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    Movie Reviews

    Jackie

    Let’s Be Cops- Teen movie review

    Ryan (Jake Johnson) and Justin (Damon Wayans Jr.) are two 30-year-old guys, best friends and roommates, trying to figure out their lives and how to be successful in the big city of L.A. Things dramatically change for the struggling roomies when they attend a costume party dressed as police officers. On their way home from the party they get a lot of attention from women, and finally feel a sense of confidence and control as they strut around in their uniforms. This gradually becomes an everyday event, however things get complicated when they get involved with a gang of Russian drug lords and their fake lives as police officers becomes a reality.

    Lets Be CopsRating: 2  out of 5 buckets
    Release Date: November 11, 2014
    MPAA Rating: R
    Best Age Group: 17+
    Sexual Content: Moderate
    Violent Content: Excessive
    Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
    Drugs and Alcohol: Moderate
    Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes

     

     

    Talking Points:

    Besides all the crude humor in the film, there is a nice message about friendship. Justin and Ryan look out for each other, they discover it’s friendships that help people become who they want to be.

    This is an R-rated  film, one that a lot pre-teens want to see. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence, crude language and sexual references throughout the film. See details below.

    Sexual Content: Moderate

    • We see a naked obese man, front side and back.
    • A woman takes off her top, we see her bare back.
    • A woman, showing a lot of cleavage, tries to entice Ryan to have a sexual encounter.
    • At a bar a group of woman think that Ryan and Justin are strippers. Ryan begins to dance and remove his clothes, then some women tell him they want to have sex.

    Violent Content:  Moderate

    • There are a lot of gun shots and intense fights. Characters are punched in the face, shot at and some beaten to death.
    • Ryan is tied down to a table and tortured by villains.
    • Justin and Ryan wrap plastic wrap around a man, then proceed to put his head under the kitchen sink.

    Crude or Profane Language: Excessive

    • The f-word was said continuously throughout the film, along with “d–n,” “b–ch,”  “h–,” “a–,” and “a-hole.”  Also, sexual words referring to male and female body parts such as, “d–k,” “p—y,” and “balls.”

    Drugs and Alcohol: Moderate

    • Characters are shown smoking marijuana and crystal meth. We also see characters drinking beer and wine at bars and parties.

    Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes

    Overall “Let’s Be Cops” is an action packed film with some sexual references woven throughout.  As I previously mentioned, parents need to be aware of the excessive violence and profane language.

    When The Game Stands Tall-Kids Movie Review

    It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s how you play the game. That’s what legendary football coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel) truly believed. Bob Ladouceur coached the De La Salle High School football team, from Concordia, California, to win 151 consecutive games, breaking all records for any American sport.  Inspired by a true story, When The Game Stands Tall is an inspirational sports drama about a coach who taught his players valuable life lessons about character, conviction, faith and humility.

    When The game Stands TallRating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
    Release Date: December 9, 2014
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 10+
    Sexual Content: Mild
    Violent Content:  Moderate
    Crude or Profane Language: None
    Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
    Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes

     

     Talking Points:

    This is a sports movie, but it’s not all about sports. Coach Ladouceur’s goal is to shape his players to be young men of character, with conviction and faith. He wants to be a positive impact on and off the field. Great parent/child conversations.

    Coach Lad doesn’t expect his players to play perfect, but to give a perfect effort.

    Sexual Content: Mild

    • A high school boy and his girlfriend kiss.

    Violent Content: Moderate

    • Two teammates get into a brawl.
    • A character is shot and murdered. We hear four gun shots, then we see his body on the ground.
    • A player’s father grabs and shakes his son, he even punches him in the stomach.
    • The players visit a VA hospital, we see soldiers without limbs.

    Crude or Profane Language: None

    Drugs and Alcohol: Mild

    • In one scene we see a high school party, where students are drinking alcoholic beverages.

    Will it Appeal to kids/ teens?  Yes

    Overall this is a wonderful sports drama. Depending on the child, I recommend this for kids 10 and up.

     

    If I Stay-Kids Movie Review

    It’s up to Mia Hall (Chloe Grace Moretz) whether she wants to live or die, fight or give up. This is the story about an eighteen year old girl who is involved in a tragic car accident killing her entire family. Left in a coma, we see Mia’s out of body life experiences; her romance with her boyfriend, and her life as an amazing musician.  Mia must decide if her life’s worth fighting for… and answer the question, should she stay?

    If I StayRating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
    Release Date: November 18, 2014
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 11+
    Sexual Content: Moderate
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
    Crude or Profane Language: Mild
    Drugs and Alcohol: Moderate
    Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes

     

    Talking Points:

    This is a story about love…love of family, love of music and first loves. Could spark some great parent/child conversations.

    Though the story is about love, it’s also about death and the loss loved ones. Parents need to be aware of  the premise as it may frighten some kids.

