P.U.N.K.S

P.U.N.K.S

Year: 1999

Runtime: 98 mins

Language: English

Director: Sean McNamara

FamilyTV MovieScience FictionComedy

Drew Utley, Miles Kitchen, Lanny Nygren and Jonny P. comprise a club called ‘P.U.N.K.S.’. Their mission is to protect and serve peace.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – P.U.N.K.S (1999)

Explore the full timeline and setting of P.U.N.K.S (1999). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 1990s

The events unfold in a contemporary late-20th-century setting, with early computer networks and a culture of teen camaraderie. The tech threat and corporate intrigue reflect the era's fascination with hacking and biotech experimentation. The tone blends ordinary suburban life with high-stakes corporate drama, characteristic of late-90s thrillers.

Location

Corporate research facility, Pat Utley's home, Drew's high school

The story shifts between a biotech research facility where the Augmentor 1000 is developed, Pat Utley's quiet home life, and the teens' school environment. The lab provides a sleek, high-tech backdrop for dangerous experiments, while the home and school scenes ground the stakes in everyday life. This contrast highlights how corporate ambition can collide with family safety and teenage resilience.

🏭 Lab 🏠 Home 🏫 School

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:45

Main Characters – P.U.N.K.S (1999)

Meet the key characters of P.U.N.K.S (1999), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Samantha Swaboda (Jessica Alba)

Sam is a skilled car thief and lockpick who joins the P.U.N.K.S. for the rescue mission. Resourceful, brave, and quick-thinking, she handles access to locked spaces and surveillance feeds. She helps keep the team coordinated under pressure.

🔐 Lockpicking 🚗 Car Theft 🤝 Team Player

Mrs. Utley (Cathy Moriarty)

Mrs. Utley is Pat Utley's wife, a steady presence amid the high-stakes tech plot. Her role highlights the family dimension of Pat's work and its impact on loved ones.

👪 Family 🏠 Domestic

Pat Utley (Randy Quaid)

Pat is a workaholic scientist and a devoted father who objects to the dangerous human trial on safety grounds. He is ordered to wear the Augmentor during a demonstration, despite a heart condition. He fights to protect his son and colleagues, ultimately playing a pivotal role in thwarting Crow's plans.

🧪 Scientist 👨‍👦 Father

Edward Crow (Henry Winkler)

Edward Crow is the profit-driven owner who overruns safety concerns to push a demo and secure funding. He orchestrates the investor presentation and reveals a willingness to eliminate the P.U.N.K.S. He clashes with Pat and is ultimately arrested after the plan collapses.

💼 Corporate 🕴️ Antagonist

Miles Kitchen (Kenneth A. Brown)

Miles is the tech-curious friend who hacks into the company systems. He browses classified files, helps obtain passwords, and supports the team with a viral attack to buy time. His quick thinking and gadgets-edge keep the group ahead of security.

💡 Hacker 🤝 Team Player

Lanny Nygren (Patrick Renna)

Lanny is bold and physically capable, the quick comrade who backs up the plan. He actively uses the Augmentor to defend the group, even tossing bullies across the courtyard, symbolizing the teens' willingness to stand up to intimidation.

💪 Strong 🧭 Risk-taker

Jonny Pasiotoplis (Brandon Baker)

Jonny is the school hustler who recruits Samantha and helps orchestrate the break-in. His street smarts and willingness to take risks grease the gears of the plan, illustrating how unconventional methods can challenge the system.

🧠 Schemer 🗝️ Password Hunter

Drew Utley (Tim Redwine)

Drew is Pat's teenage son, part of the P.U.N.K.S., who overhears key plans and drives the mission to save his father. He navigates danger in the master control, rescues his friends, and ultimately outsmarts Crow in a tense showdown.

👦 Teen 🧭 Leader

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:45

Major Themes – P.U.N.K.S (1999)

Explore the central themes of P.U.N.K.S (1999), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🤝 Underdogs Unite

Three bullied teens form the P.U.N.K.S. to shield themselves from abuse and injustice. They pool their wits, skills, and courage to challenge a powerful corporation. The group's motto—Protect the Underdog with Nerve, Knowledge, and Strength—drives their risky mission. Their teamwork shows that courage and cleverness can level the playing field against bigger forces.

🧬 Tech Ethics

A live human trial of the Augmentor 1000 raises urgent ethical questions about safety, consent, and the cost of progress. The company owner pressures for a demonstration, pushing limits that could injure or kill. Pat's objections clash with Crow's profit-driven plans, highlighting the tension between science and responsibility. The film uses the tech thriller premise to critique unchecked experimentation.

⚖️ Responsibility

Pat's dedication to safety and family loyalty anchors the story. Drew and the others take risks to save him, illustrating youth-driven responsibility and protective instincts. The climax tests who bears responsibility for risky tech—the scientists, the investors, or the guardians who fight back.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:45

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P.U.N.K.S Summary

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P.U.N.K.S Summary

P.U.N.K.S Timeline

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P.U.N.K.S Timeline

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