Acting, if you call it that is even a stretch, was merely one big dress rehearsal. Unbelievable that someone actually approved a budget for this after school special meets cliché don't get in the car with a stranger message. Then there is the cheesy background music forcing the viewer on an emotional ride throughout every single scene. Reality has been lost. Suddenly overnight a teenager hooks up with a random adult stranger and thinks she's hooked up with him. Where is the backbone of this family? Why don't they call the car Candice is using as stolen? Missing person report filed? I mean, where is the responsibility for a high school teen? Again, reality missing along with the plot and sub-plot. Save yourself the aggravation that I had to experience… just say no, no, no to this film. Read a book or watch another film… this is low-budget, no acting, and not worth the time invested.

Weight defines the performer, apparently, with Lifetime casting their boniest actress over 40 (O'Kelley) as a woman trying to save adopted daughter Kell (who couldn't be more stereotypical) from criminal Gavin (who's more an idiot-daredevil than a menace), and finds the girl's biological mother and brother (Hinkle and Alberti, respectively—both delivering more depth than any of the other principal characters) as unlikely allies. Frequently inexplicable: officer Pettis would never just give out an address just because someone asked for it; O'Kelley is such a hypocrite, that it's difficult to root for her; oh, and then there's the little kid Hopkins, who hasn't got a clue as to what's going on, but can still conveniently hack needed information by visiting one website. As if the story weren't lame enough, the movie fluffs itself by pointless subplots and other detours. Pretty close to being bottom-of-the-barrel, but is saved halfway decent acting and polished editing.*½ (out of four)

Somewhere around the Los Angeles area, blonde mother Tricia O'Kelley (as Shannon) screams for her apparently missing 17-year-old daughter. Soon, a white van dumps a blue bag near a dump Ms. O'Kelley is visiting. It appears to contain a dead body. "Somebody help me!" O'Kelley screams after unwrapping the plastic, but we do not see its contents...Two days earlier, snotty Ayla Kell (as Candace "Candy" White) tells off her science teacher and walks out of class. She's been told about the genetic possibilities of eye color. This leads to Ms. Kell learning she's adopted. After telling off her mother, Kell decides to run away from home. She meets handsome blond Ben Gavin (as Tobias "Toby" Alton) at a convenience store. With his liquor, looks and muscles, Mr. Gavin is very convenient. In fact, most of the male cast members look like professional models. Gavin also agrees to help Kell find her real mother. All seems well, but Gavin has some sneaky-looking friends. "Inspired by True Events," this is an obvious story, moved along well by Doug Campbell and the Shadowland crew.***** Missing at 17 (10/19/13) Doug Campbell ~ Ayla Kell, Tricia O'Kelley, Ben Gavin, Marin Hinkle

Missing at 17 was one of the best lifetime movies that I have watched in a long time. I love movies that keep you clued to the couch. And Missing at 17 did that. As we all know lifetime movies are usually based on actual events, but this movie got me very curious at the end. I had to record it so I could watch it again to try to understand it more. I give credit to all the actors and actresses in this movie. In the information summary of what happens when a mother searches desperately to find her missing daughter with the help of her biological mother. They work together to get her away from a criminal. I did not see him as a criminal. It was a very intense movie. It kept me clued to my couch until it was over.