Comedy
Comedy movie reviews
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian-Family Movie Review
Larry Daley, the security guard in the first movie, is now a huge success as an inventor and CEO of a gadget company. When Larry stops by the museum one day he discovers that the Museum is closed for renovations and his “historical plastic friends” are being shipped from their New York museum to the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. Larry immediately flies to D.C. when he learns that the monkey has taken the magical Egyptain tablet, which brings everything and everyone to life. So now, a new character, the evil pharaoh (Hank Azaria), who’s from the Smithsonian, hopes to use the tablet to conquer the Smithsonian and the world, and it’s up to Larry and his friends to save the day.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: December 1, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking points:
Hanks Azaria steals the show. He is an evil pharaoh with a lisp and a slightly feminine stream of consciousness way of talking. He’s hilarious. He choose Archie Bunker’s chair as his throne and was dismayed to discover that Dorothy’s ruby red slippers weren’t made with red rubies.
Amy Adams is terrific as Amelia Earhart. There are other fun and interesting new characters in this movie; Al Capone, bobble head mini Einsteins, and Abraham Lincoln.
A new idea of the sequel is that the artwork also comes to life, and they even entered into the artwork, which was fun and creative.
Amelia Earhart(Amy Adams) stresses the importance of having fun in what you do in life, she says “If you’re not excited by what you do, why do it.” This is a constant message throughout the movie.
In the end Larry say’s “ The key to happiness is doing what you love with people you love.”
Teddy Roosevelt says “Sometimes the greatest change brings about even greater opportunity.”
I read that the first film had a positive impact on museums, it boosted attendance at the New York Museum by 20%. This may encourage kids to visit a museum this summer.
Ben Stiller, who plays Larry, said “this movie makes the air space museum seem like the coolest place in the world.”
Sexual Content: Mild
- Jedediah say proudly ‘this cowboy got to second base.” This may spark a few questions, it did in my house.
- Characters kiss.
Violent Content: Mild
- There is some slaptick violence. Characters use swords and have silly battles.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- D-word is said twice. Also, “stupid,” and “sucks” are used.
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Overall this is a fun entertaining movie, one for the whole family!
Nanny McPhee Returns Review
This is the story about Isabel Green, (Maggie Gyllenhaal) a mother trying to run the family farm while her husband is away at war. Isabel has three mischievous kids of her own, but when her wealthy niece and nephew from London join the family on the farm, that’s when the trouble and chaos begins. Luckily for Mrs. Green, Nanny McPhee(Emma Thompson) appears at their door, ready to take over. Now Mrs. Green can actually have time to herself, and enjoy a cup of tea, while Nanny McPhee teaches the children five valuable lessons.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: December 10, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Any Age
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Nanny McPhee teaches the children to respect others, to have good manners, and to keep things cleaned and picked up. Initially the kids don’t like her at all; they are rude, disrespectful children, but they gradually learn to appreciate the rules and boundaries that are enforced by Nanny McPhee. They become much happier and well adjusted children.
This is a great movie for the whole family, with some valuable lessons for children. Nanny’s five lessons are:
1) Stop fighting, 2) Share nicely, 3) Help each other, 4) Be brave, and 5) Have faith. She doesn’t leave the Green’s farm until the lesson’s are all completed.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content:
- The only violent or disturbing scenes would be when we first meet the children. They are a parents worst nightmare. Punching, kicking, and pulling each others hair was their normal behavior. They would also break things and destroy other people’s property, until Nanny McPhee arrived.
The movie is rated PG. There was some potty humor, which made the kids giggle in the theater, but other than that it was a very wholesome fun movie.
While the movie was fun and entertaining, some parts were a little drawn out, and boring, my ten year old son agreed.
I interviewed a family afterwards that had kids ages six to thirteen. They all loved it, and said they would see it again.
Overall this is a wonderful, feel good movie. With Nanny McPhee’s five lessons, it’s hard not to enjoy, and hope that your kids get something out of it. I read a statement in a movie review that said, “Talk, Make these subjects part of the post-movie ice cream experience for your family.” What a great idea! I give it four out of five buckets.
The Pirates! Band of Misfits Review
Pirate Captain (voice of Hugh Grant) and his misfit crew, are on a mission…to win the ultimate pirate title: “Pirate of the Year.” More determined than ever to defeat his rivals, the Captain realizes he might not have what it takes to win the coveted award. However, things change when a young scientist, Charles Darwin, informs the Captain that his beloved parrot is really a dodo bird, and the last remaining one at that. Darwin convinces the Captain to take the bird to London and show the Queen, where he will receive reward money for the bird; which should be enough to win “Pirate of the Year.” Little did the Captain know that Darwin and the Queen have their own agenda, one that does not bode well for this hapless, carefree Captain. The Pirates!Band of Misfits is an appropriate movie for kids ages 8 and up.
Rating: 1 buckets out of 5
Release Date: April 27, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Talking Points:
I was not a big fan of this movie, however there was one redeeming quality which was highlighted at the end of the film; the value of friendship and forgiveness. Captain Pirate thought he wanted fame and fortune, though he came to realize that’s not what makes you happy.
The animation and 3D effects were very well done.
I read that the director was asked if this was a kids’ movie; he responded by saying, “we make films just for people.” I felt the film wasn’t geared toward a target audience. There weren’t any cute, fun-loving characters for youngsters, while I think kids ages 10 and up will find it strange and boring.
