Comedy
Comedy movie reviews
Leap Year-Family Movie Review
“Leap Year” is a romantic comedy about Anna (Amy Adams); a very structured, controlling young woman from Boston. When her materialistic boyfriend doesn’t propose on their anniversary, she remembers an old Irish tradition in which women can freely ask their boyfriends to get married on Leap Day, Feb 29th. Ironically, it just so happens that her boyfriend will be attending a cardiologist’s seminar in Dublin, late February in a leap year. As she travels to Ireland to propose, her flight encounters a storm, and her plane lands in Wales, so Anna ends up paying an innkeeper (Matthew Goode) to drive her to Dublin. Predictably, the two bicker their way to Dublin, gradually falling for each other as they race to get there by the 29th.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: May 4, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
It’s a feel good, lighthearted, cute, entertaining PG movie that pre-teens, and teenage girls will enjoy.
The soundtrack is great, and the scenery beautiful.
Amy Adams and Matthew Goode are terrific. Their characters are very likable and charming.
It’s a great movie for moms to take their pre-teen and teenage daughter, and not feel uncomfortable with the kind of sexual scenes that are in most romantic comedies these days.
Sexual Content: Mild
- The movie instills good old fashioned values. When you find true love, you get married, grow old together, and live a long happy life. A rule in a small town Irish Bed and Breakfast was that boarders must be married if they’re going to sleep in the same room. This is a nice message for young girls.
Violent Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- There may have been a few swear words, but not much at all.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters were socially drinking in a few scenes.
Though the movie is very predictable, and a little cheesy, it’s really enjoyable.
Overall, it’s a fun, charming movie that most girls 12 and up will enjoy. I’ll give it 4 buckets.
Joyful Noise Review
Set in a small-town in Georgia, Joyful Noise centers around a gospel singing church choir, whose goal is to win the national choral competition. Even with amazing choir leaders such as Vi Rose (Queen Latifah) and G. G. Sparrow (Dolly Parton), the choir still had many complications and struggles to overcome, while trying to win the national championship.
Rating: 2 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: May 1, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12 and up
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
There were many relationship issues; the two matriarchs of the choir, (Vi Rose and G. G.) didn’t particularly get along, they competed with each other, especially when Vi Rose was chosen to be the new choir director. Things got even more heated when G.G.’s headstrong teenage grandson, Randy (Jeremy Jordan), unexpectedly showed up; he not only joined the choir, he fell madly in love with Vi Rose’s daughter Olivia (Keke Palmer), and once again conflict occurred.
The film could spark some great parent/ child conversations especially with teenage daughters and mothers. We saw several confrontations with Vi Rose and her 16 year old daughter.
The film had some nice messages of forgiveness, and had a religious element to it; with gospel songs and many conversations about God and love throughout the film. This could also spark some great conversations as well.
One part of the storyline I especially liked was with G. G.’s grandson, Randy, and Vi Rose’s son Walter. Walter has Asperger’s Syndrome, and felt uncomfortable around people. Randy befriended him, and taught him how to handle some difficult situations.
The audience seemed to have love the movie! They were laughing throughout most of the film. One lady walked out saying, “That was a great movie!”
Randy, (Jeremy Jordan), wasn’t the best actor, but I could see how he would appeal to pre-teen and teenage girls. He was cute, fun and energetic.
The film didn’t seem to flow smoothly, it was a little choppy in parts, also a little too long at 118 minutes.
Sexual Content: Mild
- There were passionate kisses.
- There were some sexual references and comments. For example; one man died while in a sexual encounter, this was a constant joke throughout the film.
Violent Content: Mild
- Two teenage boys got into a fist fight, we saw blood and a bruised face.
- The two women, Vi Rose and G. G. got into a food fight, which turned into a mild brawl.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- There were about 9 swear words ranging from the b-word, s-word to the a-word. This was a sore subject for Vi as she didn’t like swearing.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- There was a scene at a night club, where we saw several people drinking alcohol.
Joyful Noise, a musical dramedy, was similar to Glee and other musical films. While I didn’t particularly love this film, I felt it was appropriate for pre-teens and teens, though they may find it a little slow and long in parts. Having said that there were some fun musical arrangements, nice messages, and appealing teenage characters that may entertain kids. This is an appropriate movie for kids ages 12 and up.
Jack and Jill Review
The holidays are quickly approaching; a special time with family and friends…so we hope. Well, it’s not that special for Jack (Adam Sandler), though he has a beautiful wife (Katie Homes), 2 great kids, and a successful job as an advertising executive, he also has his annoying twin sister, Jill (also played by Sandler). Year after year Jack dreads the holidays, because he gets a visit from his neurotic twin sister; and this time it’s even worse, because Jill doesn’t want to leave. So now Jack’s quiet, comfortable life turns into a chaotic nightmare.
Rating: Two out of five buckets.
Release Date: November 11, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Elementary school kids and tweens often like Adam Sandler movies; they’re funny and entertaining. I tend to like his movies as well. However, Jack and Jill, is a strange, atypical Adam Sandler movie. Jill (played by Adam Sandler), is not sweet and funny like Tootsie (played by Dustin Hoffman), she is a very large, ogre like creature. Her voice is annoying, she continually whines when she doesn’t get her way; Jack couldn’t wait for his sister to leave, and I felt the same way. Having said all that, Jill sincerely loves her brother; which was heartwarming at times.
