DVD Favorites

A Dog’s Purpose-Kids’ movie review

“Why am I here? What’s the purpose?” That’s what a curious dog named Bailey (voice of Josh Gad) often wonders. Bailey is reincarnated several times over the course of five decades. The dog keeps its memories and adorable personality, however his name changes and he becomes different breeds and genders. We see Bailey grow up with a young boy named Ethan, his best friend and companion. When Ethan goes off to college Bailey passes away. He’s reincarnated and has new owners, but no one he loves as much as Ethan. The dog discovers the meaning of life through its many lives and the humans whose lives he touches. A Dog’s Purpose is a wonderful and charming film for the whole family.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: May 2, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

The film highlights the importance of love and companionship; for humans and animals.

Sexual Content: Mild

We see a couple kiss passionately throughout the film.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

A high school bully drops fireworks through his rival’s front door mail slot, starting a horrific fire.
A middle aged man, who’s an alcoholic, forcefully pushes his wife to ground.
There’s an intense scene with a police officer and his trained dog. They are pursuing a man who has kidnapped a girl. The girl is pushed over a bridge into the water. The dog rescues the girl but he gets shot and dies. We see his bloody wounds.
We see a man mistreat his girlfriend’s dog. Chaining him outside in the cold weather and never letting him enter their home.
We see deaths of various versions of Bailey. They are brief, but heartbreaking.

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

One of the main characters is an alcoholic. We see him drinking beer and sipping from a flask. He becomes depressed and aggressive.

Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Overall, parents need to be aware of the heartbreaking and the violent/upsetting scenes. Having said that this is a wonderful and warmhearted film. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for kids ages 10 and up.

Sing-Kids’ Movie Review

“Dream big dreams.” That’s Buster Moon’s (voice of Matthew McConaughey) motto. Buster is a koala bear who loves the theater. When he was a 6 years-old his goal was to own his favorite theater…and years later that dream came true. However, due to financial problems things get difficult for the koala bear, though he doesn’t give up. To boost business he decides to produce a singing competition. Now the drama and singing begins as we see Buster Moon try to fulfill his lifelong dream.

Rating: 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 21, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sing is a fun and entertaining film for the whole family. The film highlights the importance of working together and following your dreams.

Sexual Content: Mild

Three female rabbits wiggle their butts while singing, “Oh my gosh, look at her butt.”
There is flirting between the animals.
We see some revealing outfits and risqué dances from the animals.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

Some angry gangster bears try to kill a cheating mouse.
A building collapses and puts several characters in harms way.
There are several car chases, causing accidents.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear name calling: “old fart,” “stupid,” “fool,” and “bozos.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see animals drinking alcoholic beverages at a night club.

Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Overall this is a cute and entertaining film for the whole family.

I’m Not Ashamed-Kids’ movie review

On the morning of April 20, 1999 Rachel Joy Scott was killed by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold at Colorado’s Columbine High School. Rachel was a typical teenage girl with typical teenage girl problems; drama with friends, young love, and obeying her parents. Rachel grew up in a religious household knowing God’s love, though she struggled with her faith at times. However, after a difficult breakup with her boyfriend she finds inspiration from a homeless teenage boy whom she had previously befriended. Rachel eventually surrenders her life to God and radiates with peace and love in school and at home. I’m Not Ashamed tells the story of Rachel Joy Scott, a narrative informed by her daily journal entries. This is an amazing true story showing Rachel’s courage and bravery as she becomes and inspiration to millions of people throughout the world.

Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: January 24, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

I’m Not Ashamed is a film that will spark some great parent/child conversations. Rachel’s faith inspires her to treat people with compassion and respect, even when they’re not nice to her. She changes a homeless boys life and a troubled teenage girl.

Sexual Content: Mild

We see a teenage couple kiss. We also see another teenage couple making out on a bed at a high school party
Rachel tells Alex (the boy she likes) that she wants to take their relationship to the next level. He thinks she means sexually, but she means more of a commitment. He kisses her and tries to take off her shirt, but she pushes him away.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

We see Rachel contemplating suicide as she walks on a narrow ledge on top of a high rise building.
It’s creepy seeing Harris and Klebold planning their attack. Initially, we see them bullied by the school’s football team. On the first day of school several of the players pour baby oil on the floor and slide Harris down the hall and into a wall. The players call it “dork bowling.” This bullying led to Harris and Klebold’s brutal attack.
Harris Klebold play violent video games; another influence that triggers their attack.
As the villains are building their bombs we see how excited they are to blow up the school.
We see Rachel being shot outside the school and Harris asks her, “Do you still believe in God?” Rachel responds, “You know I do,” then Harris puts a gun to her head and says, “Then go be with him.”
At the end of the film we see the students mourning Rachel’s loss as they put flowers on her car. This was a very sad scene.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

The bullies call a mentally disabled student, “retard,” and “freak.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

We see high school parties with kids’ drinking beer and hard liquor.
Rachel’s friends are drunk in one scene. We see her drinking as well
Teenagers are shown smoking throughout the film.

