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Dadnapped
Dadnapped
Dadnapped
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Dadnapped
Film poster
Written byAlan Silberberg
Directed byPaul Hoen
StarringEmily Osment
David Henrie
Jason Earles
Jonathan Keltz
Moises Arias
Denzel Whitaker
Charles Halford
Phill Lewis
George Newbern
Theme music composerAdam Cohen
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersDon Schain
Douglas Sloan
CinematographyDavid A. Makin
EditorTerry Stokes
Running time90 minutes
Production companySalty Pictures
Budget$4.5 million[1]
Original release
NetworkDisney Channel
ReleaseFebruary 16, 2009 (2009-02-16)

Dadnapped is a 2009 American crime comedy film released as a Disney Channel Original Movie. It premiered February 16, 2009. Starring actors from Disney Channel Original Series,[2][3][4] the movie had 4.6 million viewers for its premiere. Although the story centers on a hostage situation, the kidnappers are inept and the film "practically oozes kid-pleasing content".[5]

Plot

[edit]

Melissa Morris desperately tries to gain more attention from her always preoccupied father, Neal, a best-selling author. Melissa lives in the shadow of Tripp Zoome, the adventurous and clever hero from her father's popular spy novels. Before a long overdue father-daughter vacation, her father gets kidnapped by obsessive fans: Wheeze with his friend, Sheldon and his younger brother, Andre.

However, the tables turn when she has to team up with them to find and rescue him from Merv and his hired goons, Maurice and Skunk. It turns out Merv is just using Skunk and Maurice as part of a plan to get Neal to write one final book and get rich off it, and uses his daughter as a hostage by threatening to imprison Skunk and Maurice if they do not comply. Wheeze, Andre and Sheldon get all of the Trip Zoome fans in town to gather together to rescue Melissa and Neal and they attack when Melissa manages to signal them.

The fans attack Merv, Maurice and Skunk and they try to run but are stopped by more fans. Merv sneaks out with Neal while Skunk and Maurice go after Melissa who escapes. Melissa defeats them and ties them up. Merv nearly gets away, but Sheldon, who had been trying to find where everyone went, spots him and alerts everyone else, causing both Neal and Merv to be violently sprayed with water and juice. Neal is rescued, but Merv tries to get away.

As he runs, pursued by his tormentors, Maurice and Skunk, still tied up, come out and see this and, regretting what they've done, use the floss they're bound in to trip Merv, knocking him down and causing him to land face-first into a pile of trash. The police show up and arrest Merv, Maurice and Skunk while Neal thanks his fans. Wheeze gives his phone number to Melissa before she and her father leave on their long-overdue vacation.

Cast

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

Its premiere attracted 4.6 million viewers, outshining Nickelodeon's movie, Spectacular!, which premiered at the same time, by 39%.[6]

Despite its commercial success and positive fan response, it was negatively received by critics. David Nusair called the movie (along with Hatching Pete) "typically underwhelming Disney Channel fare."[7]

Adaptations

[edit]

Dadnapped: Junior Novel is a book based on the movie, which was due to be released September 30, 2008 in the United States[citation needed] and October 21, 2008, in the UK,[8] but the release date was changed to February 2009 to coincide with the movie's release.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dadnapped

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Dadnapped is a American action-adventure directed by and written by Alan Silberberg. Produced as a Original Movie, it premiered on February 16, , and stars as Melissa Morris, a teenage girl who must rescue her father, author Neal Morris (), after he is kidnapped by overzealous fans of his popular spy novel series. The film runs for 84 minutes and blends family-friendly humor with themes of self-discovery and heroism. The story centers on , who feels overshadowed by her father's fictional character Tripp Zoome, the hero of his books. During a planned father-daughter trip, Neal is "dadnapped" by obsessive fans, including (), (), and Andre (Moises Arias). , drawing inspiration from the books, channels her inner strength to navigate chases, puzzles, and confrontations involving the bumbling () in a lighthearted adventure. Supporting roles include as Tripp Zoome and as Maurice. Dadnapped received mixed reviews, praised for its positive messages about and but criticized for its formulaic plot and low-budget production. As of November 2025, it holds an audience score of 45% on based on over 10,000 ratings, with no official Tomatometer due to limited critic reviews. On , it has a 4.8/10 rating from more than 3,400 users. The film exemplifies Disney Channel's output of the era, featuring young stars from other Disney properties and emphasizing fun, moral-driven storytelling for a .

