Jackie

Fantastic Four-Kids’ Movie Review

Kids do all sorts of activities growing up whether it be sports, music or kick ball in the back yard. However, Reed Richards (Miles Teller) is not your typical kid; he does scientific experiments in his garage. As Reed becomes a teenager he and three other kids use one of his inventions and teleport to an alternate universe where their physical form changes drastically. Now the four, A.K.A. Fantastic Four, must use their new skills and work together to save the Earth from an evil enemy. Fantastic Four is based on a fictional superhero team published by Marvel Comics.

Rating: 2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: December 15, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Teens Like It? No

Talking Points:

The film has an all-star cast, to name a few; Miles Teller, Kate Mara and Michael B. Jordan (from Friday Night Lights). Having said that the film is slow in parts and somewhat depressing.

Sexual Content: Mild

We see a character crawling through an air duct- naked. However, we primarily see him waist up.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

Characters are shown on fire, smothered by an avalanche, their flesh burned and blistered, and legs crushed.
As the characters develop their superpowers one of the four turns Hulk-like. He smashes other characters, burns them and destroys them.
We see character’s cut and injured; covered in blood.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “d-ck,” “a–, “sh-t,” “h—,” and “d–n.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

Three of the main character’s are shown drunk while passing a flask around.

Will Teens Like It? No

I interviewed several pre-teens who thought the movie was slow, dark and depressing.

Overall Fantastic Four is an action packed sci/fi film. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the movie.

Paper Towns-Teen Movie Review

High school can be challenging and often difficult at times, especially for Quentin (Nat Wolff). Quentin is a shy and somewhat nerdy high school senior. He has never even been to a high school party, or done anything too exciting during his teenage years. However, his life dramatically changes the night that Margo (Cara Delevingne) climbs through his window. Margo, a very cute and popular girl and Quentin’s childhood friend/crush, wants to recruit Quentin to help her seek revenge on her cheating boyfriend. Margo has a list of vandalizing pranks and needs Quentin to drive her around. Initially hesitant, Quentin helps his friend and ends up having a great night. Though when Margo disappears the next day, he and his friends gather clues in hopes to find this mysterious girl that changes Quentin’s life. Based on a young adult novel by John Green, Paper Towns is dramatic romance for pre-teens and teens.

Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: October 20, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Quentin, the main character, stresses the importance of not idolizing the pretty and popular people…and to learn to enjoy your life.
Margo and Quentin do some malicious pranks with no consequences involved. Their pranks include breaking and entering, spray painting several walls, and spreading Nair hair removal on a boys’ eyebrows.
A group of teens skip school and take a 24 hour road trip without parental permission…again no consequences.

Sexual Content: Moderate

We see a teenage couple making out on someone’s bed. They are both shirtless, the girl is shown wearing a skimpy bra.
A high school boy climbs out of his girlfriend’s bedroom, and he is naked (his privates are covered). Later, teenagers make several comments about the size of his private parts.
One girl comments that she had chlamydia and proceeds to complain about her sexual reputation.
A teenage boy makes several comments about girls he’s had sex with. He also makes sexual comments about his friend’s mom.
Another teenage couple is shown making out. It’s noted that the boy lost their virginity that night.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

Two children find the corpse of a man who committed suicide. We see blood on his head and shirt.
We see a high school jock slamming a nerdy boy against his locker.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

“Sh-t,” “a–,” “h—,” and “d–n” are said throughout the film.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

A high school student has a big party where teens are shown drinking beer and alcohol. One boy gets very drunk- we see him throw up.

Overall this is a film targeting towards pre-teens and teens. Parents need to be aware of the sexual contents, profane language and teenage drinking.

Minions-Kids’ Movie Review

Minions live to serve…though not just anyone. They want to serve the most despicable person around! That’s their mantra and that’s how they live. However, when things don’t go very well and there are no masters left to serve, the poor little creatures become sad and depressed. Finally, Minions Kevin, Bob and Stuart take charge and travel across the country to find a new evil boss; which leads them to Scarlet Overkill. Now the excitement begins as they learn to serve the world’s first super-villainess; which is not a safe or easy task. Minions is a prequel/spin-off to the Despicable Me franchise; it’s a film that most kids will find fun and entertaining.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: December 8, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Though the Minions serve evil bosses, they are basically cute little creatures who just want to make people happy.
Kids in the theater were giggling at the silly and goofy Minions. Having said that, parents seemed a little bored with the animated creatures.

Sexual Content: Mild

We see bare backsides on some of the Minions.
Two human characters are shown passionately kissing.
Three human guards are shown on a stage singing a song to a tune from the musical Hair. They are only wearing boxers while performing.

