the audience to enjoy watching smart people scheme.

But It's fundamentally a '90s family film. If you find that era's sensibilities cloying or dated, no amount of quality will change that.

Matilda1996

Danny DeVito's adaptation balances dark comedy with heart, abuse with humor, despair with agency. Rhea Perlman and Pam Ferris are magnificent, and it never condescends to children watching it.

But The child abuse subplot puts some adults off. If you need pure lightness, the darkness of the premise might overshadow the humor.

The Lego Movie2014

A meta-comedy heist disguised as a toy commercial. Genuinely clever writing, excellent voice acting, and visual gags that reward both kids and adults. It's funnier than it has any right to be.

But If you're tired of meta-referential humor or find product placement philosophically objectionable, the film's whole engine will grate on you.

Troop Beverly Hills1989

Shelley Long leads a scrappy underdog story about a troop of girls competing for badges. It's earnest, funny, and surprisingly feminist for a '80s family comedy—and it's genuinely well-made.

But The movie is unapologetically '80s; if that era's visual style and values alienate you, sincerity won't overcome it. Very much a time capsule.

The Underdog's Tale2007

Both are Danish ensemble comedies about ordinary people organizing together to achieve something that seems impossible, finding humor and heart in the effort rather than false inspiration.

A Danish sports comedy-drama about a struggling soccer team that works together to win the championship. Real humor, genuine stakes, and the slow-building satisfaction of watching a team gel. Made by the same country's sensibility.

But It's a sports movie, and if sports narratives bore you, the plot predictability might overwhelm the charm. Also primarily a Danish film, so less familiar to international audiences.