Production

Development

Dadnapped was developed as a Original Movie with an original screenplay written by Alan Silberberg. The story centers on themes of family bonding and self-discovery, framed within a comedic plot involving overzealous fans of a popular . This concept was tailored specifically for a tween audience, blending adventure and elements to explore parent-child relationships strained by fame and neglect. The film was directed by , a veteran of productions who had previously helmed Original Movies such as (2008). Production was handled by Salty Pictures in association with , with Don Schain serving as producer and Douglas Sloan as executive producer, on a reported of $4.5 million. Development took place in , leading to the film's premiere the following year. Key creative decisions emphasized casting stars to leverage their familiarity with young viewers, while keeping the tone light-hearted and family-oriented.

Casting

Emily Osment was cast in the lead role of Melissa Morris, the teenage protagonist, capitalizing on her established popularity from portraying Lilly Truscott in the series Hannah Montana to infuse the character with a relatable teen dynamic. was selected for the role of Neal Morris, Melissa's kidnapped author father, drawing on his extensive voice acting experience—such as voicing in the animated series—and his demonstrated comedic timing in live-action roles like Father of the Bride. The supporting cast featured a roster of young actors primarily from Disney Channel's existing lineup, including as Wheeze (from ), as Merv Kilbo (from Hannah Montana), as Tripp Zoome, Moises Arias as Andre (from Hannah Montana), as Sheldon, and as Maurice Legarche (from The Suite Life of Zack & Cody). This ensemble was assembled through a casting process that prioritized talents from Disney's ecosystem of series and films, aiming to leverage their familiarity and appeal to the network's core young audience and existing fanbases. Director Paul Hoen oversaw the auditions to ensure cohesion among the Disney-affiliated performers.

Filming

Principal photography for Dadnapped took place primarily in , USA, where the historic was utilized to capture the film's rural and small-town environments, including scenes simulating a book convention and vehicular pursuits. Filming commenced in October , with production wrapping in a matter of weeks to accommodate the Disney Channel Original Movie schedule. David A. Makin served as , overseeing the visual capture of the film's action-comedy sequences through standard digital methods typical for television movies of the era. Key cast members, including and , were on location in Magna to shoot principal scenes. was handled by Terry Stokes, resulting in a final runtime of 84 minutes. Post-production services, including and final assembly, were provided by Encore Hollywood.

Music

The musical elements of Dadnapped primarily consist of an original score and a single featured song, designed to complement the film's lighthearted adventure and family dynamics. The score was composed by Adam Cohen, a musician known for his work on television and film projects including Psych and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Cohen's composition incorporates energetic, pop-infused tracks to heighten the tension during chase and action sequences, while softer, melodic cues emphasize the emotional bonds between characters. A key original song, "Hero in Me," was written specifically for the film and performed by lead actress Emily Osment, who also showcased her singing talents in this dual role. The track, released as a single by Walt Disney Records in 2009, plays a prominent role in the movie, underscoring themes of self-confidence and personal heroism through its empowering lyrics and upbeat melody. It features in a pivotal empowerment moment and during the end credits, reinforcing the narrative's message of inner strength. No complete soundtrack album was issued for Dadnapped, limiting official releases to the "Hero in Me" single. However, the song was promoted through music videos, including a dedicated clip that tied into the film's marketing campaign and highlighted Osment's performance. This integration of music helped amplify the movie's thematic focus on discovering one's heroic potential within family challenges.

