Kids

Hotel Translyvania 3: Summer Vacation

Poor Dracula (Adam Sandler)….he’s very sad and lonely while coordinating another monster wedding. Though Dracula was very busy with his hotel business, he realizes that all of his close friends have significant others – everyone but him. He even tries online dating but decides that’s not for him. Things change when his half-human daughter, Mavis ( Selena Gomez), plans a family vacation to give her dad the break he desperately needs. So Dracula, Mavis, and the gang head to a luxury monster cruise to Atlantis for a fun getaway. Dracula finds love at first sight when he sees the human captain of the cruise, Ericka (Kathryn Hahn). The only problem is that Ericka is not as sweet as she appears to be. She is part of the Van Helsing family. This family has been trying to kill Dracula and all the monsters for hundreds of years. Sadly, that’s Erika’s plan as well. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation is the third film in the Hotel Transylvania series.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: July 13 , 2018
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:

Sexual Content: Mild

Dracula uses a monster dating app to look for online dates.
Flirting.
Characters talk about “zinging,” which means love at first sight in monster talk.
We see an elderly vampire in a revealing bathing suit.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

In the beginning of the film we see a flashback where characters use weapons such as ray guns. We also see fights, chase scenes and crashes.
A character is almost impaled.
A large and scary sea creature starts to attack all the monsters and nearly kills everyone.
A little werewolf bites off Frankenstein’s finger.
Most of the violence is shown in a comedic way.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

The vampires are “garlic intolerant,” so we hear some fart jokes.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Character’s drink champagne.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is a fun and entertaining film. Parents need to be aware of the moderate violence.

Incredibles 2-Kids’ Movie Review

Our favorite superhero family is back! Bob/Mr. Incredible (voice by Craig T. Nelson), Helen/Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) and their three kids; Violet (Sarah Vowell), Dash (Huck Milner) and baby Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile). In this film Elastigirl is sent on a special mission and is separated from the family. Reluctantly, Mr. Incredible stays home and takes care of the family duties, while Elastigirl is hard at work. Initially things don’t go very well when Mr. Incredible discovers Jack-Jack’s unique super powers, Dash’s difficulty with math homework, and Violet’s love life problems. However, when the family and Frozone (Samel L. Jackson) realize that a mysterious villain is in town, they must reunite to use their powers and work together to save the world.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 6, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

A married couple kiss a few times.
Teens flirt.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

There are several superhero action scenes.The villain, named Screenslaver, hypnotizes and controls people.
The superhero family use their powers to save others in their city.
Jack-Jack, the baby in the family, has a fight with a raccoon.
Jack-Jack uses his newly found powers as he clones himself, becomes inflamed, shoots laser beams out of his eyes, and turns into a demon.
There is a flashback to an armed robbery which may scare young kids.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “h-ll,” “damned,” and “what the…”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see characters drinking cocktails.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

I interviewed kids ages 8 to 18 who all loved the film. A few girls said they could see it again.

Overall this is a fun and entertaining film for the whole family. Depending on the child, Incredibles 2 appropriate for kids ages 8 and up.

Show Dogs-Kids Movie Review

Max is an NYPD police dog, and he’s the best around! Max can solve all kinds of crimes and he can do it on his own. However, the human police officers like to involved, which really irritates Max. Eventually, Max is forced to work with FBI agent, Frank (Will Arnett). Max and Frank are assigned on a special case to find a stolen baby panda. They discover that the smugglers will be at an elite dog show in Las Vegas, so the detective duo heads to Vegas. Max goes under cover as a contestant in the show to get the scoop and ultimately rescue the panda along with some other animals who have been captured.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: August 21, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 6+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

There is some flirting between dogs and also between humans.
Suggestive references to male dog’s body parts.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

A baby panda is kidnapped.
A bad guy and police officer get into a fist fight.
A bodyguard, a police dog and an FBI agent chase one another.
An innocent dog is captured.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

“Hell,” “damn,” son of a…” (doesn’t finish the sentence), “stupid,” “sh-t,” and “grow some balls.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is a fun and entertaining film for young kids; however, adults may find it boring and not as entertaining. Parents need to be aware of the moderate violence and profane language.

Sherlock Gnomes-Kids’ Movie Reviews

Gnomeo and Juliet are moving to a beautiful, but small, new garden…in London! As the newly married couple tries to cope with some difficulties in their marriage, they discover there’s danger in the garden, all their London gnome friends have vanished. Apparently garden ornaments have been disappearing quite frequently in London. So Sherlock Gnomes, the sworn protector of London’s garden gnomes, and his ardent associate, Watson, start their investigation while trying to figure out who’s kidnapping the adorable gnomes. Eventually, Gnomeo and Juliet want to be involved in Sherlock’s mission so they force Sherlock to let them join in and help find London’s gnomes. Sherlock Gnomes is the sequel to the 2011 Gnomeo & Juliet film.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: June 12, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 6+
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 will spark some great parent/child conversations as kids will learn a little bit about the classic Sherlock Holmes detective stories.
There is a wonderful message to appreciate your loved ones and not take them for granted – as Juliet did.

Sexual Content: Mild

Gnomeo and Juliet kiss.
A gnome is in love with a frog and they kiss.
A gnome wears a thong bathing suit.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

There is some slap stick violence throughout the film with chase scenes and fights.
Gnomes are kidnapped and held captive by scary gargoyles.
The villain smashes and injures gnomes. They are frequently in danger and some close calls as to whether they will survive.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

Some name calling such as “dumb,” “stupid,” “loser,” and “ugly.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is a fun and entertaining film for young kids. Parents need to be aware of the moderate slapstick violence throughout the film.

Paddington 2- Kids’ Movie Review

“Be kind and polite and the world will be right.” That’s a quote from Paddington’s Aunt Lucy. He loves his aunt and frequently quotes her. Paddington wants to find the perfect gift for his aunt’s 100th birthday. He eventually sees a pop-up book about London in his friend’s antique shop. However, the book is very expensive so Paddington does odd jobs until he can afford it. Unfortunately, a mysterious thief steals the book right before Paddington goes to buy it. Sadly, Paddington is wrongly accused of the robbery and is sentenced to prison. Now the adventure begins as the adorable, fun loving bear becomes a prisoner and charms all the inmates. Paddington 2 continues the story of Paddington bear who lives happily with his adopted family in London.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: April 24, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

There are some great messages for young kids. Paddington’s Aunt Lucy says, “Look for the best in people and you’ll find it.” Paddington lives by his aunt’s rules, even in prison.
Paddington always wants to do the right thing. He typically thinks of others before himself.

Sexual Content: None

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

During a robbery Paddington chases a thief through a store and down the streets.
Paddington is surrounded by many scary looking inmates when he’s in prison. Initially they are intimidating and mean to the poor bear, but they eventually befriend him.
A villain has a sword and fights with a main character.
Paddinton falls in a river and nearly drowns.
There’s a very sad scene when Paddinton’s adopted parents don’t visit him on visiting day in prison. We see Paddington in bed crying as he thinks they no longer love him.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

Name calling such as “coward,” and “weirdo.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Champagne is served on a train ride.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall, this is a wonderful movie for the whole family.