Kids
Mary Poppins Returns-Kids Movie Review
She flies through the air on a kite, has a talking umbrella, and is the best nanny around. Her name is Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt). Set in the 1930’s, Mary Poppins returns to Cherry Tree Lane, however this time she comes to take care of Michael Banks’ (now an adult) three children. Michael (Ben Whishaw) is going through a hard time as his wife had recently passed away and now his house is getting repossessed. Mary Poppins comes back to save the day and add a little fun and adventure for the beloved Banks’ family. Mary Poppins Returns is a sequel to the 1964 classic Mary Poppins.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 19 , 2019
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Sexual Content: Mild
- Flirting between two characters.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- The children’s mother died a year before the movie starts.
- A scary scene where a child is taken captive by some animated animals.
- There is a tense carriage chase through dark and creepy woods.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Name calling such as; “fool,” and “buffoon.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall, this is a fun and entertaining film for the whole family!
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse-Kids Movie Review
Could there possibly be more than one Spider-man? Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse follows the life of Miles Morales. Miles is an adorable 14- year-old boy whose parents enroll him in a prestigious New York City boarding school. Miles would much rather hang out with his friends in Brooklyn, but listens to his parents. Miles’ life dramatically changes the day he gets bitten by a radioactive spider. He notices some weird changes in his behavior, and claims it’s puberty until he discovers that he’s transformed into Spider-Man; and there are four more Spider-people from parallel universes. Initially, they’re confused as to all the Spider-people, but eventually the gang gets together and tries to save the world from the evil villain who is responsible for pulling different versions of Spider-man from other universes, and bringing them into our world.
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 19, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Sexual Content: Mild
- Miles’ uncle coaches his son on flirting with girls and says his nephew has to have “game.”
- Miles flirts with a girl he has a crush on, and tries to use the moves he learns from his uncle.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- There is a lot of action and violence. Spider-man is constantly fighting with bad guys.
- There are chase scenes, explosions and buildings destroyed.
- Super-man uses his superpowers; laser weapons are used to battle as well as guns.
- {Spoiler Alert } Two important characters die while fighting.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear, “stupid,” dumb,” “hell,” and “what the…” (not finished).
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- I interviewed two 9 year old boys who thought the movie was so funny. They loved it and want to see it again.
Overall this is a fun and entertaining film for the whole family. Parents need to be aware of the violent content.
Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch-Kids’ Movie Review
It’s Christmas time and all is good in the town of Whoville. The lights are twinkling bright, the decorations are abundant, and the townsfolk are cheerfully singing their Christmas carols. It’s such a big year that the mayor proclaims Christmas to be three times bigger than previous years. However, there is one problem…the Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch). The Grinch is disgusted with all the happy people and wants to put an end to their Christmas joy. So he pretends to be Santa and steals the town’s presents and decorations. Based on the 1957 Dr. Seuss book How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: February 5, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The film highlights the true meaning of Christmas…love, family and friendship.
- {Spoiler Alert} In the end the Grinch realizes that it wasn’t Christmas he hated, it was being alone.
Sexual Content: Mild
- We see the Grinch in his underwear.
- We see a naked Who, though a cookie covers his privates.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- There is some slapstick silly violence throughout the film. We see Cindy Lou on a sled speeding through the air and crashing down on the Grinch.
- The Grinch decapitates a snow man, throws snowballs at kids and pushes them down in the snow.
- In one scene the Grinch is in danger and it seems as though he will fall off a mountain.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Name calling such as “dumb,” and “stupid.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- The film is bright and colorful which will appeal to young kids.
Overall this is a fun and entertaining movie for the whole family. Appropriate for kids ages 5 and up.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms-Kids Movie Review
“Give me that key,” says Clara (Mackenzie Foy) to a creepy little mouse in a beautiful snow filled forest. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is the story of a young girl who is on a mission to find a key to unlock a cherished gift she receives from her recently deceased mother. The gift is an ornate metallic egg that requires a key to open it. The message on the egg says, “To my beautiful Clara: Everything you need is inside. Love, Mother.” Determined to find the key, Clara mysteriously is transported to a magical world called the Four Realms. In this new world she encounters a soldier named Phillip, a gang of mice, and leaders of three of the four Realms. Clara eventually learns that she must go to the scary Fourth Realm, ruled by tyrant Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren), to obtain her key. She also learns that by retrieving the key she could bring peace to the chaotic and war torn Realm world. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is Disney’s live adaptation based on the classic Christmas ballet.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 2, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- There is a scary, creepy creature made up of hundreds of moving mice, his name is the Mouse King. He grabs people in the forest and carries them away.
- There’s a battle between living toys.
- Clowns start to attack Clara and her friends.
- Soldiers fall into holes dug by mice.
- A carousel is crushed by a swarm of mice.
- The mature subject matter of death is involved.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear “damned.”
Drug and Alcohol Content:None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall, this is a wonderful and magical story. Parents need to be aware of the moderate violence throughout the film. Depending on the child this is appropriate for kids ages 8 and up.
The House with a Clock in its Walls-Kids’ Movie Review
“There’s no bedtimes, no bathtimes or mealtimes in this house,” declares Uncle Jonathan (Jack Black) to his nephew Lewis. When Lewis is 10 years-old he is sent to his Uncle Jonathon’s house in New Zebedee, Mi. Sadly, Lewis’ parents had died in a car crash and he had no where else to go. Lewis had never even met this uncle, and quickly realizes that he is a very strange man who lives in a very creepy old mansion. Lewis eventually learns that Uncle Jonathan and his energetic neighbor and best friend, Mrs. Zimmerman (Cate Blanchett), have magical powers and are a warlock and witch. Lewis’ life dramatically changes as a new and scary world becomes part of his day to day life. Based on a classic children’s novel, The House with a Clock in its Walls.
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: December 18, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- Kids at Lewis’ school talk about a murder at Uncle Jonathon’s house. The house definitely looks haunted as it’s filled with scary toys, dolls, and furniture that comes to life; threatening Lewis and his uncle.
- There’s a devil cuckoo clock, and an ominous ticking sound coming from the walls.
- A witch disguises herself as a sweet person though she ultimately wants to trick someone.
- An evil couple wants to destroy the world.
- The house starts to fight against the good witch and warlock characters.
- Lewis gets punched in the stomach by a bully.
- Lewis is locked in a cage with swords pointed towards him.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear “h-ll,” and “d–n.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this is a action packed drama that may frighten young kids. Depending on the child this is appropriate for kids ages 13 and up.