Narrative

Plot

Melissa Morris, a 15-year-old girl, feels constantly overshadowed by her father Neal's obsession with his bestselling "Tripp Zoome" spy novel series, as Neal prioritizes his fictional teenage hero over with her. Desperate for attention, Melissa convinces Neal, a divorced , to take her on a long-overdue father-daughter to reconnect and escape the distractions of his fame. However, Neal surprises her by detouring to Mercury, a small town hosting a fan convention for the Tripp Zoome books, disappointing Melissa who had envisioned a private getaway. At the convention hotel, is suddenly "dadnapped" by a trio of enthusiastic but misguided fans—Wheeze, Andre, and Sheldon—who are convinced the novels are autobiographical and that Neal is a real secret agent. The fans abduct him in a van using non-lethal tactics like onion spray, hoping to embark on an authentic spy adventure with their idol. Furious at yet another interruption, handcuffs herself to Neal to keep him close, but the group is quickly intercepted and kidnapped a second time by the hotel manager Kilbo and his bumbling accomplices, Maurice and . These criminals, seeking profit, hold Neal captive in an underground bunker, forcing him to write a final Tripp Zoome under duress while planning to kill him afterward to increase its value; they also capture Melissa as leverage. Melissa manages to escape the bunker and, drawing inspiration from the resourceful tactics in her father's books, reluctantly teams up with the original fan group—Wheeze, Andre, and Sheldon—to mount a rescue operation. Rallying more convention attendees as allies, the team navigates a series of chaotic chase sequences involving booby traps, hidden passages, and slapstick confrontations with Merv's henchmen, testing Melissa's wits and courage. In the climax, Melissa fully embraces her "inner hero," outmaneuvering Maurice and Skunk by using improvised gadgets and quick thinking to subdue them, while the fans alert the police. Sheldon spots Merv attempting to flee with Neal, and the tied-up henchmen inadvertently trip Merv, allowing Neal to break free. The authorities arrive to arrest Merv, Maurice, and Skunk, ending the threat. With the danger averted, expresses profound gratitude to the fans for their help and has a heartfelt realization about neglecting his in favor of his work. reconcile, with promising to prioritize their relationship, and they finally set off on the road trip originally planned. Through the ordeal, overcomes her toward the fictional Tripp Zoome, discovering her own strength and self-confidence, ultimately strengthening the family bond.

Cast

The principal cast of Dadnapped is as follows:
ActorRole
Melissa Morris
Neal Morris
Wheeze
Merv Kilbo
Tripp Zoome
Moises AriasAndre
Sheldon
Maurice Legarche
Debbie
Several actors in the cast, such as , , , and Moises Arias, were contemporaries from other productions including Hannah Montana and .

Release

Premiere

Dadnapped premiered as a Original Movie on February 16, 2009, airing at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. The film's promotional campaign featured trailers emphasizing the "dadnapped" premise, an official for the end-credits song "Hero in Me" performed by , and cross-promotions highlighting the involvement of stars from series such as Hannah Montana, , and . It aired in direct competition with Nickelodeon's original movie Spectacular!, which premiered simultaneously on the same night; Disney's press materials described Dadnapped as outperforming the rival production, which they termed an "original movie knock-off." The initial broadcast had an 84-minute runtime and was rated TV-G, suitable for family viewing.

Home media

Dadnapped was released on DVD on May 12, 2009, by as a paired with the Disney Channel Original Movie . The single-disc edition presents both films in 1.78:1 format with 2.0 stereo audio, totaling 173 minutes of runtime, and is housed in a white keepcase with a slipcover. It features Disney's FastPlay system, which automatically starts the selected movie and bonus content upon insertion. Bonus materials specific to Dadnapped include an extended ending (1:55) providing additional closure to the story, and the animated short "Trip Zoome: Off the Rails," an original graphic novel-style adventure tied to the film's plot. No bloopers reel is included on the disc. There has been no standalone Blu-ray release for Dadnapped, and physical international distribution was limited primarily to import markets such as the . In the streaming era, Dadnapped became available on Disney+ following the platform's launch in November 2019, where it remains accessible as part of the Original Movies catalog. It was temporarily offered on starting around January 2015 and again in early 2017 before being removed.

