Drama
Drama movie reviews
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.
Burnt-Teen Movie Review
“If it’s not perfect, throw it away.” Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper) is a control freak and a perfectionist! He was once known as a top chef in Paris, though he had his share of problems due to drug and alcohol addiction that put his career on hold. However, he gets a second chance when he’s hired as the head chef of a fine-dining restaurant in London. Adam learns a lot on how to handle his control issues while managing his new staff. He also gets a second chance to fulfill his dream of earning a third Michelin star…a goal the perfectionist chef has always pursued.
Rating: 1 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: January 26, 2016
MPAA Rating: R
Best Age Group: 18+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Teens Like It? No
Talking Points:
- As I previously mentioned, Adam Jones is a perfectionist and he wants to be in control. Even though this is not a sports film, the theme throughout the movie is to work as a team. One of Adam’s chefs says, “We cook together. We take care of each other. You can’t do it alone. No one can. You have to trust us.” {Spoiler Alert} He relinquishes some control and becomes a better chef and more importantly a better person.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- We see a couple kiss passionately.
- A couple is shown in bed together, and the woman is only wearing a camisole.
- A man is gay and it’s noted that he’s in love with Adam. We see him admire Adam’s physique.
- There are a lot of sexual references throughout the film. Adam repeatedly compares food to sex. There’s talk of orgasms, condoms and prostitutes.
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Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- Drug dealers beat Adam (offscreen), we see his scared face and a big bruise and wound on his back.
- Two chefs destroy their kitchens in a fit of rage.
- Adam pulls a plastic bag over his head and attempts to suffocate himself. This was a disturbing scene.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- The f-word is said numerous times throughout the film. We also hear “sh-t,” “h—,” “b–tard,” and “a–.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- We see characters drinking wine and smoking cigarettes.
- It’s noted that Adam had a drug and alcohol addiction.
- References are made to painkillers and cocaine.
- We see a character who gets very drunk and can barely walk.
Will Kids Like It? No
Overall this is an interesting film, however due to the mature subject matter and R rating, Burnt may not appeal to pre-teens or teens.
Jem and the Holograms-Kids’ Movie Review
The power of social media!! Jerrica Benton is a quiet, though very talented teenage girl, who writes her own music, sings and plays guitar. Her songs help her deal with the day to day stress of being a teenager girl. However, her quiet life soon ends when her sister, Kimber, posts one of Jerrica’s tunes online, and before you know it’s gone viral. Now the world wants to know that quiet and humble girl. Based on a the popular 1980’s cartoon, Jem and the Holograms is an entertaining film, especially for pre-teen girls.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: January 19, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Jem and the Holograms is a little corny in parts, though entertaining for tweens. The film highlights the importance of family and loved ones in your lives. One of the girls says…”A home is a place where you’re surrounded by people who you love and who love you regardless.”
- At the recording studio’s headquarters, the girls are told that the “house rules” demand no drinking, no smoking and no venturing out after curfew.
- The positive and negative aspects of social media is noted. A character says that paparazzi photos “live longer than vampires.”
- The teens break into a building and run from the police. One of the girls has a habit of stealing things.
Sexual Content: Mild
- We see a teenage couple making out.
- A teenage boy is shown only wearing a towel, waist down. A teenage girl walks in on him and admires his physique.
Violent/Disturbing Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- “A–,” is said a few times, we also hear “h—.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall Jem and the Holgrams is an enjoyable musical drama. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for kids ages 8 and up.
The Martian-Teen Movie Review
Mark Watney (Matt Damon) says he loves what he does, and he’s good at it. However, being stranded alone on planet Mars was not something he loved. Mark and a crew of fellow astronauts went to Mars, and after a fierce storm the crew left Mark behind on the hostile planet, as he was presumed dead. With only a limited amount of supplies, Mark had to find the strength and will to survive on the planet and get back home to Earth. The Martian, based on a bestselling novel, is a wonderful inspirational drama and appropriate for teenagers.
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: January 12, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
The Martian is a very entertaining and inspirational film. Even though the story line is similar to Interstellar and Gravity, it’s not as heavy or sad. There are actually some humorous parts woven throughout the film.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Mark walks around naked, we see his back side only.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- A rod punctures Mark’s abdomen and he proceeds to pull it out. We see him holding the bleeding wound as he staples it shut.
- We see a close-up of Mark’s upper body which is covered with sores and wounds.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear the f-word twice and it’s shown in print several times. We also hear..”a–,” “h—,” and “sh-t.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Mark injects himself with a numbing agent numerous times.
- Mark crushes up a Vicodin pill and dips a potato in it.
Will Teens Like It? Yes
- I interviewed a few teenage boys who loved the film. They thought it was funny in parts and very suspenseful.
Overall The Martian is an entertaining and inspirational drama. Depending on the child, I recommend this for kids ages 13 and up. Parents need to be aware of the moderate profane language.
The Intern-Teen Movie Review
The first day at a new can job can be challenging, especially for a 70 year-0ld man who’s been retired. Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) is a widower who worked for 40 years manufacturing phone books. He was always known as a dedicated and hard worker. However, after Ben’s retirement he felt he needed more in life; he wasn’t content with his leisurely lifestyle. Eventually, Ben got the opportunity to be a “senior intern” at an online fashion site, and his life dramatically changes. He becomes the younger co-workers role model, and develops a special bond with Jules (Anne Hatahway), the boss and founder of the company. The Intern is a funny and heartwarming, adult oriented, film.
Rating: 3 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: January 19, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 16+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Teens Like It? No
Sexual Content: Mild
- It’s noted that Ben is unexpectedly aroused by a co-worker.
- The film implies that Ben and a co-worker sleep together, though we don’t see anything.
- A character has an extramarital affair, we see the couple kiss.
Violent/Disturbing Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- The f-word is said once. We also hear “b—ch” and “a—” a few times each.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- We see characters drinking beer, wine and vodka. Also characters are shown doing shots at a bar.
- Jules eventually gets drunk and vomits into a trash can.
Will Teens Like It? No
- The Intern is a great movie for adults. Due to the subject matter of a “senior intern,” kids may get bored.
Overall this is a very appropriate film, however, as I previously mentioned kids/teens may get bored.