Comedy
Comedy movie reviews
Sorcerer’s Apprentice Review
When I saw the trailer of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, I thought that the movie didn’t look good at all, though I thought I should review it anyway, and I was pleasantly surprised. This is a comedy adventure about a master sorcerer, Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage), and his apprentice, Dave, a twenty year-old nerdy physics student. Together they try to save the world from Balthazar’s arch-nemesis.
Rating:Four out of five buckets
Release Date: November 30, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
This was a funny, action packed movie.
When Dave, the physics student, was a ten year-old boy, he had a brief encounter with Balthazar. This created many psychological issues for Dave, because he was told that he was destined to be a powerful sorcerer. Ten years later we see Dave as the nerdy physic’s student still pursuing the same girl, and finally recovering from his childhood trauma, but then he’s pursued once again by Balthazar, the master sorcerer. Balthazar claims that physics and sorcery have a lot in common.
There are some nice lessons for kids. Balthazar continually says to Dave, “character counts-that to be great, one must be good.”
Sexual Content: Mild
- I loved romantic element of the movie. The nerdy boy, was attracted to a very cute girl, who was a DJ at a radio station. It was very entertaining watching him make his moves, to a girl way out of his league.
Some parts were clever.
As in most action movies, there’s conflict between good vs. evil, which we see in this movie.
Poor character development, I felt like I didn’t get to know the characters very well.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Younger kids may get scared because of the violence and scary creatures.
- Some examples: Electric thunderbolts fly from the wizards hands.
A Chinatown dragon becomes a scary creature that climbs buildings.
There are a lot of battles amongst the sorcerer’s. They’re thrown into ceilings and walls, they constantly push each other into magical mirrors.
Profanity or crude language: Mild
This is a PG movie, which I thought was appropriately rated. I interviewed many kids after the movie. A couple of six year-old girls said they liked it, but were scared in parts. A ten year old boy loved it, as did his mom. Walking out I heard a girl, who looked about ten, say to her dad, “That was the best movie I’ve ever scene, let’s see it again.”
Recommended age: For kids ages eight and up.
Shrek Forever After Review
“What if?” “The Grass Is Greener on the Other Side.” These are common thoughts that at some point in life, we’ve probably all wondered. Now that Shrek is a family man, with a wife and three kids, he’s longing for the days when he felt like a “real ogre.” The evil Rumpelstiltskin, happens to hear Shrek’s complaint, and persuades him to sign a magical contract, which takes Shrek back to his more exciting past. Suddenly Shrek is in an alternate version of Far Far Away. In this new land, wicked witches reign, ogres are hunted, Rumpelstiltskin is King, and sadly, Shrek and Fiona have never met. Now Shrek has to undo this terrible predicament that he put himself in.
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: December 7, 2010
MPAA Rating: G
Best Age Group: Any Age
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
I thought this was a very creative way to end the Shrek adventures. Once Shrek’s life, that he had taken for granted, was gone, he realized the mistake he had made. There was a constant message to be content with your life, and realize the importance of family.
In the new version of Far Far Away, Fiona doesn’t know Shrek. When trying to win her over, Shrek discovers why he originally fell in love with her. Shrek said, “The best part of the day is I got to fall in love with you all over again.” This was so sweet and enduring.
The storyline with Puss in Boots was great. When I interviewed kids after the movie, they all mentioned how funny he was.
There are some violent scenes that may scare younger kids. For example;
The battles with the wicked witches and the ogres felt more intense, than the battles in the previous Shrek movies.
Rumpelstiltskin is a very evil, creepy character.
The witches are very cruel to Donkey, they continually whip him when he pulls their cart.
There is some potty humor; we see Shrek’s baby ogres burping and passing gas. Fiona constantly said, “Better out than in.”
Overall this is a wonderful family movie with a nice message of contentment. In the end Shrek realizes that the most important thing in life is being a good dad, and husband. A good message for us all. I give this movie five out of five buckets.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Review
This is a story about a twenty-two year old guy named Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera). He’s a guitarist in a garage band, who finally meets the love of his life, Ramona Flowers. After many dates with Ramona, Scott gradually realizes that she has a lot of baggage; seven former boyfriends, all who want to destroy Scott for dating Ramona. In this creative, comedy adventure, we see how Scott handles Ramona’s seven evil exes.
Rating: One out of five buckets
Release Date: November 9, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 17+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Talking Points:
This is a very creative movie. The movie has some romance, and it’s an action/adventure, sci-fi/fantasy, comedy. This movie continually went in and out of either game mode, comic book mode or rock-video mode, which most of the audience loved. However, the audience consisted of mostly older teens and adults in their twenty’s, and only a few kids.
I read that, “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World feels like the first movie aimed squarely at the gamer generation; those who have grown up with video games as a fact of life and, in some cases, a reason for living.” I don’t think kids will enjoy this type of movie, they won’t appreciate some of the humor, and creativity.
Scott was a very likable, persistent character, who never backed down when fighting for Ramona.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- There were a few scenes where I was uncomfortable with my twelve and ten year old boys.