Violent Content: Moderate

There is a lot of slapstick and silly violence. We see fish eating one another, a soldier impaled by a sword, a bear jumping on a caveman and a pyramid landing on a group of Egyptians.
The Minions are picked up by a family who happen to be bank robbers escaping from the police. They’re shooting paintballs as well.
Villains attack a female character, she defends herself by punching the men and leaving them unconscious.
There are explosions with buildings crumbling to the ground.
In one scene the Minions are in a dungeon where they are to be tortured, however the shifty little creatures manage to escape.

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Characters are shown drinking martini’s and beer.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

I interviewed three kids ages four and five who thought the film was very funny.

Overall Minions is a comedy adventure that will appeal to most kids. Parents need to be aware of the slapstick violence throughout the film.

Max-Kids’ Movie Review

“A dog is man’s best friend;” is a very familiar adage. Max is a very loyal dog that helped the US Marines in Afghanistan. His master and best friend, Kyle, died during the war, so Max returns to the U.S. and is adopted by his Kyle’s family. Though the dog suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, he immediately develops a special bond with Justin; Kyle’s younger brother. Now Justin and Max become the best of friends, and this war-time hero dog not only gives Justin several kisses a day, he even helps him solve some local crimes. Max is an action-packed movie; one for the whole family.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: October 27, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

The message of doing the right thing is woven throughout the film, and will spark some good parent/child conversations. Justin’s dad says a hero is someone who always tells the truth.
The film is a little corny in parts. It seemed like an ABC family movie on TV. Having said that kids will like the characters and the action in the film.

Sexual Content: Mild

A couple briefly kiss.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

Kyle is shown dead after an explosion while fighting in Afghanistan.
We see a truck full of weapons veer off the road and burst into flames.
The bad guys chase Max, Justin, and his friends. They shoot at the boys and Max several times.
Justin’s dad is held captive at gunpoint. He punches the villain and slam’s the man’s arm in a truck door.
Max jumps on a man who attacks Justin, and then Max and the man fall off a bridge.
Max and two vicious dogs roll around and get into some brutal fights.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear “d–ned.

Drug and Alcohol Content:

We see character’s drinking beer.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

I interviewed a 13 year-old boy and 15 year-old girl who both loved the movie. They thought it was very exciting; while sitting at the edge of their seats.

Overall Max is an action packed adventurous film. Depending on the child, I recommend this for kids ages 8 and up.

Inside Out-Kids’ Movie Review

We all want our children to be happy, but as we know there are ups and downs in life which causes temporary sadness. Riley is a happy 11 year-old girl living in Minnesota. She is a star hockey player, does well in school, and has a great group of friends. However, everything changes when her dad gets a new job, and the family moves to San Francisco. We see her struggle as the film centers on the five emotions that guide her life: Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness. These emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they advise her daily life. Things get complicated as her emotions disagree on how to handle all the changes she’s going through. They eventually realize that Joy might not be the emotion Riley needs during her difficult time.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 3, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

This is a very cleaver and thought provoking film, one that will spark numerous parent/child conversations. The film highlights the fact that it’s okay to be sad at times, and that we can’t be happy all the time. {Spoiler Alert} During the film we want the character, Joy, to be in Riley’s life- not Sadness. However we eventually realize that Sadness is the hero in the film. With Sadness, Riley is allowed to grieve and then move on to a better life.
The importance of family is another element in the film. When Riley is depressed and down, it’s her parents that comfort her and lift her spirits.
This is a PG animated film which will target young kids. However, there are some sad and emotional parts that parents need to be aware of. When Riley’s world changes, she’s very down and depressed; this may be upsetting to some sensitive kids.
Riley steals her mom’s credit card and attempts to run away from home.

Sexual Content: Mild

Riley imagines herself with a boyfriend who dramatically says, “I would die for Riley.”
Riley talks to a boy, and we see inside his mind where the controllers are freaking out .

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

There is a dark and somewhat disturbing tone to the film. {Spoiler Alert} However, in the end you realize that’s a critical part to the storyline and that it’s okay to be sad at times.
We see Riley’s dreams: one has a growling dog running around. She’s also haunted by a dead mouse in a dream.
Riley’s “train of thought” derails. We see characters flying off the train.
When characters enter into a danger zone we see their bodies become distorted.

Crude or Profane Language: None

There is a discussion on the use of curse words, but we don’t hear any.

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids Like It? Yes

I interviewed two kids ages four and six. The four year girl got bored and antsy, while the six year old boy liked it and thought it was funny in parts.
Two 13 year old girls loved it and said, “It was amazing.”

Overall, this is another wonderful Pixar film. Parents need to be aware of the mature storyline which has some sad and emotional parts to it. Depending on the child, I recommend this film for kids ages 8 and up.