Spare Parts

Name: Spare Parts
Genre: Drama, Sport
Released: January 16, 2015
Duration: 83 min
Rating: 50
Cast: Alexa PenaVega, Carlos PenaVega, George Lopez, Jamie Lee Curtis, Marisa Tomei

2015

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Lionsgate | Release Date: January 16, 2015 | PG-13

Starring: Alexa PenaVega, Carlos PenaVega, George Lopez, Jamie Lee Curtis, Marisa Tomei

Summary: Four Hispanic high school students form a robotics club under the leadership of their school's newest teacher, Fredi (George Lopez). With no experience, 800 bucks, used car parts and a dream, this rag tag team goes up against the country's reigning robotics champion, MIT. On their journey, they learn not only how to build a robot- theyFour Hispanic high school students form a robotics club under the leadership of their school's newest teacher, Fredi (George Lopez). With no experience, 800 bucks, used car parts and a dream, this rag tag team goes up against the country's reigning robotics champion, MIT. On their journey, they learn not only how to build a robot- they learn to build a bond that will last a lifetime. [Pantelion Films]… Expand

Director: Sean McNamara

Genre(s): Drama, Sport

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 83 min

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Critic Reviews

Tirdad Derakhshani

Jan 16, 2015

At times, Spare Parts sails perilously close to the saccharine. But the film is a fine example of a message movie that does justice both to its important subject matter and to its characters' inner lives. Read full review

Michael O'Sullivan

Jan 15, 2015

It is the four young actors who play the students who truly shine, and who elevate the formulaic film above and beyond its familiar proceedings. Read full review

Joe Leydon

Jan 17, 2015

Even though it’s easy to identify all the recycled elements — bits and pieces of several inspirational-teacher scenarios, ranging from “To Sir, With Love” to “Stand and Deliver” — in this “based on a true story” concoction, there can be no denying the feel-good effect of the finished product. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Susan Wloszczyna

Jan 16, 2015

The issue of so-called “illegals” could not be more timely and, if Spare Parts does anything, it attempts to humanize the situation of those children who cope with this limbo-land existence without having had much choice in the matter. Read full review

Jesse Hassenger

Jan 20, 2015

In its mad hurry, the movie denies itself its own genre pleasures—chiefly, the ways assembling a ragtag robotics team and an equally ragtag robot might add a little bit of Mission: Impossible or MacGyver dynamics into a sports-style narrative. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Jan 19, 2015

It's easy to be cynical about a movie like this which, despite its factual basis, is more product than story. The pandering is obvious. Read full review

Jeannette Catsoulis

Jan 15, 2015

The movie’s setup has underdog appeal in spades. But it’s all for naught in a screenplay, by Elissa Matsueda (working from Joshua Davis’s 2005 article in Wired magazine), that plays down intellect in favor of corn and cliché. Read full review

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LeZee

Aug 18, 2015

From nothing to something!

If you are wondering this is a B movie, I would say yes, but no. Because I have seen some of this director's movies and he gives the best in this category. Not so popular, small budget, low production quality, all these does not mean not worth a watch. In fact,From nothing to something!

If you are wondering this is a B movie, I would say yes, but no. Because I have seen some of this director's movies and he gives the best in this category. Not so popular, small budget, low production quality, all these does not mean not worth a watch. In fact, this film somehow got two most recognisable faces, Marisa Tomei and Jamie Lee Curtis in the supporting roles. And not to forget George Lopez was better than these two who appeared in a prominent role.

This film was based on the true story of the robotics club of the community high school from Phoenix, who went to participate in the national underwater robotics competition. That was the year 2004, four unlikely, undocumented Mexican immigrant students came together for a project that meant for university level teams. The rest of the story tells their journey from nothing to something.

A very inspirational movie, just like 'October Sky'. But in the beginning I was quite not sure, because of the production quality. Then realised that the issue was something else. The film talks mostly about immigrants, due to the majority of characters Mexicans, I felt like watching non-American movie, thus it did not look like a regular Hollywood brand. It comes under the category of 'Life of Pi', 'Memoirs of Geisha' et cetera, where it demands the new faces but still a very much Hollywood.

You know these kids who had no experience, built a water robot from the scraped and cheapest spare parts which cost only under $800 and competing with reigning champion like MIT is like ISRO against NASA. Because ISRO sent a low cost rocket to Mars at a very first attempt where many giant countries in the space program had failed to do. And won 2015's space pioneer award, which was very much similar to this movie. So this film is just like a school version of that and an example for nothing is impossible if you put your effort with a right mindset.

"The first rule of engineering is...
you never build anything with real material...
until you build a proof-of-concept model."

Not the whole narration is about the robot, but it is the center and awesomely constructed stories of all the characters that connects to it. Since the kids are illegally staying, their's each tale about the struggles in the society as well as in the family was emotionally told. Individually, they are nothing than a thief, a prey to the bully, a prey for the domestic violence and an ordinary fat kid. But their talents in the various fields brought them together by a teacher. As a team they achieve something more than a miracle.

A movie like this must be shown to students in the schools to motivate their interests. A car thief and a mechanical engineer have the same knowledge, but the difference is one is educated and the other one is illiterate or the school dropout. If the talents are utilised well in a childhood itself, the future will always be brighter. I think every school need to appoint a teacher whose work is to interact with students to find their gifts and to show the right path.

In this movie, the timing of those four students and the new teacher was absolutely perfect. And so they saw the life changing moment. It does not happen like that in everyone's life, so sometimes it should be the parents. If both, teachers and parents fail, that's the trouble for that kid as well as the society. This film is not the most popular one, that's the most disappointment. Just don't ignore it, it is a definitely a must see by all the age, because inspiration is not just for the youngsters.

8.5/10… Expand

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Metalsand

Jun 26, 2015

I came into the movie not expecting much at all. In fact, considering the meta score I wasn't even sure if it would be watchable. While it might follow the typical team-formula like most generic movies about competitions, the biggest credit to the movie is it's actual accuracy regardingI came into the movie not expecting much at all. In fact, considering the meta score I wasn't even sure if it would be watchable. While it might follow the typical team-formula like most generic movies about competitions, the biggest credit to the movie is it's actual accuracy regarding the subject matter. One moment in particular that showed the attention to detail that really caught my attention was that when an electrical component was submerged and shorted, it didn't die. In reality, most technology survives water so long as the device is 100% dried out first. In addition to that, the second biggest surprise was George Lopez's acting. I know him first and foremost as a comedian, and typically comedians make terrible actors in anything remotely serious, but he did a much better job than I expected to the point where I wasn't convinced it was George Lopez until the end.

The movie's not the best, and it might follow a generic formula, but overall I enjoyed it because, hey, at least it's not the 10th movie about football, and hey, at least the programming was...ACTUAL PROGRAMMING. There's only so many movies I can see where programming is some crazy out of this world 3D interface, and the hacker's slapping on two keyboards at once, and I liked it because despite it's generic formula it didn't really fabricate anything.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

reba

Jun 10, 2015

It may follow all the typical inspirational-sports genre movie rules, but it still feels good. And it's based on an amazing true story (be sure to read the "where are they now" stuff at the end. Anyone who debates the issue of immigration in an abstract way would do well to see these moreIt may follow all the typical inspirational-sports genre movie rules, but it still feels good. And it's based on an amazing true story (be sure to read the "where are they now" stuff at the end. Anyone who debates the issue of immigration in an abstract way would do well to see these more personal stories, e.g. watch a young man caught in undocumented limbo try to volunteer to serve our country.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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