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Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency

  • 2009
  • G
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
4.3/10
175
YOUR RATING
Jacob Hays and Katherine McNamara in Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency (2009)
Trailer for The Junior Spy Agency
Play trailer1:46
2 Videos
8 Photos
Family

13-year-old Sam Steele Jr. forms his own private detective agency to emulate his father, Des Moines detective Sam Steele, and helps track down a jewel thief.13-year-old Sam Steele Jr. forms his own private detective agency to emulate his father, Des Moines detective Sam Steele, and helps track down a jewel thief.13-year-old Sam Steele Jr. forms his own private detective agency to emulate his father, Des Moines detective Sam Steele, and helps track down a jewel thief.

  • Director
    • Tom Whitus
  • Writer
    • Tom Whitus
  • Stars
    • Luke Perry
    • M. Emmet Walsh
    • Jacob Hays
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.3/10
    175
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Tom Whitus
    • Writer
      • Tom Whitus
    • Stars
      • Luke Perry
      • M. Emmet Walsh
      • Jacob Hays
    • 6User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    The Junior Spy Agency
    Trailer 1:46
    The Junior Spy Agency
    Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency
    Trailer 1:38
    Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency
    Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency
    Trailer 1:38
    Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency

    Photos7

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    Top cast32

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    Luke Perry
    Luke Perry
    • The Cat
    M. Emmet Walsh
    M. Emmet Walsh
    • Chief Van Owen
    Jacob Hays
    Jacob Hays
    • Sam Steele Jr.
    Darren Kennedy
    Darren Kennedy
    • Detective Sam Steele
    Katherine McNamara
    Katherine McNamara
    • Emma Marsh
    Jilanne Marie Klaus
    Jilanne Marie Klaus
    • Kathy Steele
    • (as Jilanne Klaus)
    Michael A. Delia
    • Detective Artemis Fogle
    • (as Michael A. Delia)
    Holly Reimer
    • Lenore Cash
    Lee Look
    • Fireman Dave Marsh
    Kerry Scram
    • Casey Marsh
    Mik Scriba
    Mik Scriba
    • Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Carr
    Connor Bredbeck
    • Melvin
    Sarah Killion
    • Belinda Martin
    Tammy Brice
    Tammy Brice
    • Ms. Carmichael
    Vince Valdez
    • Officer Martinson
    Paul M. Walker III
    • Crime Scene Tech
    Jeffrey Hyler
    • Joey Ames
    Grant Carricker
    • Kevin Ames
    • Director
      • Tom Whitus
    • Writer
      • Tom Whitus
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews6

    4.3175
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    Featured reviews

    1gmbarker-08991

    Worst movie

    Laughable. The whole thing was so bad. From the acting, to the filming to the props. It was all bad. And Luke Perry... it makes me sad he did this.
    5ballagher

    Kids loved it...but they can overlook brutal acting

    Movie is fun for younger kids. Lots of adventure and mystery. Parents typically end up watching movies with the kids and this one stood out as one of the worst acting performances from most of the characters that we've ever seen. Luckily the kids see past this but I can't help but think the movie would have been so much better if they used real actors. Poor Luke Perry...how his star has diminished. It's almost funny to see him try and do an accent. I don't even think this would warrant being considered a made for TV flick as it's so low budget. Still can't believe we pay for this garbage acting but as long as the kids like it, can't complain too much. Would think kids over 10 would be interested though...a little to simple a story.
    Caveman_otr

    Untalented Ripp off

    Is it just me?? But this seems to be an untalented rip off of the the Encyclopedia Brown series.. Similar characters, though due to writers limitations, not nearly as good. Even the character relationships tend to be direct rip offs Sam is the junior Detective,, His father happens to be the town detective.. his secretary Lenore is the brawn of the agency.. I think the writers assumed if they went back in time for inspiration, nobody would notice the theft, and their extreme lack of talent..

    If your kids are interested in detective stories look up the originals Encyclopedia Brown..
    8stiffrohit

    The best detective agency

    That's Great !Its really loved the whole experience and will definitely provided relief. Its so very well work experience in detective agency. I have expressed about very well this detective agency. Its collect the true evidence through surveillance and they are providing highly satisfaction and reliability. They are able to stay for all surveillance, they try to facing the evidence for you. I agree that the concept is unique and the idea behind it is quite good. The story is telling detective agency at the entrance is original, and several case solved through these. That is a good responsible detective agency and easy for contact.
    3mbkfox

    Luke Perry movies are like a box of chocolate

    I'm going through the Perry movies and sometimes you get 10 star winners... and sometimes you get Sam Steele's Detective Agency. I'm guessing Des Moines and their film credit were seeking some kind of movie to make and this fell in their laps and "Yay, we get to be Hollywood for a month!" Can't blame them for wanting some movie action. But like most film grant movies, the money is in the tax breaks and not expected in real revenue. The script was fine for a kids flick but 90% of the acting was awful, the direction and edits, which usually make up for bad acting, was even worse than the acting, and the action was slow, as they were busy also trying to incorporate showing off some of Des Moines here and there. The soundtrack was cliché but fun, as it was cute how they played accordion music each time the French villain was on screen.

    Not an enjoyable movie, as I had to fast forward through the tedious scenery and "action" scenes, but the story was passable for kid entertainment. The story was passable, not the acting. I can't imagine how even a child could enjoy the first receptionist's monotonous talking (even if it was supposed to be on purpose, it didn't deliver) or a news reporter that looked like she was hired from the casting couch. Katherine McNamara was very good and Darren Kennedy was almost decent, as well. Sorry, Fogle, not you, though...

    But Luke Perry's gotta work and I'm sure the role paid the bills for him. Speaking of bills, he rightfully got a top billing credit out of the gig. This was fair because he was the biggest star in the film, though it was still awkward because if there's a title character, that person would usually get the cast credit. I don't blame Perry for taking on the film, he had a busy 2009, which is where I'm up to in following him. No projects he's done, though, are worth praising since 2007's John From Cincinnati or 2006's Windfall and nothing memorable that had real Perry fingerprints since Johnson County War and Jeremiah in 2002-2004. I see he did a lot in 2010 and I'll be checking those out next. Here's hoping...

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    Storyline

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    • Connections
      Followed by Sam Steele and the Crystal Chalice (2011)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • January 4, 2011 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Jr Detective Agency
    • Filming locations
      • Des Moines, Iowa, USA
    • Production companies
      • Silver Hills Pictures
      • Zingraff Motion Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 27 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1 / (high definition)

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