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Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2
“I didn’t choose security, security chose me.” That’s what security officer Paul Blart (Kevin James) says while giving the keynote speech to the Security Officers Trade Association Conference in Las Vegas. Blart is thrilled to attend the conference; he’s been through a lot since his infamous mall cop adventure – his wife left him and his mother passed away. So now it’s time to not only learn about the latest security weapons, but to take his teenage daughter for a relaxing getaway. However things don’t go as planned. Coincidentally, a group of thieves are staying at their hotel, plotting to heist the hotel’s expensive art, including one of Van Gogh’s finest. No rest for Blart…now it’s time for the beloved mall cop to use his unique skills to capture the criminals and save the innocent victims.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: July 14, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Though Blart is very goofy and silly, he’s a great guy. He’s a loving and protective father and a very conscientious security officer who takes his job very seriously.
- When Blart gives the keynote speech at the security officers’ conference he highlights the fact that officers do what they do to help people! He says…”If you believe the purpose of life is to serve yourself, then you have no purpose. Help someone today.”
Sexual Content: Mild
- Woman wear low cut tops and skimpy bikinis.
Violent Content: Moderate
- There is a lot of slapstick violence involving Paul Blart (Kevin James). Blart is kicked and attacked by a giant bird, hit by a car while on his Segway, kicked by a horse, and crashes through a van window. He also stuffs himself in a suitcase which ends up sinking in a pool.
- There’s a comedic battle between Blart and the villains. Blart Tases a bad guy and several characters are shot by guns, though no casualties.
- Blart’s daughter is kidnapped in the hotel…this may frighten young kids.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear “freaking,” “you suck,” and “idiot.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see characters drinking martinis and beer in the hotel bar.
- We see young hotel employees drinking from blue plastic cups at a party.
Overall Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 is a comedic film, appropriate for kids ages 10 and up. Parents need to be aware of the moderate violence throughout the film.
Family Oscar Picks-Kids Movie Review
Family Oscar Picks- 2014
The Academy Awards, also known as The Oscars, is an annual American awards ceremony honoring achievements in the film industry. It’s a time when there’s a lot of talk about the movies; and whether it be a drama, romance, action, animation or based on a true story, it’s always fun to see if your favorite nominated film will win the Oscar. There’s so much buzz that kids typically want to see the latest and greatest films, which can be a great family outing…if it’s the right film! The list below is a new category from Box Office Mom; “Best Family Picture.” The selected movies are all nominated for an Oscar, not necessarily best picture, but they are nominated in one of the various Oscar categories.
Check out Box Office Mom’s Family Oscar Picks:
Best Family Picture (Per Box Office Mom) for Pre-teens and Teens…Sorted Alphabetically!
1. Captain Phillips (PG13)
- Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
- Release Date: January 21, 2014
- MPAA Rating: PG13
- Best Age Group: 15+
- Sexual Content: None
- Violent Content: Excessive
- Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Will It Appeal to Teens? Yes
Synopsis:
On April 8, 2009 the Maersk Alabama cargo ship, en route for Kenya, was hijacked by four Somali pirates. The pirates were armed with assault riffles, the Americans were unarmed (though they had water cannons to fight off the pirates). The pirates were lead by Captain Muse (Barkhad Abdi) and the Alabama ship was commanded by Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks). Both men were leaders, and both men wanted to control the ship. Captain Phillips, based on a true story, is an amazing film about a tough, fearless captain who showed courage and strength as he endured the horrific crisis in which he was held hostage by four dangerous Somali pirates.
2. Gravity (PG13)
- Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
- Release Date: October 3, 2013
- MPAA Rating: PG13
- Best Age Group: 12+
- Sexual Content: None
- Violent Content: Moderate
- Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Will It Appeal to Teens? Yes
Synopsis:
Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) is an experienced astronaut, a man who is about to command his final expedition. Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a woman on her first space shuttle mission, a brilliant medical engineer, though a little uneasy and scared in space. When disaster strikes, and most of the shuttle is destroyed, Matt and Ryan are the only two survivors. Now they must help one another, and take on a new mission…surviving in space alone!
