Animation
Animated movie reviews
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.
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.
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.
Shaun the Sheep Movie- Kids’ Movie Review
All work and no play makes Shaun a dull sheep. Shaun is a sheep who wants to have fun. He’s tired of the day to day grind of working on a farm, so he plans to take a day off. However, things don’t go as he hopes. When Shaun distracts the farmer, so he can sneak away, he accidentally sends the farmer into the city. Shaun quickly realizes that a farm definitely needs a farmer. So now Shaun and the flock must figure out how to get the farmer back where he belongs…Mossy Bottom Farm. Shaun the Sheep Movie is a “clay-mation” comedy, based on Shaun the Sheep television series.
Rating: 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 24 , 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The sound effects and music are fun and entertaining.
- There aren’t any life lessons or inspirational moments, but it’s a cute animated film with comical parts and amazing animation.
- There is some potty humor throughout the film. We see a man with his pants down sitting on a toilet, a character falling head first into a large pile of manure, and we hear several farts and burbs.
Sexual Content: Mild
- There is some flirting amongst the sheep and even a kiss.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
- There is some slapstick violence with hitting, pushing, and tumbling on the ground.
- A runaway trailer almost gets hit by a train.
- A street lamp falls and hits the farmer on the head which knocks him out.
- A character produces a special animal hook that’s connected to a high-voltage battery. He ends up setting a toy on fire.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see a character holding a bottle of champagne.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- Young kids were giggling in the theater throughout the film.
Overall this is a wonderful animated film geared towards young kids.
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.