DVD Favorites
The Good Dinosaur-Kids’ Movie Review
What if dinosaurs were not wiped out 65 millions years ago? Luckily for young dinosaur Arlo, his parents and two siblings… they were not. Life is good for the dinosaur family, except for the dreadful day when a rainstorm washes Arlo down the river. He ends up battered and bruised and miles away from home. Frightened and alone, Arlo comes across a Neanderthal boy and names him Spot. Now the two misfits embark on many adventures as they try to find Arlo’s beloved family. The Good Dinosaur is a Pixar animated film, and an adventure for all.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 buckets out of 5
Release Date: February 23, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
The Good Dinosaur is a perfect film for young kids. It’s not only funny with likable characters, there are some wonderful lessons. The film highlights the importance of facing your fears; the joys of good friends and family.
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- There are frightening dinosaurs that eat small creatures, they chase Arlo and his friend Spot.
- There’s an emotional scene where Arlo and his father are together near a river, and his father is submerge by violent floodwaters.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Arlo and Spot eat rotten fruit from the ground which causes strange things to happen to them.
Will kids like it? Yes
- Young kids in the theater were laughing at the funny parts and very attentive in the dramatic parts. I interviewed a few four and five year-olds that loved the movie. They liked Arlo and thought the film was very funny.
Overall this is a funny and appropriate film for kids of all ages. Parents need to be aware of some moderate violence throughout the movie.
My All-American-Kids’ Movie Review
Freddie Steinmark (Finn Wittrock) is a football player. He started as a young boy scoring several touchdowns a game. Freddie’s life long dream is to play college football for Notre Dame then go pro and play for the Chicago Bears. The problem is that Freddie is too small, weighing only 145 pounds as a teenager. Though he’s an amazing high school football player, he receives regular rejections to play college football due to his small size. However, his life dramatically changes the day legendary University of Texas football coach Darrell Royal (Aaron Eckhart) offers Freddie a scholarship to play for the Texas Longhorns. Freddie, along with his high school teammate Bobby Mitchell, head to Texas to play football. As the Longhorns finish their 1969 season as National Champions, Freddie faces a challenge of his own-his biggest one ever. Based on a true story, My All-American is a wonderful inspirational drama about a true football hero… on and off the field.
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: February 23, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Freddie is a humble, hard-working athlete. He’s a great role model for kids; he attends Mass everyday, works hard in school and works hard on the football field. Nothing came easy for him, but it was his work ethic and determination that helped him succeed. Great parent/child conversations.
- Fans of Hoosiers and Rudy will most likely love My All-American as it is written and directed by the same filmaker-Angelo Pizzo.
Sexual Content: Mild
- We see Freddie and his girlfriend kiss several times.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- We see hard hits during the football practices and games.
- {Spoiler Alert} The subject of death is noted in the film which may frighten young kids. There’s a Brian’s Song element to it.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear “h–,” “d–n,” “a–,” “b–ch” and “b–tard.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see characters drinking wine.
- It’s mentioned that a priest serves beer to the football players once a week.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall My All-American is an amazing heartfelt sports drama. Depending on the child I recommend this for kids ages 10 and up. Parents need to be aware of the mature subject matter of death.
The Peanuts Movie-Kids Movie Review
Charlie Brown is not a quitter, and life isn’t always easy for Charlie; especially when he’s trying to impress the Red-Haired Girl who moves into his neighborhood. As Charlie continually tries to woo her, things don’t always go his way. However, he keeps hoping and never gives up. We see how “Good ol’ Charlie Brown” handles his ups and downs, while always doing the right thing! The Peanuts Movie is a wonderful feel good family flick!!!
Rating: 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 8, 2016
MPAA Rating: G
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Charlie Brown may have his goofy mishaps but he never gives up….great parent/child conversation.
- He’s a good friend, and brother. We see him help his sister as she’s in a embarrassing situation. He puts aside his own plans to help her out. It’s noted that he’s kind, compassionate, brave and funny.
- The Peanuts Movie does a great job of representing the Peanuts comic strips and TV show. The voices are perfect.
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
- There is some silly slapstick violence throughout the film. Charlie stumbles, slips on a wet floor, gets tied up by a kite, and much more.
- In Snoopy’s fantasy world we see him pursue his nemesis, The Red Baron, as a WWI pilot.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Name calling, “blockhead” is said a few times.
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- Kids of all ages were at the theater grinning from ear to ear and sitting at the edge of their seats.
Overall this is a perfect animated film for young kids. Parents who grew up Charlie Brown will love it as well.
The Martian-Teen Movie Review
Mark Watney (Matt Damon) says he loves what he does, and he’s good at it. However, being stranded alone on planet Mars was not something he loved. Mark and a crew of fellow astronauts went to Mars, and after a fierce storm the crew left Mark behind on the hostile planet, as he was presumed dead. With only a limited amount of supplies, Mark had to find the strength and will to survive on the planet and get back home to Earth. The Martian, based on a bestselling novel, is a wonderful inspirational drama and appropriate for teenagers.
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: January 12, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
The Martian is a very entertaining and inspirational film. Even though the story line is similar to Interstellar and Gravity, it’s not as heavy or sad. There are actually some humorous parts woven throughout the film.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Mark walks around naked, we see his back side only.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- A rod punctures Mark’s abdomen and he proceeds to pull it out. We see him holding the bleeding wound as he staples it shut.
- We see a close-up of Mark’s upper body which is covered with sores and wounds.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear the f-word twice and it’s shown in print several times. We also hear..”a–,” “h—,” and “sh-t.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Mark injects himself with a numbing agent numerous times.
- Mark crushes up a Vicodin pill and dips a potato in it.
Will Teens Like It? Yes
- I interviewed a few teenage boys who loved the film. They thought it was funny in parts and very suspenseful.
Overall The Martian is an entertaining and inspirational drama. Depending on the child, I recommend this for kids ages 13 and up. Parents need to be aware of the moderate profane language.
Hotel Transylvania 2-Kids’ Movie Review
Dracula (voice of Adam Sandler) finally decided that humans should be invited to stay at Hotel Transylavia, and his business is booming. However, he is worried because his half-human grandson, Dennis, doesn’t have any vampire traits…not even fangs. So when Dracula babysits Dennis for a weekend, he gathers his monster friends and they put the boy through a “monster-in-training” boot camp. Now the action begins as Dennis tries to become a vampire while Dracula gets some unexpected visitors. Hotel Transylvania 2 is an entertaining film for the whole family.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5
Release Date: January 12, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5 +
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Teens Like It? Yes
Sexual Content: Mild
- A joke is made about “grandma’s boobies.”
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- Dracula sings a lullaby to his grandson….”Suffer, Suffer Scream in Pain.”
- Dracula throws his son off a high platform, assuming he can fly. Dracula saves his son before he lands to the ground.
- Frankenstein pulls his head off to take a selfie.
- Frankenstein falls into a bonfire and sets a whole camp on fire.
- There are creepy looking monsters that may scare young kids.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- I interviewed kids ages 4 to 8 who all loved the movie. They weren’t frightened by some of the violence or scary monsters.
Over Hotel Transylvania 2 is an entertaining animated film appropriate for kids ages 5 and up.