Drama

Drama movie reviews

The Kid Who Would Be King-Kids’ Movie Review

Could a modern-day English boy ever become king? Alex Elliot (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) is an ordinary 12 year old boy who occasionally gets bullied in school. One day as he’s running away from the bullies he ends up falling into a construction site where he finds King Arthur’s famous sword, Excalibur. Alex’s life dramatically changes as he encounters the wizard Merlin (Patrick Stewart) who appears in teen form in Alex’s school. Merlin explains that Alex is the new king and needs to defeat the wicked villain Morgana (Rebecca Ferguson). Now Alex gathers a group of friends, and converts his enemies to allies, to form a new round table, and defeat the evil villain. Maybe an ordinary 12 year old boy can become king.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: April 16, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

We see a character briefly walking around naked. His bottom half is blurred out therefore we don’t see his privates.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

Kids are bullied in school. One scene shows a bully hanging another kid upside down.
The villain is a scary looking creature with a scary army. The army is filled with mud creatures who have creepy eyes and dangerous weapons. They attack the kids and invade one of the boys’ homes.

Evil trees and skeleton’s attack the kids.
There are numerous battles and chase scenes with the villain, her army vs.the kids.
We see the villain breath fire and destroy part of the school.

Crude or Profane Language:

“We hear “damn,” and “hell.” We also hear; “stupid,” “shut up,” “ignorant buffoon”, “liar,” and “bully.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

There’s talk of a father who drank too much.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is a wonderful family movie for kids ages 10 and up. Parents need to be aware of the violent content throughout the film.

Glass-Kids’ Movie Review

Superheroes are fictional character’s with different strengths and abilities when using their powers. Psychologist, Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson), believes that some people actually think they have superpowers, though she claims it’s a result of a dysfunctional childhood. So, Dr. Staple gets an opportunity to work with three special subjects; a murderer with a variety of distinct personalities, a man who was nearly drowned as a boy and now thinks he’s indestructible, and Mr. Glass…a man with a bone disease who is extremely intelligent, but the most dangerous of them all. Glass is the third part of an intense trilogy; Unbreakable, which came out in 2000, and 2016’s sequel, Split.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: January 18, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 16+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? No

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: None

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

Teenage girls are kidnapped and chained by their wrists in a creepy, abandoned warehouse.
There are fist fights, punching, and characters shot to death.
A character’s neck is sliced with broken glass, we see lots of blood.
A character takes a bite out of a victim. We don’t see the character taking the bite, but we see and hear him chewing and swallowing part of the victim, with blood all over his mouth.
We see a boy bullied, and nearly drowns to death.
There’s discussion of children being abused by adults.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “s–t,” “b–tard,” “bitch,” “ass,” “goddamn,” and “p—y,”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Character’s are shown drinking wine.

Will Kids Like It? No Overall, this is a creepy and dark movie. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for mature teens.

A Dog’s Way Home-Kids’ Movie Review

“Man’s best friend,” is a common phrase referring to the loving relationship between a dog and his human family. As a puppy, Bella (voice of Bryce Dallas Howard) is rescued by a young man named Lucas (Jonah Hauer-King). Lucas and Bella are best friends; they play numerous games together, sleep in the same bed together, and enjoy snacks together. However, when Bella becomes separated from Lucas she desperately wants to get home, after all she misses her buddy. On Bella’s 400 mile journey home she has many adventures and meets various animals and humans along the way. Though her goal is to reach Lucas…her best friend.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: April 9, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

We see a couple snuggling in bed.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

There are a lot of sad and disturbing scenes in this film. First off we see Bella’s mother captured by an animal control officer. Animals whine and Bella says, “I never saw her again.”
Bella is separated from his owner, Lucas. When animal control takes Bella away from Lucas, Bella is so scared and confused. Lucas is told that Bella will be euthanized if animal control picks him up again.
Bella runs away from a family that’s temporarily taking care of him. He desperately wants to go home to Lucas and his family. It’s sad to see Bella in the woods by herself.
We see Bella with a homeless veteran who always has Bella on a leash. {Spoiler Alert} It’s very upsetting when the veteran dies and Bella is chained to him.
Bella is hit by a car and injures her leg.
Bella is attacked by a group of wolves.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear “hell,” and “freakin.” There is also some name calling such as “moron,” “shaggy butt,” “crazy” and “stupid.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see adult characters drinking beer and wine.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall, this is a wonderful and heartfelt movie. Having said that, parents need to be aware of the emotional element of the film. Depending on the child this is appropriate for kids ages 10 and up.

The Upside-Kids’ Movie Review

Life is tough for Dell Scott (Kevin Hart). He is on parole, he’s struggling to find a job, and he wants to reconnect with his tween son and ex-girlfriend. Life is also tough for Phillip Lacasse (Bryan Cranston). Phillip is a wealthy quadriplegic whose wife has recently passed away. When Phillip hires Dell to be his caretaker in his New York penthouse a unique and unlikely friendship develops. Both men help each other to improve their lives and live life to the fullest. The Upside is a heartwarming dramedy, based on a true story.

Rating: 3. 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: January 11, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Moderate

There are several comments revolving around Dell learning how to insert a catheter. There are anatomical descriptions and a lot of jokes in this scene. Dell says, “Worst porno ever.”
Dell brings two women up to his room, one gives Dell a massage and the other straddles Phillip while suggestively massaging his ears.
We see flashbacks of Phillip and his wife in a sexual encounter. The scene is blurry, though we see some explicit movements.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

Phillip and Dell get angry and Dell throws some valuable items and smashes them on the floor.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “s–t,” “bulls–t,” “damn,” “hell,” “goddamn,” and “ass.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

Character’s smoke marijuana and it’s demonstrated as a way to feel better and have fun.
Adult characters drink wine and smoke cigarettes.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is a heartwarming and entertaining film. Parents need to know that this is a dramedy and has a mature subject matter. Depending on the child I recommended this for kids ages 14 and up.

Escape Room-Kids Movie Review

“Where’s the key? What’s the four digit code?” These are some typical questions when people go to Escape Rooms. Escape Rooms are meant to be fun, team building, puzzle solving activities. The goal is to escape from a locked room through various questions while trying to crack the code. However, in the film Escape Room, it’s not a fun experience at all. In fact, the six strangers that enter the rooms all encounter dangerous situations from an extremely hot room to an upside-down pool hall. Some of the people in the group include an extremely intelligent college student, an Iraq vet, a grocery store employee who likes to party, and a stockbroker. They’re all very different people, but they must all unite and work together to survive and escape from the outrageously dangerous Escape Rooms.

Rating: 3. 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: April 23, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

There are a couple of sexual innuendos.

Violent/Disturbing Content:

Characters are trapped in various rooms, and in peril throughout the film.
Characters are burned, tortured, poisoned, and crippled.
We see a character trapped under the ice in a lake.
Character’s are shot to death.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “f–k,” “ass,” “s–t,” “bitch,” “hell,” and “goddamn,”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Teenage characters are shown drinking while driving.
We see characters smoking.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

I interviewed two teenage boys who loved it.

Overall this is a scary, though entertaining film. Depending on the child, Escape Room is appropriate for kids ages 13 and up.