Showing @ Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Sun 22 Jun

Oskar Santos / 2013 / Spain / 92 mins

With its boarding school setting and gang of puzzle solving teens, Oskar Santos’ film comes with obvious comparisons with a certain wizard’s franchise. There are a few similarities to the first two Potter films – before hormones and angst took over and whilst there’s no sorcery here, there is plenty of adventure.

Brothers Zip and Zap are sent to a school run by eyepatch wearing martinet Falconetti (Javier Gutiérrez). Forming friendships with other outsiders, including Falconetti’s feisty niece, their gang rebel against the rules and find themselves in possession of a treasure map belonging to the school’s founder.

There are secret tunnels, riddles to solve and goons to outrun as they try to thwart their vicious headmaster. It’s good clean boys own adventure stuff and Santos makes sure the tempo never flags. Burgeoning teenage emotions play a part in the story, but fortunately they are never allowed to get in the way of the treasure hunt.

The cast of young actors are excellent and are clearly having a ball. There’s plenty of slapstick, toilet humour and adults being injured – in other words it’s perfect family fare. With most non-animated children’s films coming with an underlying message, it great to see a film whose message appears to be; let’s have more fun.

Showing as part of Edinburgh International Film Festival 2014