Will Teens Like It? Yes

Overall this is an extremely sad but inspirational film that will spark some great parent/child conversations. Parents need to be aware of the disturbing and violent content.

Middle School: The Worst Years Of My Life-Kids’ Movie Review

Rafe Khatchadorian (Griffin Gluck) is a very creative middle school age boy. He loves to draw cartoons, aliens and spaceships and keeps them in a special art notebook. Though Rafe doesn’t have many friends, he is very close with his younger sister Georgia. However, he and his family are dealing with a tremendous heartbreak. Rafe’s brother (who was also his best friend) had passed away a year before. His father left the family after their loss so his mom (Lauren Graham) is doing her best to raise the kids on her own, and with the help of her goofy boyfriend. Not only is Rafe trying to cope with his family drama he also has a hard time following rules. After getting kicked out of two schools he’s now in a new middle school. So when his rule driven principal takes his art notebook, Rafe retaliates by setting a goal to break every rule in the principal’s handbook…now the adventures and pranks begin. Middle School: The Worst Years Of My Life, is comedy based on James Paterson’s young adult novel, Middle School: The Worst Years Of My Life.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: January 3, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 9+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

The film centers around a middle school boy who breaks the school rules. Rafe is questioning all the unnecessary school rules. The principal is more concerned with his rules and the students’ successful standardized test scores than the students’ well being.
This is a fun and entertaining film though parents don’t want their kids getting any rule breaking ideas; to name a few:
- Rafe sneaks out of his window at night and goes to school to vandalize. Some of Rafe’s pranks include covering the school with colored sticky notes with various drawings and messages. He also turns a trophy case into a fish bowl, draws graffiti on the exterior of the school, and puts neon dye in the principal’s hat.
- Rafe steals his mom’s boyfriend’s credit card number and buys supplies for their vandalizing.
Parents need to be aware of the mature subject matter of losing a loved family member.

Sexual Content: Mild

We see a couple kiss.
There’s discussion of “Expertly drawn boobs.
A student says, “My mom is really hot,” and the principal agrees.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

A school bully threatens to kick Rafe and knocks his notebook out of his hands.
We see animated characters fighting each other. We see a two-headed alien blowing his heads off with a laser.
Georgia, Rafe’s younger sister who’s not old enough to drive, steals their mom’s boyfriend’s car and intentionally sideswipe’s the car wanting to damage it.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “sh–,” “F your eye,” “p-ssed,” “sucks,” “butt wipe,” “frickin,’ ” “jerk,” and “stupid.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see character’s drinking wine.

Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Overall this is a fun and entertaining film. Having said that, parents need to be aware that the story revolves around a rebellious middle school boy who breaks a lot of school rules. Also, the mature subject matter of losing a loved one.

Sully-Teen Movie Reivew

Is Sully a hero or a fraud? That’s what the media is questioning after US Airways Flight 1549 hits a flock of birds and destroys both engines. It was January 15, 2009 when Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) hit the birds after takeoff at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Sully had to make a quick decision whether he should head back to LaGuardia, find a closer airport, or make an emergency crash landing in New York’s Hudson River. He did what he thought was best which saved all the passengers and crew. Based on a true story of a famed pilot under an investigation after a fearful landing.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: December 20, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sully is a wonderful film based on a true story that will spark some great parent/child conversations. Though Sully was a hero and idolized by all, he remained humble and said he was doing his job and gave credit to everyone involved in the accident.

Sexual Content: None

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

We see Sully’s disturbing dreams of plane crashes.
Though everyone survives in the crash, the film can be frightening due to the mature subject matter of a plane crash.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear the f-word once. We also hear “a–,” “b–ch,” “d–n,” and “h—.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see Sully drinking alcohol at a bar.

Will Teens Like It? Yes

Overall Sully is an interesting film based on a true story. Parents need to be aware of the mature subject matter and moderate profane language.