Secrets
of the Mountain
on NBC
By
Julia Ertl
On July 16th, NBC aired
The Jensen Project, a drama
co-sponsored by Walmart and Procter & Gamble as part of its continuing trend to
air family-friendly programming. But The Jensen Project was not the first
such movie; back in April, Walmart and P&G co-sponsored
Secrets of the Mountain, a delightful story
about a family which discovers the treasure trove of a past civilization, and
goes on an adventure to recover it. This adventure helps the estranged members
of the family to bond, work together, and strengthen their relationship. Because
of this touching and adventure-filled story, NBC’s July 10th rerun of
Secrets of the Mountain (8:00 p.m. ET) is the Best TV Show of the
Week.
Dana, a busy public defender and
single mom, is struggling with her three children, who are much affected by the
parents’ divorce. Dana and her family are going to the countryside to see her
uncle’s property, which is in the process of being sold, for the last time.
Dana’s Uncle Henry, whom Dana erroneously believed to be dead, welcomes and
introduces them to the mystery which revolves around the mountain next to his
house – a mountain said to contain an Aztec temple and hidden treasure.
Dana, her family, and their lawyer
Tom (who is attracted to Dana) go on a dangerous treasure hunt inside the
mountain, opposed by the villainous Nigel. The way to the temple leads through
skeletons which come alive (thanks to the kids’ imagination), over nearly broken
wood bridges, a battle with Nigel, and finally,
a happy end: Nigel is defeated, the family lives in harmony, and the mountain is
again in family’s hands.
Secrets of the Mountain
focuses on the importance of family. Between her divorce and her professional
responsibilities, Dana neglects her three children, who react in different ways.
The conflicts between the teenaged twins Jade and Jake especially affect the
family’s harmony. But throughout their adventure they learn to trust, value, and
help one another. Thanks to the dangerous treasure hunt and challenges they have
to face, the family learns important lessons, resolves issues, and grows closer.
When Uncle Henry is believed dead, Dana’s sense of harmony and family
togetherness also died. Only when Uncle Henry again appears in her life is Dana
able to strengthen the family -- it seems that she draws motivation and energy
from him and bonds with her children with his help. Uncle Henry also appears as
the family’s magnet. The children adore him and get along with each other when
he’s around, thanks to his mysterious storytelling and his friendly attitude.
Some scary moments in the movie are
conveyed by the children’s, especially little Madeleine’s, imagination, so that
skeletons seemingly “come to life,” revealing who they were. The movie also
conveys the message of the rediscovery of the imagination: if you believe hard
enough in something, it can become true, even if it’s only in your imagination.
This delightful family movie presents a
wholesome message: the real treasure is the treasure of family.
Best TV Show
of the Week
The Parents
Television Council -
www.parentstv.org