Reception

Critical reception

Dadnapped received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, with praise for its family-friendly adventure elements and positive messages about self-discovery, tempered by criticisms of its formulaic structure and reliance on Original Movie (DCOM) tropes. On , the film holds an audience score of 45% based on 189 ratings (as of November 2025), reflecting a consensus that it delivers lighthearted fun suitable for younger viewers but lacks originality in its plotting and execution. User reviews on average 4.8 out of 10 from more than 3,400 votes, where commenters often highlight the over-the-top and the film's uplifting emphasis on personal growth and family relationships, though many decry the elements as juvenile and the narrative as predictable. Specific feedback commends the chemistry among the cast, with Emily Osment's portrayal of the protagonist noted as a standout for its energy and relatability, providing a bright spot amid the film's broader silliness. Common Sense Media awarded the movie 3 out of 5 stars, appreciating its light humor and inept villains that pose no real threat, while underscoring the value in promoting family bonds and inner strength through themes of communication and self-confidence. The review positions it as an accessible, positive entry for children aged 6 and up, blending outrageous antics with relatable emotional undercurrents. Dadnapped received no major awards or nominations.

Viewership

The premiere of Dadnapped on February 16, 2009, attracted 4.6 million total viewers, outperforming the competing original movie Spectacular!, which aired the same night and drew 3.3 million viewers, resulting in a 39% lead for the film. The movie demonstrated strong engagement in its target demographics, reaching 2.1 million kids aged 6-11 and 1.8 million tweens aged 9-14, consistent with the robust performance of Original Movies among young audiences during that era. As a television movie, Dadnapped generated no theatrical revenue. Specific home media sales data remain unavailable publicly, but its May 2009 DVD release as a bundled with fellow Disney Channel Original Movie Hatching Pete improved consumer access and distribution. The film's ongoing availability for streaming on Disney+ has supported its long-term reach, allowing sustained viewership among audiences revisiting 2000s Disney Channel content.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1090750/
  2. https://movies.disney.com/dadnapped
  3. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/dadnapped
  4. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dadnapped
  5. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1090750/fullcredits/
  6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0388505/
  7. https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/dadnapped/umc.cmc.5910c52oxe1qm5pmlgzfwmzxu
  8. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0627624/
  9. https://insidepulse.com/2009/05/31/hatching-pete-dadnapped-disney-double-feature-dvd-review/
  10. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1090750/locations/
  11. http://magnatimes.blogspot.com/2007/10/dadnapped-starts-filming-in-magna-utah.html
  12. https://lincolnhighwaynews.com/2009/02/16/utah-main-street-scene-of-disney-movie-tonight/
  13. https://shotonwhat.com/dadnapped-2009
  14. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1090750/companycredits/
  15. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1090750/fullcredits
  16. http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/title/88076/Dadnapped
  17. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1265485/
  18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL-EpCUmrNc
  19. https://open.spotify.com/track/4jPsaBoRGfrs7QhsIeZ1Fy
  20. https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Hero_in_Me
  21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Pvuu1F_Mak
  22. https://video.disney.com/watch/hero-in-me-emily-osment-4be70e616ccceb6a6e9faf04
  23. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1090750/plotsummary/
  24. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/22084-dadnapped/cast
  25. https://d23.com/a-to-z/dadnapped-television/
  26. https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/show-tracker/story/2009-02-17/ratings-for-nickelodeon-musical-not-so-spectacular
  27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YynfZA8vRog
  28. https://dvdizzy.com/hatchingpete-dadnapped.html
  29. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNSqw-tnzNw
  30. https://www.shineon-media.com/2009/05/21/review-hatching-pete-dadnapped-dvd/
  31. https://www.blu-ray.com/Dadnapped/582907/
  32. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hatching-Pete-Dadnapped-Region-NTSC/dp/B001R3YRIU
  33. https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-965cd063-7380-4d94-91d8-1178336ab913
  34. https://usa.newonnetflix.info/archive/date/all/2015-01
  35. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1090750/reviews/
  36. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1090750/awards/
  37. https://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Hatching-Pete-and-Dadnapped-DVD/24792/
  38. https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/dadnapped
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