There were some funny parts, even though Jack’s sister drives him crazy, they do have some resemblance, which added a little humor.
The movie has an all-star cast, to name a few; Adam Sandler, Katie Holmes and Al Pacino. David Spade, Johnny Depp and Regis Philbin make an appearance.
Al Pacino, plays himself in the movie; that was another strange part. We learn that Pacino goes crazy, and falls madly in love with Jill… another unsettling part.
There is a lot of potty humor; with Jill’s sweat stained sheets, body hair and ear wax, it really wasn’t funny, just gross.
There are many racial stereotypes; which was the topic of many jokes in the film.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Women wear sexy low-cut out fits. One women comments that she’s not wearing any underwear.
- There are other sexual references and innuendos; Pacino says, ” I can smell horny across an ocean!”
- In one scene, Jack dresses up up like his sister, he fills his bra with cantaloupes and then a bathroom attendant adjusts them. Later the attendant grabs Jill’s breasts, thinking it’s Jack’s cantaloupes.
Violent Content: Mild
- Jill punches the bathroom attendant.
- A drunken women grabs Jack’s wife, and puts her in a headlock. Jill steps in and punches the women.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- The h-word is said a few times.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters are seen drinking cocktails at bars.
I’m not a twin, though I have nieces and have friends who are twins. I think it’s a unique and special relationship, which the movie ultimately portrays. However, I think Jack and Jill, is a movie I wouldn’t waste my time and money on, and I’m an Adam Sandler fan!
Igor-Kids Movie Review
The movie is about an ambitious lab assistant, Igor, who wants to become a mad scientist, and wants to win the first place in the annual science fair.
Rating: Three out of five popcorn buckets.
Release Date: January 20, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 6+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Igor intended to invent a monster, but instead he invented Eva, who’s a sweet, gentle woman. At one point Eva gives Igor, and his two friends, Scamper and Brain, a gift. Then Igor feels bad that he didn’t have anything for her, so he ends up finding a necklace, and gives to her. It’s a very touching part in the movie.
Eva’s character is a light and refreshing part of the movie.
There are some funny parts, jokes that adults will get about Hollywood.
There’s a good message, Igor says “Everyone has an evil bone in their body, we choose whether to use it or not.” Eva says, “ It’s better to be a good nobody than an evil somebody.” Eva makes a decision to refuse the evil power that she’s tempted by.
They idealized evil, which is not good for kids to see: The did it in a cartoonish way. In this country of Malaria, evil is good. The King’s motto is, “The way to succeed is to do evil.”
Sexual Content: Mild
- The evil doctor’s assistant throws herself on top of Igor, and passionalty kisses him.
- Heidi wears some low cut dresses.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Some kids may find it to be scary because when an experiment failed, there was smoke, lightening, loud noises. The Evil Science Fair there were violent, mechanical monsters fighting.
- The evil scientist, Dr. Schandenfreud, was unpleasant to his girlfriend, he called her big mouth, and pushed her around. He typically won the science fair because he stole the other scientists inventions.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- “Idiot” and “fool” were used.
- The d-word is used several time throughout the film.
- “What the…” is said.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- It’s implied that a couple of characters are drinking alcohol.
Some parents my not like the movie because of the emphasis on evil. On the other hand, some parents may hope that their kids will understand the message, that being a good person is better than being a bad person. The movie may encourage some good family discussions about good and evil.
Here Comes the Boom Review
Back in “the day,” Scott Voss (Kevin James) was a great collegiate wrestler; he was in good shape and was known to have some impressive wrestling moves. Now Scott is a 42 year old high-school biology teacher, who was losing his enthusiasm to teach; teaching was becoming mundane and boring, not like it used to be. However things dramatically changed after a school faculty meeting; they announced that Wilkinson High will be eliminating all extracurricular activities, due to budget cuts. Scott was devastated because Marty, his best friend and the school’s music teacher, was going to lose his job. Scott had a new goal; he needed to raise $48.000 to save the music department and his friend’s job. So what does he do?…he gets in shape, gets back in the rink, and takes a series of beatings to help his friend and his students. Here Comes the Boom, is a fun entertaining film for the whole family.
Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: February 4, 2013
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
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Talking Points:
This is an upbeat film, with some great lessons. Scott’s motives were completely selfless. Though unrealistic, it didn’t matter, the messages were made clear throughout the film.
I loved the school spirit and positive tone of the film. Scott becomes an inspiration to his students and colleagues; he has a heart of gold, and won’t give up to help his friend.
In one scene, Scott threw up all over an opponent, not a pleasant site.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Scott and the school nurse go on a date. They eventually kiss.
Violent Content: Moderate
- The fight scenes were very violent and graphic. Scott gets kicked, hit, choked and thrown by his opponents. At times it was a disturbing to see the continuous punches to Scott’s face.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “A–,” “h–,” are said a couple of times.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters are shown drinking beer and wine.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this was a great movie with some wonderful messages. However, parents need to be aware of the gruesome fighting scenes. I recommend this movie for kids ages 8 and up.