Jackie
The 5th Wave-Kids’ Movie Review
Cassie Sullivan (Chloe Grace Moretz) is a happy teenage girl living in Ohio. She’s close with her family, has a wonderful best friend, and has a crush on the school jock. However, things dramatically change as a series of alien attacks attempt to destroy the planet with earthquakes, tsunamis and a deadly strain of bird flu. As Cassie is separated from her family she ventures out to find her younger brother Sam (Zachary Arthur), which eventually leads her to a handsome young man named Evan (Alex Roe). Together she and Evan fight to stay alive as the aliens prepare for the 5th attack. Based on the best selling young adult novel, The 5th Wave is an entertaining and suspenseful film.
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: May 3, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Though there are billions of casualties throughout the film the main characters risk their lives to try and save the innocent victims.
- The mature subject of loved ones dying is highlighted in the film.
Sexual Content: Mild
- A character is shown bathing in a lake. We see him waist up.
- Two teens kiss which eventually leads them to the back seat of a car. They wake up fully clothed.
- There’s talk of “end of the world sex.”
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- Kids in the film are forced to wear trackers which are injected in the backs of their necks. The devices can only be removed by slicing open ones skin. This was disgusting too.
- There are numerous deaths throughout the film. The first wave knocks airplanes out of the sky, causing explosions. The 2nd wave triggers floods worldwide, and the 3rd wave, a bird flu, leaves several dead bodies lying around.
- Cassie gets shot in the leg and we see a lot of blood seeping through her jeans. Later, Evan stitches her leg back to health. This was a graphic scene as we see a lot of blood and her open wound.
- We see numerous characters shot and killed.
- A woman’s head crashes through a glass window. A guy gets punched in the throat.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear the f-word once. We also hear “sh-t,” “h—,” and “a–.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Cassie and her drink at a party. It’s assumed they’re alcoholic beverages.
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Overall this is an intense drama. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violent content.
Ride Along 2- Kids’ Movie Review
Police Officer Ben Barber (Kevin Hart) is a good guy and takes his job very seriously. However he desperately wants to become a detective like his future brother-in-law James (Ice Cube). So when James is working on an intense criminal investigation, Ben asks if he can ride along. James is very hesitant since Ben is annoying and talks a lot. Though after much debate James takes Ben on a “ride along,” one that changes Ben’s life forever. Ride Along 2 is an adventurous comedy, one that kids may find entertaining.
Rating: 2 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: April 26, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Sexual Content: Moderate
- We see a female character only wearing a black bra and panties. She’s pretending to be a police officer using a nightstick and handcuffs.
- There’s a discussion of a couple having sex.
- We see women in bikinis and revealing outfits.
- We hear sexual references regarding incest and strippers.
- A male character has a video chat with a woman only wearing a bra and panties. The woman talks very seductively.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- There are several shooting scenes where characters are held at gun point and shot to death.
- A car explodes during a chase scene and guns are fired as well.
- Characters are hit and knocked unconscious. Someone is also attacked by a huge alligator.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- We hear the f-word, “sh-t,” “d–n,” “a–,” and “h—,” and “b–ch,” throughout the film.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- We see characters drinking tequila, martinis, whiskey and other alcoholic drinks.
- A character tries to smuggle drugs into the country.
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Overall this is an entertaining film. Parents need to be aware of the excessive profane language and sexual content.
Norm of the North-Kids’ Movie Review
Rating: 4 and
Release Date: April 19, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Norm is a kind and compassionate character. He risks his life to save the Arctic and it’s inhabitants.
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content:
- The lemming’s are beaten, pounded on, flattened and electrocuted.
- Norm swallows several live blowfish.
- Norm gets stuck at the bottom of the ocean by a large piece of metal.
- Animals and humans are shot with tranquilizer darts.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “Crap,” is said once. Also exclamations such as “holy icicles” and “holy Hitchcock.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
- Kids in the theater were laughing at the humorous parts and seemed very engaged in the film.
Overall this is a fun, entertaining, animated film for young kids.
Daddy’s Home-Kids’ Movie Review
Rating: 3 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 22, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Initially the father and stepfather are competing with each other and bribing the children with material things to win their hearts. However, both men eventually realize what takes to be a responsible parent and they ultimately want what’s best for the children.
- There are several inappropriate and somewhat raunchy scenes in this PG13 rated film which is targeted towards kids. See details below.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- Dusty, the biological father, introduces Brad, the Step-father, to an infertility specialist. This scene was very disgusting especially when the doctor stands in front of Brad and Dusty with their pants pulled down. We don’t see anything, but there are comments comparing their male private parts.
- When Brad is in the masturbating room at the specialist, the blinds fall down and expose him to a crowd in the room next door.
- When Brad is drunk at the Laker’s game he broadcasts that he had sex with his wife the night before.
- Dusty claims that he’s “good with his hands,” then winks at his ex-wife.
- There are jokes and comments regarding male body parts
- A character has motorcycle accident. He’s injured as he accidentally drives through his house, crashing through the walls.
- A character attempts to skateboard down a half-pipe course and hits a power line and gets electrocuted.
- Dylan, the elementary school aged son, claims he’s bullied in school by fourth graders. Brad, Dylan’s biological dad, tells him to punch the bully in the Adam’s apple and kick him in the crotch.
- The two dad’s get in a fight at a daddy-daughter dance.
- A drunk character accidentally throws a basketball at a Los Angeles Lakers cheerleader, and also hits a boy in a wheelchair.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- We hear “sh-t,” “b–ch,” “h–l,” “a–,” “p—y,” “b–tard,” “holy balls,” and “d–n.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Dusty drinks a lot of beers and proceeds to get drunk at a Laker’s game.
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
- Elementary school aged kids in the theater were laughing a lot throughout the film.
Overall this is an entertaining film, though parents need to be aware of the inappropriate sexual comments and profane language.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens-Kids’ Movie Review
As you may know, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is set in a galaxy far far away. It’s been thirty years since the defeat of the Galactic Empire and now the galaxy faces a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and the First Order. However, when a defector named Finn lands on a desert planet and meets a rugged scavenger girl named Rey (Daisy Ridley), things change. Rey’s recently found droid contains a top-secret map, so now Finn and Rey, along with Han Solo (Harrison Ford), work together to defeat the First Order and find Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the last of the Jedi.
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: April 5, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The Star Wars: The Force Awakens is not only an action packed adventure movie, it may also spark some great parent/child conversations regarding redemption, faith and family.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Flirting amongst two couples.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- Numerous characters die. There are battles and explosions.
- There are scary creatures who try to eat people.
- X-wings and enemy fighters are blown up and crash into planets below.
- There are deaths and injuries from light sabers.
- Characters are thrown around, fall from extreme heights, and injured from brutal fistfights.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “D-nm,” and “h—l,” are said.
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Overall Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a wonderful sci-fi film; one that Star Wars fans will most likely enjoy.