Family

Family movie reviews

Beauty and the Beast-Kids’ Movie Review

Belle (Emma Watson) is a smart and beautiful young woman who lives alone with her widower father. Belle doesn’t have many friends and is not very close with the townspeople. They find her very odd because she loves to read books, something they don’t appreciate. Belle’s life dramatically changes when she is taken prisoner in a castle by a beast (Dan Stevens). Belle doesn’t know it, but the Beast is a cursed, arrogant prince who must find true love in order to break a spell. Though the Beast has a hideous exterior, Belle befriends the monster-like character and the castle’s enchanted staff. She eventually realizes that the Beast is a kind soul whom she falls in love with. Beauty and the Beast is Disney’s live-action remake of the classic 1991 animated musical.

Rating: 4.5 popcorn buckets out of 5
Release Date: June 6, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

The film highlights the importance of humility.
Belle is a loving daughter who is willing to do whatever it takes to insure her father’s well being.

Sexual Content: Mild

Character’s flirt with the opposite sex and the same sex.
LeFou briefly dances with a man. He’s confused as he’s trying to figure out his sexual preference.
Female characters wear dresses that show their cleavage.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

There are intense and scary scenes throughout the film. More graphic violence in this version than in the animated version.
Vicious wolves attack several characters.
There’s a battle between the townspeople and servants in the castle.
We see mob violence with pitchforks and torches.
There’s an intense battle between the Beast and an attacker. They fight with fists, claws and guns.
The Beast may scare young kids with his growl and loud roar.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

Name calling such as; “idiot,” and “fool.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see characters drinking at a local tavern.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

The theater was filled with attentive kids who loved the movie.

Overall this is a wonderful film for the whole family. Having said that, parents need to be aware of the moderate violence that may scare sensitive kids.

The Lego Batman Movie-Kids’ Movie Review

They’re all back; Batman (Will Arnett) and his sidekick Robin (Michael Cera), his loyal butler Alfred (Ralph Fiennes), and of course his arch nemesis the Joker (Zach Galifianakis)… all as Lego’s. In this film Batman wants to stop the Joker from his hostile takeover of Gotham City, the only problem is Batman thinks he can do it alone. Eventually Batman comes to realize he might just need a little help from his friends and cohorts to save his beloved city.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: June 13, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

The film highlights the importance of teamwork and family. Batman is humbled and realizes he can’t do everything by himself.
There’s some potty-humor in the film. There are references to “farts” and being “silent but deadly.”
There are a lot of butt jokes as well. Batman refers to Alfred as his “Buttler.”

Sexual Content: Mild

Bruce Wayne labels himself as a “playboy.”
Batman loves his body and well built physique.
There’s a lot of humor relating to Robin’s given name, Dick.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

There’s a lot of slapstick, silly violence.
We see superheroes and villains get beat up, bashed and blown up.
There are a lot of bad guys and battles throughout the film.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear, “butt,” “loser,” and “sucks.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Batman and his butler Alfred discuss different kinds of wines.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

I interviewed kids ages 5 to 8 who loved the film. Having said that, one 5 year old girl was scared, and didn’t like all the fighting.

Overall this is a fun, entertaining film for the whole family. Parents need to be aware of the mild potty humor and moderate violence throughout the film. I recommend this for kids ages 7 and up.

Pete’s Dragon-Kids’ Movie Review

“What’s a dragon?” asks Pete. Pete is a 10-year-old orphan boy who lives in the woods with his best friend Elliot. Though Elliot truly is a dragon, to Pete he’s a companion and a giant who takes care of him. When a woman named Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) discovers Pete in the woods, she brings him home, hoping to help the young boy. Her father, Meacham (Robert Redford), was known in the community to tell children mysterious dragon stories. After hearing Pete’s story, Grace and her father were curious to see if there really was a dragon in the woods, so they were guided by Pete and a young girl named Natalie into the forest to find the dragon…Pete’s dragon. Pete’s Dragon is a remake of the 1977 Disney film, Pete’s Dragon.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 29, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids/Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Pete’s Dragon is a wonderful film for the whole family. The film highlights the importance of love and family. Parents need to be aware of the mature subject matter of death.
Though there is a dragon in the film, he is cute and cuddly and most likely will not scare kids.

Sexual Content: None

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

Pete’s parents die in a car accident and Pete is the only survivor. This may scare young kids.
Pete leaps off cliffs and jumps from the roofs of moving vehicles.
Two characters fall from high branches of a tree.
Ropes are thrown around the dragon’s neck as he’s hit with tranquilizer darts.
There’s a car chase with several cars falling from a large bridge

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids Like It? Yes

The theater was packed with kids of all ages. I interviewed two 7 year-old boy and 6 year-old girl who loved it and said, “Pete was cool.”

Overall Pete’s Dragon is a heartfelt and entertaining film for the whole family.

Nine Lives-Kids’ Movie Review

Tom Brand (Kevin Spacey) built a successful business empire from scratch, though he spends more time at work than with the family. He has a beautiful wife, Lara (Jennifer Garner) who struggles with her absent husband as he’s not home much; an adult son, David (Robbie Amell), who works for the family business and wants to make his dad proud; and an 11- year old daughter, Rebecca (Malina Weissman), who absolutely idolizes her father. Tom’s life dramatically changes on his daughter’s 11th birthday when Rebecca asks for a cat. Tom went to a mysterious pet store to buy her a soft cuddly cat. After leaving the store he gets in an accident and wakes up in the body of the cat he had just purchased. Tom is now living at home as his daughter’s pet cat. As a cat he eventually realizes the more important role he has as a husband and father, and observes all he’s missed out on. Tom desperately wants to be a human once again and spend more time with his family, but first he must figure out what he has to do before he can be transformed from the pet cat to the man of the house.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 popcorn buckets out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 1, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

The message highlighted throughout the film is the importance of being around for your family and involved in their lives.
There is a lot of potty humor throughout the film especially with the cat urinating on a rug and in a woman’s purse.

Sexual Content: None

Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

We see two characters fall from a high rise.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear “d–n.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

A woman is shown drinking martinis and Scotch throughout the film.
The cat version of Tom gets into the alcohol as well and ends up drinking a little too much.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is a fun entertaining film for the whole family.

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.