- On Scott and Ramona’s first date, Ramona gets into bed with Scott, only wearing her bra and undies; she passionately kisses him, but then she says, “I changed my mind, I don’t want to have sex with you.”
- Scott’s roommate is gay, and he is with many different guys throughout the movie, and it’s implied that they’ve he’s slept with each one of them. Sometimes, Scott would even sleep in the same bed with them.
- One of Ramona’s exes was a girl, Ramona said she was “ bi-curious.”
Profanity: Moderate
- Many beeped f-words, along with many other swear words, but okay for a PG13 movie.
Violent Content: Moderate
- There were seven exes, and with each ex, there was a battle which consisted of either punches, kung fu, or sword fights. Some were very violent.
Even though this was a very creative movie, and it seemed that the audience loved it, I did not like it! It was battle after battle, which got very boring. More importantly, I feel that most kids won’t enjoy this type of movie. My ten and twelve year old boys thought it was awful and a waste of time. I give it one bucket.
Rango Review
Who knew that a chameleon could have an identity crisis? Well, in this animated western comedy we meet a pet chameleon (voice of Johnny Depp), who feels like an outsider. Initially, he has lived his life in a terrarium, but always fantasized about becoming a hero. When he eventually gets out of the tank, he ends up in a gritty, western town called Dirt. In this town he becomes the hero he always wanted to be. He’s made the local sheriff, and decides that his name is Rango. However, Rango eventually realizes that it’s easier to dream about being a hero, than actually be one; as he tries to save this western town from their local outlaw, Rattlesnake Jake.
Rating: One out of five buckets
Release Date: March 4, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Not Recommended
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points
Rango is directed by the same director as The Pirates of the Caribbean movies. In most animated films the creatures are cute and lovable, not in Rango. The creatures are disgusting with brown, decayed teeth, and leathery skin, which many kids will be scared of, and frankly, it’s not at all pleasant to watch for anyone. There are some saloon scenes where these creatures are smoking cigars and drinking. It’s implied that one guy passed out from being drunk
There is a lot of potty humor, which I typically don’t mind, however in this movie the humor is targeted towards adults and not kids. Some of the jokes are about enlarged prostates, laxatives and mammograms, which I feel most kids won’t even understand.
If I have to find a redeeming quality I would say there is a nice message that everyone needs to believe in something.
Sexual Content: Mild
In the beginning of the movie Rango is staging a play in his terrarium, which he typically loved to do. In his plays there is a headless and shirtless Barbie torso. He points to her chest and says, “Are those real?”
Violent Content: Excessive
The movie is set in an old western town. It’s a creepy, scary setting especially for a PG animated film. There are many scary scenes, but I’ll just mention one scene.
• Rattlesnake Jake grabs a girl, whom Rango likes, the snake licks her and says in a creepy voice, “I want to watch you die.”
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
• There is swearing in this animated film. Words such as “h**l”, “d$%m”, and “a@#” are said.
Overall I didn’t like this movie. It was an animated film, which I associate with kids, that was not geared towards kids. Parents were uncomfortable in the theater, some even took their kids and walked out. Which I would have done if I wasn’t reviewing the film.
Puss in Boots Review
How did Puss get those boots of his? In this wonderful, animated film, Puss in Boots, we learn a lot about that bad cat long before he ever meets Shrek. This is story about Puss (Antonio Banderas) and his courageous adventures with his long time friend, Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) and the street-savvy Kitty (Salma Hayek). This trio is on a mission to steal magic beans from Jack and Jill, grow a bean stalk, and get to the golden egg kingdom in the clouds, with hopes to steal the goose that lays the golden eggs. This is a hilarious and clever movie, one the whole family will enjoy.
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: February 24, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
“Please do not let me down,” these are the words from Puss’s adopted mom after she finds out he was stealing beans. Despite Puss’s reputation, he is a good cat; it’s mentioned throughout the film that he wants to do the right thing and make his mom proud! This is a great message for kids!!!
In a flashback scene we learn that Puss was put in an orphanage as a tiny kitten. That’s where he meets Humpty Dumpty, who’s constantly being picked on and bullied by other kids. Puss sticks up for his bullied new friend; another great thing for kids to see.
In addition to the moral lessons that runs throughout the film, it is also a hilarious movie. From Puss’s dance moves, to his witty and silly humor; kids and adults will be thoroughly entertained.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Puss and Kitty have a “dance fight,” where they seductively dance together.
- Puss makes reference of his reputation as a lover.
Violent Content: Mild
- In this film Jack and Jill are evil, scary characters who threaten anyone who gets in their way. They hit Puss and his friends with swords and clubs. Jack and Jill may scare some younger kids.
- There are many sword fights; Puss loves to use his sword.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters are shown drinking alcohol in a pub.
Though Puss in Boots may have been your favorite character in Shrek, this is not another Shrek movie. This film has a new and entertaining twist, with some interesting new characters. I recommend this movie for the whole family, though parents need to be aware that the characters, Jack and Jill, may frighten young kids.