Animation
Animated movie reviews
Sing-Kids’ Movie Review
“Dream big dreams.” That’s Buster Moon’s (voice of Matthew McConaughey) motto. Buster is a koala bear who loves the theater. When he was a 6 years-old his goal was to own his favorite theater…and years later that dream came true. However, due to financial problems things get difficult for the koala bear, though he doesn’t give up. To boost business he decides to produce a singing competition. Now the drama and singing begins as we see Buster Moon try to fulfill his lifelong dream.
Rating: 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 21, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Sing is a fun and entertaining film for the whole family. The film highlights the importance of working together and following your dreams.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Three female rabbits wiggle their butts while singing, “Oh my gosh, look at her butt.”
- There is flirting between the animals.
- We see some revealing outfits and risqué dances from the animals.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
- Some angry gangster bears try to kill a cheating mouse.
- A building collapses and puts several characters in harms way.
- There are several car chases, causing accidents.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear name calling: “old fart,” “stupid,” “fool,” and “bozos.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see animals drinking alcoholic beverages at a night club.
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Overall this is a cute and entertaining film for the whole family.
Trolls-Kids Movie Review
“Hug time!!” The trolls love to hug and these cute, little, colorful creatures love life! The trolls live in a perpetual state of happiness. They sing, they dance and they hug all day long! However, life gets a little complicated for the fun loving little guys when the Bergen’s (unhappy goblin-like creatures), discover that can feel happiness if they eat a troll. Now the happy go lucky trolls have their work cut out for them as they try to save their human race from the unhappy creatures.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: February 7, 2017
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 Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Trolls is a positive and upbeat movie. The film highlights the fact that happiness comes from the heart.
Sexual Content: Mild
- We see a couple kiss.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- We see the Bergen’s (dwarf-like creatures) grabbing and eating the trolls.
- A character shares a story about the death of his grandmother. It’s implied that she was eaten by a Bergen.
- A Bergen gets set on fire.
- We see two trolls’ choking another troll.
- A hopeless Bergen buries himself alive; wanting to die.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- I interviewed several young kids (ages 3 to 5) who loved the fun music, and the cute little trolls. They also said they were scared at times because of the “scary monsters.”
Overall Trolls is a fun entertaining film for kids of all ages!
Kubo And The Two Strings-Kids’ Movie Review
Kubo is a young boy who takes care of his mother who is ill. He is very close with his mom and obeys her three rules; always keep a wooden charm of a monkey close by, always wear his father’s robe, and always return home before dark. However, one day when Kubo was at the nearby village where he would often visit, he decided to stay after dark and break his mother’s rule because it seemed very entertaining. Now the action begins as Kubo’s peaceful life comes to an end as he encounters a vengeful spirit from the past.
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 22, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group:
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? No
Talking Points:
The animation is wonderful, however the story line may confuse young kids.
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- There are sword fights, beast attacks and characters are hit with chains and blades.
- Kubo’s aunts cast spells that kill villagers.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? No
Overall this is a wonderful animated film with beautiful scenery. Having said that the story line may be confusing to young kids.
Ice Age: Collision Course-Kids’ Movie Review
Love is in the air as Manny the mammoth prepares for his daughter’s wedding while Sid the sloth is desperately trying to find true love. However, things get complicated when the acorn obsessed rodent, Scrat, ends up in a UFO and creates a series of cosmic events that threatens the Ice Age World. Now the beloved mammals; Sid, Manny, Diego and friends must leave their home and encounter a whole new adventure. Ice Age: Collision Course is the fifth movie in the Ice Age series.
Rating: 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: October 11, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Sexual Content: Mild
- Sid the sloth and Brooke have a romantic relationship.
- A character mentions, “naked bingo.”
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
- There is some slapstick violence. Space rocks create explosions and fire.
- Characters get shocked and electrocuted.
- Scrat gets hit, bonked and smashed throughout the film.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Name calling, a character says, “stupid.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this is a fun, entertaining animated film for the whole family.
The Secret Life of Pets-Kids’ Movie Review
Max’s favorite part of the day is when his owner Katie comes home at night. Max is an adorable Terrier who loves nothing more than hanging out with his master. He has a great life in their high rise apartment, sometimes he even has the other apartment dwelling animals over. There’s Chloe, his feline friend who will eat anything out of the fridge, and the bulldog Mel who barks at the squirrels all day. Unfortunately, Max’s comfortable life changes the day Katie brings home a large rescue dog named Duke. Max no longer has the place to himself and needs to show Duke who’s the alpha male. The adventure begins as the two dogs end up in the streets of New York, desperately wanting to return to their beloved owner Katie. The Secret Life of Pets is a wonderful film for the whole family.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: December 6, 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/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Initially Max is very jealous of Duke and wants him out of their apartment. The dogs eventually learn to work things out and they develop a wonderful friendship.
- There is some potty humor throughout the film. For example… dogs sniff each others backsides while greeting one another, when the dogs sniff the sewer one of them says it smells like “poo poo with a dash of caca.”
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- There are some rough and tumble moments among the animals. Duke, the big rescue dog, initially pushes and bullies Max.
- There are several chase scenes, the animals even hijack an Animal Control van and a bus, they drive around very recklessly as mayhem ensues.
- Gidget, a Pomeranian dog who has a crush on Max, beats up several animals as she tries to protect Max.
- A viper is crushed and dies from a large brick.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Name calling such as “dummy.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
- I interviewed a 6 year-old girl and her 4 year old brother. They loved the film and did not think it was scary. Her favorite character is Gidget and his is Max.
Overall this is a fun entertaining film for the whole family. Parents need to be aware of the rough and tumble fight scenes and mild potty humor throughout the film.