Kids

Norm of the North-Kids’ Movie Review

Norm (voice of Rob Schneider) is a polar bear, but not your average bear. He doesn’t know how to hunt, and he has a very unique gift where he can talk to humans…and they love him. However trouble ensues when a wealthy developer, Mr. Greene (Ken Jeong), wants to build luxury homes in the Arctic. Upset that his home will be destroyed, Norm and his three lemmings travel to New York with hopes to sabotage the developers plans.

Rating: 4 and
Release Date: April 19, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Norm is a kind and compassionate character. He risks his life to save the Arctic and it’s inhabitants.

Sexual Content: None

Violent/Disturbing Content:

The lemming’s are beaten, pounded on, flattened and electrocuted.
Norm swallows several live blowfish.
Norm gets stuck at the bottom of the ocean by a large piece of metal.
Animals and humans are shot with tranquilizer darts.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

“Crap,” is said once. Also exclamations such as “holy icicles” and “holy Hitchcock.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Kids in the theater were laughing at the humorous parts and seemed very engaged in the film.

Overall this is a fun, entertaining, animated film for young kids.

The Good Dinosaur-Kids’ Movie Review

What if dinosaurs were not wiped out 65 millions years ago? Luckily for young dinosaur Arlo, his parents and two siblings… they were not. Life is good for the dinosaur family, except for the dreadful day when a rainstorm washes Arlo down the river. He ends up battered and bruised and miles away from home. Frightened and alone, Arlo comes across a Neanderthal boy and names him Spot. Now the two misfits embark on many adventures as they try to find Arlo’s beloved family. The Good Dinosaur is a Pixar animated film, and an adventure for all.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 buckets out of 5
Release Date: February 23, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

The Good Dinosaur is a perfect film for young kids. It’s not only funny with likable characters, there are some wonderful lessons. The film highlights the importance of facing your fears; the joys of good friends and family.

Sexual Content: None

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

There are frightening dinosaurs that eat small creatures, they chase Arlo and his friend Spot.
There’s an emotional scene where Arlo and his father are together near a river, and his father is submerge by violent floodwaters.

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Arlo and Spot eat rotten fruit from the ground which causes strange things to happen to them.

Will kids like it? Yes

Young kids in the theater were laughing at the funny parts and very attentive in the dramatic parts. I interviewed a few four and five year-olds that loved the movie. They liked Arlo and thought the film was very funny.

Overall this is a funny and appropriate film for kids of all ages. Parents need to be aware of some moderate violence throughout the movie.

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.

Goosebumps-Kids’ Movie Review

Moving to a new city can be difficult, especially for a teenage boy whose father had just passed away. Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) is upset about moving from New York City to a small town in Delaware. Though things quickly change when Zach meets his beautiful new neighbor, Hannah (Odeya Rush). Zach discovers that Hannah’s father is R. L. Stine (Jack Black), the author of the bestselling “Goosebumps” series. Things get exciting when Zach accidentally releases the monsters from R. L. Stine’s novels. Now Zach’s boring small town becomes an adventurous city. Goosebumps is a thrilling Halloween film, especially for pre-teens.

Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: January 26, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

R. L. Stine, known as the “Stephen King of children’s literature,” is an author that kids and tweens are very familiar with. Goosebumps is a creative film, one that will most likely appeal to Stine’s fans. Parents need to be aware of the violent parts that will scare young kids.

Sexual Content: Mild

A teenage couple kiss.
Innocent flirting.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

The first monster to escape is the Abominable Snowman. He destroys an ice rink’s scoreboard, a Zamboni and a vending machine. He chases some teenagers as well.
We see close-up of snarling werewolves, which may scare youngsters.
A werewolf chases a group of teenagers through a grocery store.
A praying mantis grabs a boy through a school window. Later we see him in a neck brace.
Humans fight with ceramic gnomes, smashing them to the ground.
A monster closes a typewriter case on Stine’s finger, breaking most of them.
Aliens freeze most of the townspeople.
We see a group of half-decomposed zombies at a cemetery.
A group of monsters attend a high school dance, scaring the students.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

“H—,” said once.

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids like it? Yes

Overall this is a fun, though scary, Halloween film. Great for tweens who like scary movies.

Goosebumps-Kids’ Movie Review

Pan-Kids’ Movie Review

How did Peter Pan, the mischievous boy who could fly, come to be? Peter (Levi Miller) is a 12- year-old boy living in a dark and dreary orphanage in London. He has some good friends at the orphanage, though the nuns are cruel and unkind to the boys, so he is miserable. Then one night Peter’s life drastically changes as he’s swept away into a whole new world…Neverland. There Peter meets new friends and has many new adventures as he must rescue the town from the ruthless Pirate Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman). It’s also in Neverland where Peter becomes the hero known as Peter Pan. Pan is the prequel to the beloved story about a magical boy who can fly…Peter Pan.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets.
Release Date: December 22, 2015
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

Hook flirts with Tiger Lilly.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

German fighter planes bomb homes and buildings.
We see Peter living in a dreary orphanage. The boys are verbally abused by nuns.
Flying pirate ships crash.
Vicious birds attack children and adults.
Children are kidnapped by pirates and forced to mine for fairy dust
A boy almost drowns by being dragged under water by a gigantic crocodile.
Blackbeard is a cruel and evil villain, who will most likely scare young kids.
Tiger Lilly gets into fights with several men as they manhandle her and slam her to the ground.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

“H—,” is said a couple of times

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Blackbeard uses a device to inhale pixie dust so he can restore his youth.

Will Kids Like It: Yes

Overall Pan is a fantasy adventure; depending on the child it’s appropriate for kids ages 10 and up. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the film.