    The music is great, Adam and Mia are both musicians; he’s in a rock band and she plays classical music on the cello.

    Sexual Content: Moderate

    • Adam and Mia have a sexual encounter. We see them passionately kiss while starting to undress one another, then we see them naked in bed, covered by a blanket.
    • We see Adam and Mia kissing and caressing each other in many scenes.

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

    • The car crash scene is intense and creepy. Depending on the  child, the premise of the story may scare kids of any age.

    Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

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

    Drugs and Alcohol: Moderate

    • Characters are shown drinking beer and hard liquor in several scenes.

    Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes

    • The theater was packed with pre-teen and teenage girls who got all  teary eyed but loved the film.

    Overall this is a wonderful heartfelt film about loss and love. Depending on your child, this is appropriate for kids ages 11 and up.

     

    The Giver-Kids Movie Reviews

    Imagine living in a community where everything’s the same. A life without ups and downs, a life without working on a goal to be the best you can be, and sadly a life without any emotions, even love. That’s where Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) lives, a pre-teen boy in a world where “Sameness” was created and a place controlled by the Elders. Life changes for Jonas the day he is chosen to be the Receiver of Memory, the special person in the community who receives memories from The Giver (Jeff Bridges). When Jonas spends time with The Giver, he begins to feel emotions of joy, happiness, sadness, pain and much more, he comes to realize that this is how life is meant to be. So Jonas decides to do something about his dystopian environment, to change the world of “Sameness” to a world with challenges, goals and more importantly, a world with love.

    The GiverRating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: November 24, 2014
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 10+
    Sexual Content: Mild
    Violent Content: Moderate
    Crude or Profane Language: None
    Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
    Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes

     

    Talking Points:

    The film is based on a young adult novel, The Giver, and required reading for most middle school aged kids.  The subject matter of a place without pain and suffering, without any emotions… good or bad, will spark some interesting parent child conversations.

    There is an all-star cast, starring Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges.

    Sexual Content:

    • A couple passionately kiss.

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

    • We see a man inserting a needle into a baby’s head.
    • Jonas hits a guy in the face.
    • In Jonas’ memory we see images of war, where characters are shot and killed.
    • Elephants are shot and killed for their ivory.

    Crude or Profane Language: None

    Drugs and Alcohol: Mild

    • Residents in the community are injected daily with drugs to keep their emotions under control.

    Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes

    •   I interviewed kids ages 10 and 11, all of whom loved the movie and found it true to the book.

    Overall this is a wonderful thought provoking film. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for kids ages 10 and up.

    The Hundred Foot Journey-Kids Movie Review

    Rivals McDonalds and Burger King can be one hundred feet apart without a problem, Qdoba and Chipolte can also be one hundred feet apart without a problem, however Le Saule Pleureur and Maison Mumbai have their problems being only one hundred feet apart.  This is the story about an Indian family, led by the Papa (Om Puri), who are displaced from their native India and end up in a quaint village in the south of France, and their quest to open up an Indian restaurant. Papa is excited to share his Indian cuisine with the French, however when Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren), the owner of an elegant French restaurant from across the street stops by, things get complicated. Now the war begins as the two cultures try to make it work being only one hundred feet apart. The Hundred Foot Journey is an entertaining movie with a little comedy, romance and drama…a film for the whole family.

    Hundred Foot Journey, TheRating: 5 out of 5 buckets
    Release Date: December 2, 2014
    MPAA Rating: PG
    Best Age Group: 11+
    Sexual Content: Mild
    Violent Content: Mild
    Crude or Profane Language: Mild
    Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
    Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes

     

     

    Talking Points:

    Even though the Indian family and  Madame Mallory and friends don’t always get along, they’re ultimately loving people and make kind gestures to make peace with one other.

    The Hundred Foot Journey is an great film, however due to the mature storyline,  kids under 10 may find it slow and boring.

    Sexual Content: Mild

    • A couple passionately  kiss, then proceed into the bedroom. We don’t see anything, however when they come out of their room they are disheveled.

    Violent Content:Mild

    • We see rioters invading Papa’s restaurant in Mumbai, pushing tables and setting the place on fire. A loved one dies in the fire.
    • In France Papa’s restaurant is also set on fire by invaders, however there is not much damage as Papa puts out the fire.

    Crude or Profane Language: Mild

    • “H–,” and “sh-t,” are said.

    Drugs and Alcohol: Mild

    • Characters are shown drinking wine.

    Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes

    • I interviewed five kids between the ages 14 and 17 who all loved the movie. They claimed to be “foodies” so I can see why they especially enjoyed a film about restaurants.

    Overall this is a very sweet and entertaining film. As I previously mentioned, with the mature storyline, kids under 10 may find it slow and boring. Great for teens and adults!