Sexual Content: Mild
- One character wears low cut shirts and form-fitting outfits.
- One of the pirates is a women, disguised as a man. She has a crush on Pirate Captain.
Violent Content: Moderate
- There was a lot of slapstick, silly violence throughout the film.
- The Queen was cruel and evil.
- Charles Darwin gets tarred and feathered.
- We see a giant whale spitting out a pirate.
- There’s a sword fight scene between the Queen, and several other characters.
- Pirate Captain is almost beheaded by the Queen. This scene may scare young kids.
Crude and Profane Language: Mild
- We hear phrases such as, “hell’s barnacles,” and “banana butt.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- Character’s are shown drinking beer and wine in many scenes.
- We see Pirate Captain drunk after a night at a pub.
As I previously stated this was not a cute, fun animated film for kids. Parents need to be aware of some moderate violence. The film is appropriate for kids ages 8 and up.
Men in Black III Review
Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back; still wearing black! However in this third installment of the Men in Black series, Agent J travels back in time to the 1960‘s. His goal is to stop Boris the Animal, an evil, scary- looking alien, from killing the young, naive Agent K (Josh Brolin), and to save the future of the world. Men in Black 3 is a fun, entertaining movie with a 1960’s flare.
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: November 30, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back; still wearing black! However in this third installment of the Men in Black series, Agent J travels back in time to the 1960‘s. His goal is to stop Boris the Animal, an evil, scary- looking alien, from killing the young, naive Agent K (Josh Brolin), and to save the future of the world. Men in Black 3 is a fun, entertaining movie with a 1960’s flare.
Talking Points:
Agent J (Will Smith) and Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) are great characters. They’re devoted to each other as partners and friends.
There are some subtle messages woven through the film. One character says, “The bitterest truth is always better than the sweetest lies. Another says, “The most destructive force in the universe is regret.”
I read that this is one of the few movie series that’s directed by the same person; Barry Sonnenfeld. Having them go back in time added a unique twist to the series.
Since they went back in time, it was interesting to see the moon launch in the 60’s. Kids may like that.
Having not seen the first two movies in the series, I was a little confused by the storyline.
Sexual Content: Mild
- A woman wears a low-cut form fitting dress.
Violent Content: Excessive
- Boris the Animal may scare young kids, with his horrific face and awful teeth . He has a creepy spider which evolves from the palm of his hand. We see him torment many people as he continuously throws spikes into their bodies and heads.
- Agents J and K are involved in violence as well, with many gun shots and ray guns blasting throughout the film.
- We see a creatures head flattened from being hit so hard with a frying pan.
- We see Agent K kill a villain.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- “Sh-t,” “d-mn,” “h–l,” and “a–,” are said several times each. “B–tard,” is also said once.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Character’s drink mixed drinks and champagne.
Overall Men in Black 3 is a fun, entertaining movie, however parents need to be aware of the moderate profanity and excessive violence throughout the film. Depending on the child, I recommend this film for kids ages 11 and up.
THE MUPPETS Review
Walter, the biggest Muppet fan ever, and his friend’s Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA; travel to Los Angeles for a vacation, with great hopes to see the Muppet Theater. However, their dreams are shattered when they arrive; they discover that an evil oil man, Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) plans to drill for the oil that was found beneath the Muppet Theater. When Kermit founds out about this awful ploy, he panics and recruits Walter, Gary and Mary to help gather the Muppet gang for a telethon; hoping to raise the $10 million needed to save the theater. THE MUPPET’S is a hilarious entertaining movie for the whole family!!
Rating: 5 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: March 20, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Any age
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
See a clip of my review here, plus a review of Hugo!
Talking Points:
I grew up with the Muppets, as I’m sure many of you have too. Basically the film is about getting the gang back together; Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal and all the rest of the Muppet characters. Each character has moved on and have their own careers, which was fun and entertaining to see. Especially Miss Piggy, who works at a top fashion magazine in Paris with Emily Blunt, from The Devil Wears Prada, as her assistant.
I loved the cultural references and the great 70’s and 80’s music; the movie opens with the original version of Paul Simon’s 1972 hit “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard,”a song I’ve always loved, another favorite song was Starship’s 1985,“We Built This City.” The original classic Muppet songs were sang as well.
The movie was filled with an all-star cast, besides our favorite Muppet characters, to name a few; Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Jack Black and Rashida Jones. There were Cameo’s of Zach Galifianakis, Selena Gomez, Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Silverman, and Rico Rodriguez, who play Manny from Modern Family.
Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary ( Amy Adams) play 2 very naive, innocent characters, ones you imagine seeing dancing on Disney’s Main Street. It brought on a great Disney feeling, of innocence and fun.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Women wear bikinis
- Character’s kiss
Violent Content: Mild
- Jack Black’s character is in an anger management class, he starts a brawl by punching other characters.
- A TV show called “Punch Teacher,” was shown in the movie, where we see a student punching a teacher.
- The evil oil man gets angry and throws a sword through a television set.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- They say, “fart,” while a character wears fart shoes. The kids in the theater found that very funny.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters are shown drinking alcohol.
- Hobo Joe was at the telethon, you don’t see him drinking, but it’s implied that he’s drunk.
Overall, THE MUPPET’s was a very funny and entertaining movie. Even if you weren’t a Muppet fan growing up, it’s not too late; take your kids to the theater, and maybe they’ll become a fan too. This is an appropriate movie for any age, even adults!