3. Iron Man 3 (PG13)
- Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
- Release Date: September 24, 2013
- MPAA Rating: PG13
- Best Age Group: 11+
- Sexual Content: Mild
- Violent Content: Excessive
- Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Will Kids Like It? Yes
Synopsis:
Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) is back as Iron Man, and stronger than ever. In this third film of the Iron Man series, a terrorist named the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) threatened to destroy America. Unfortunately Stark’s former security guard, Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) was injured in an explosion, which was caused by the Mandarin. Stark was very upset, though determined to face the evil terrorist; the problem was the terrorist got to Stark first. He destroyed Stark’s Malibu mansion, and all his high-tech toys. Luckily Stark (Iron Man) lived, though his beloved metal suit was injured. Stark had to try and survive on his own, and save the world without his protective shell.
4. The Book Thief (PG13)
- Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 buckets
- Release Date: November 27, 2013
- MPAA Rating: PG13
- Best Age Group: 16+
- Sexual Content: None
- Violent Content: Moderate
- Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Drugs and Alcohol: None
- Will It Appeal to Kids or Teens? Yes
Synopsis:
“If your eyes could speak what would they say?” That’s what Max, a Jewish refugee, says to Liesel as he is hiding from the Nazi’s in her adoptive parent’s basement during the height of World War II. Set in Nazi Germany and narrated by death; The Book Thief is a heartwarming story about a young girl named Liesel. Liesel finds comfort and peace by reading. She steals books and reads them to her loved ones as they all deal with the horrors of World War II.
5. The Great Gatsby (PG13)
- Rating: 3 and 1/2 buckets out of 5
- Release Date: May 10, 2013
- MPAA Rating: PG13
- Best Age Group: 13+
- Sexual Content: Moderate
- Violent Content: Mild
- Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
- Will Kids Like It? Yes (teenagers)
Synopsis:
It’s been 24 hours since I saw this movie, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. The characters, the setting and what the film symbolized; prohibition, the Jazz Age, one’s social status, and the American Dream. It was the summer of 1922; a recent Yale graduate named Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) moved to New York for business, and rented a house in West Egg on Long Island; which was populated with people of “new money.” Next door to Nick lived a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio). Gatsby lived in a gothic mansion, where he had extravagant parties every Saturday night. Across the bay, in East Egg, lived Nick’s cousin Daisy (Carey Mulligan), and her wealthy, blue-blooded husband, Tom (Joel Edgerton). As the summer progressed Nick attended Gatsby’s opulent parties and became involved in the lives of the materialistic and corrupted; the wealthy Long Islanders, along with Daisy, Tom and Gatsby! Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby is a wonderful, educational film for teenagers.
6. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG13)
- Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
- Release Date: December 13, 2013
- MPAA Rating: PG13
- Best Age Group: 11+
- Sexual Content: Mild
- Violent Content: Excessive
- Crude or Profane Language: None
- Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Will It Appeal to Kids? Yes
Synopsis:
“The courage of a Hobbit never ceases to amaze me,” that’s what one of the thirteen dwarves said while traveling with the hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), and the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen). Bilbo and company were traveling to the Kingdom of Erbor, hoping to reclaim their homeland from the villainous dragon, Smaug. On their journey they face many obstacles such as terrifying Orcs, giant spiders and imprisonment in an elf dungeon. The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug is the second installment of the The Hobbit series. This is an adventurous, action packed film, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels.
7. Saving Mr. Banks (PG13)
- Rating: 3 out of 5 buckets
- Release Date: December 25, 2013
- MPAA Rating: PG13
- Best Age Group: 14+
- Sexual Content: None
- Violent Content: Mild
- Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Drugs and Alcohol: Excessive
- Will It Appeal to Kids? Yes
Synopsis:
She loathes Disney products and the idea that wishes can make dreams come true, a well known Disney philosophy. She despises anything associated with Disney, even Mickey Mouse. This is the story about British writer P. L. Travers, the author of the beloved “Mary Poppins” books. It’s a story of how Walt Disney pursues Travers so he can turn the wonderful Mary Poppins creation into a magically Disney film. After twenty years he eventually succeeds, though it wasn’t easy. He discovers the truth about Travers’ horrid past, and learns how the magical English nanny came to be. Based on a true story. Saving Mr. Banks is a wonderful film, though it may not appeal to kids, however mature teens may like it.
8. Star Trek Into Darkness (PG13)
- Rating: 4 out of 5
- Release Date: September 10, 2013
- MPAA Rating: PG13
- Best Age Group: 12+
- Sexual Content: Mild
- Violent Content: Excessive
- Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mid
- Will Kids Like It? Yes
Synopsis:
The new enterprise crew, led by Chris Pine as James T Kirk, faces a familiar nemesis, Kahn, in the latest edition of the Star Trek franchise. Kahn attacks a secret Star Fleet facility on earth and Kirk and the enterprise crew set out to bring him to justice. Along the way, they venture into Klingon space, face a challenge from one of their own, and throw out humorous one liners. Spock, Scottie, bones and Uhura join Kirk to avert a war and protect the Earth.
