Year: 1993
Runtime: 80 mins
Language: English
Director: Ted Nicolaou
A family‑friendly comedy in which 13‑year‑old Randy is forced to hide his remote‑controlled toys inside a model house. While doing so he discovers the secret hideout of three escaped prisoners. Using his clever gadgets, Randy outwits and captures the fugitives, turning a playful pastime into an unexpected adventure.
Warning: spoilers below!
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Randy Mason Chris Carrara is a teenage tech whiz living in a California suburb with his mother Marti Derya Ruggles while his father Brent is away on a business trip. Randy designs and pilots an ever-growing fleet of remote-controlled models, from a helicopter named Huey and a double-winged plane to a WWII fighter plane like the Zero, plus red and blue racecars, a green monster truck, a Godzilla knockoff, and even a yodeling figure named Gunther. He shares this hobby with his friend and budding romance, Judy Riley Jessica Bowman, an avid baseball player who explores Randy’s secret hideout at the local model home.
A prank gone wrong kicks off a chain of trouble when the bully across the street, Ben [Jordan Belfi], is targeted using Randy’s remotes to mess with his TV and a helicopter drop on his head. Ben retaliates by stealing Randy’s fighter plane, and Randy reluctantly lets him keep it, warning that the controller is locked at night. At school, Randy brings his own controller in an attempt to reclaim the plane, but the dueling devices cause chaos in the classroom and the plane crashes into Jamaal’s project, earning Randy the blame since no one saw Ben. He’s expelled, and he comes home to a stressed Marti who leaves a message about confiscating all the models. Randy decides to hide the fleet at the model home until things settle, while Judy urges him to tell the truth about Ben, reminding him she has a baseball game that evening.
As Randy heads out, three robbers—Delbert McCoy [John Diehl], Louis Marinelli [Tony Longo], and Louis’ cousin Richie Marinelli [Stuart Fratkin]—stumble upon the model home and decide to hole up there until police roadblocks clear in 3–4 days. Delbert, who insists on being called Del, is armed and dangerous, and the trio traps Randy in the attic by removing the ladder and using cigarette packs to craft a safe path around the alarm sensors. Randy tries to reach out via Gunther, the yodeling figure, and the eclectic assortment of models to thwart the intruders, even attempting to contact real estate agent Mrs. Williams with the helicopter, though the message is missed. He also experiments with Gunther to steal Louis’ steak and, in a moment of improvisation, drops a can of baked beans on Richie’s head, a misdirection that heightens the tension.
At Judy’s baseball game, she worries about Randy and leaves a message on Marti’s machine, while Marti concerns herself with the missing teen and enlists the police after Ben lets slip a bit too much. Dee [Robin Westphal], who may be emotionally or physically abrasive, retrieves Ben and confronts the danger in the house as the night unfolds. Randy drifts toward sleep while the crooks lie in wait, and Judy later discovers the danger is very real when she tracks Randy to the model home and is taken hostage.
Randy acts quickly to rescue Judy, using his remote‑controlled army of gadgets to outmaneuver the robbers. He melts Louis’ head with a bucket of roofing tar using the Godzilla model, then commands the helicopter to sic Bluto, Mrs. Williams’ bulldog, on Richie. He also employs the airplane to lash Richie to a flag line, buying time to mount a counterattack. With Delbert pursuing, Randy disarms him with Gunther and forces him to stumble through a minefield of remote cars, sending Delbert crashing into a roadside sign and the defeated crooks into custody as the authorities close in. Randy is joyfully reunited with Marti, Jamaal, and Mrs. Williams as Bluto the bulldog roams free, and the gang resolves to find a new, safer secret hideout. The film closes on Randy coaxing Gunther down from the rooftop, a quiet moment of relief after the high‑stakes chaos.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:02
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Clever children using their wits and gadgets to triumph over adult adversaries.If you enjoyed watching the clever hero in Remote turn the tables on the criminals, you'll love these movies. This collection features family-friendly adventures where smart, brave kids use their wits, gadgets, and sheer resourcefulness to outsmart adult antagonists in exciting and often humorous ways.
Stories in this thread typically follow a simple and satisfying arc: a child protagonist, often facing bullies or oblivious adults, finds themselves in a situation where they must protect their home or loved ones from a tangible threat. The conflict is resolved not through brute force, but through clever improvisation, traps, and a superior understanding of the terrain, leading to a triumphant and validating conclusion for the young hero.
These movies are grouped together because they share a core theme of youthful empowerment through intelligence. They blend a LIGHT, family-friendly TONE with FAST-paced adventure, creating a MEDIUM INTENSITY that comes from suspenseful cat-and-mouse chases rather than genuine peril. The emotional journey is consistently one of cleverness conquering brute force.
Inventive heroes using unconventional technology for thrilling and humorous escapades.Fans of Remote who loved the creative use of remote-controlled toys will enjoy these films. Discover movies where inventive heroes use quirky gadgets, homemade tech, or cleverly repurposed items to pull off exciting capers, outwit opponents, and save the day with a sense of playful fun and adventure.
The narrative pattern involves an inventive protagonist who uses their technological savvy as their greatest asset. A threat emerges, and the hero must improvise a series of creative solutions using their unique gadgets, leading to a sequence of humorous and tense set-pieces. The story is STRAIGHTFORWARD, driven by the escalating and creative applications of the tech, culminating in a satisfying and HAPPY resolution where ingenuity wins the day.
These films are united by a shared vibe of playful technological ingenuity. They combine a LIGHT TONE and FAST PACING to create a fun, MEDIUM-intensity experience. The core appeal is the whimsical and clever use of technology as a plot driver, resulting in stories that feel adventurous and inventive without being overly complex or heavy.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Remote in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Remote is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Remote with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Remote. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Remote that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Remote: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
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