What do you get when you mix a herd of juvenile delinquents with a crooked staff of detention camp leaders? Well, for one, two hours of excitement, laughter, and delight. Based on the novel of the same title by author Louis Sachar, ‘Holes' contains the perfect mixture of comedy, drama, mystery, adventure and is one of those movies that actually appeals to all ages.

The story is based on a young boy, Stanley Yelnats (Shia LaBeouf), who is sent away to Camp Green Lake (a detention camp for young boys) for a crime in which he did not commit. The camp is run by a core staff of three members including the warden (Sigourney Weaver), the camp doctor (Tim Blake Nelson), and the overseer ( Jon Voight). These three are not in the business for the welfare of these young boys, rather are in it for their own personal desires.

Camp Green Lake is actually a dried-up Texas lakebed containing years of history. It never rains and the temperatures can be somewhat unbearable for the boys. Each day the boys must dig one hole measuring five feet in depth and width. The staff at Camp Green Lake informs the boys that in digging these holes, they are ‘building character.' However, there seems to be another motive at hand.

This Newbery-winning novel turned movie is truly a treat for all to see. If you liked the book, you are sure to love the movie. After all, the author of the novel also wrote the screenplay for the film. This Disney produced movie is witty, clever, and quite ambitious. How nice to finally have a kids' movie with some solid content that all audiences can truly appreciate.