Best Family Picture (Per Box Office Mom) for kids ages 5 and up
Despicable Me 2
- Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
- Release Date: December 10, 2013
- MPAA Rating: PG
- Best Age Group: 5+
- Sexual Content: Mild
- Violent Content: Moderate
- Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Will it Appeal to Kids? Yes
Synopsis:
Gru (voice of Steve Carell), his three adopted daughters, and the beloved minions are back in this sequel to the popular 2010 movie Despicable Me. Now we see Gru as a loving father, not the evildoer who wanted to steal the moon. However, problems occur when Gru is asked to track down an evil felon. Initially he’s not sure he wants to fight crime, though when partnered with the beautiful agent Lucy Wilde (voice of Kristen Wiig) he changes his mind; after all his girls have been wanted him to date more. Despicable Me 2 is a wonderful animated film for the whole family.
2. Frozen
- Rating: 4 1/2 buckets out of 5
- Release Date: November 27, 2013
- MPAA Rating: PG
- Best Age Group: 5 +
- Sexual Content: Mild
- Violent Content: Moderate
- Crude or Profane Language: None
- Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Will It Appeal to Kids? Yes
Synopsis:
Princess Elsa (voice of Idina Menzel), soon to be Queen, and Princess Anna (Kristen Bell), are not only sisters, but best friends. Though things gradually change as Elsa developes secret powers. She has the ability to create snow and ice, with a simple touch or even a thought. When her powers get out of hand, their entire kingdom of Arendelle is cast into eternal winter, so Elsa goes into hiding to be alone. Now Anna is on a mission to find her sister and save their kingdom before it is too late. Frozen is a wonderful animated film, one the whole family will enjoy.
3. The Croods
- Rating: 5 out of 5 buckets
- Release Date: October 1, 2013
- MPAA Rating: PG13
- Best Age Group: 5+
- Sexual Content: Mild
- Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
- Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Will Kids Like It? Yes
Synopsis:
The Croods are a prehistoric family who were forced to leave their cave after a natural disaster destroyed the whole area. Grug (Nicolas Cage), the father and leader of the household, took his role very seriously, he was determined to protect the family as they searched for a new home. However, things got complicated when they met a resourceful nomad named Guy (Ryan Reynolds). Guy was a cute teenage boy who fell for Grug’s teen daughter, Eep (Emma Stone). Grug began to feel threatened; he wanted to be the man in charge, but he eventually realized that with Guy’s brains, his strength, and a loving family… they could survive. The Croods is a wonderful animated, adventure film for the whole family.
Home
Mom of three. Movie fanatic.
Much to dish about.
Ah, the movies. There’s nothing like them. But let’s face it: they don’t make them like they used to. The action is more real, the stories more intense, and the ratings more relaxed. So you need a critic to tell you not only if a movie is good, but good for your family. That’s where I come in. I’m Box Office Mom. And I’m your behind-the-scenes ticket to family-friendly films.
Click here for Movie Bucket Review Ratings!
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
Rating: 2 and 1/2 buckets out of 5
Release Date: March 15, 2013
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids Like It? Yes
The full review will be posted on Saturday!
Oz the Great and Powerful
Rating: 4 and 1/2 buckets
Release Date: March 7, 2013
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Frightening Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Snitch
Rating: 1 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: February 21, 2013
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 17+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Will Kids Like It? No
Beautiful Creatures
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: February 14, 2013
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Safe Haven
Rating: 3 out of 5 buckets.
Release Date: February 13, 2013
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Identity Thief
Rating: 2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: February 8, 2013
MPAA Rating: R
Best Age Group: 17+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Warm Bodies
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: February 1, 2013
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
The Impossible
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: January 4, 2013
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Parental Guidance
Rating: 4 and 1/2 buckets out of 5
Release Date: December 25, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Les Miserables
Rating: 3 and 1/2 buckets out of 5
Release Date: December 25, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 15+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes (mature teens)
Guilt Trip
Rating: 3 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 19, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 18+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? No
Jack Reacher
Rating: 2 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 21, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 15+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids Like It? Yes (teenage boys)
The Hobbit
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 14, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Lincoln
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: November 16, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 15+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes (mature teens)