Kids

Wonder Woman-Kids’ Movie Review

Diana (Gal Gadot) is not your average young girl. Her mother, the Amazon Queen, created Diana from a hunk of clay. They live on an island populated entirely by women and, since there are no kids on the island, Diana has no playmates. She studies hard, speaks over 150 languages, and on her spare time Diana sneaks off with her aunt who gives her some hard core warrior training. Diana grows into a smart, strong and beautiful woman. Her life dramatically changes the day she rescues Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), an American pilot who crashes his plane in the water. Diana is shocked as she’s never seen a man before. Steve tells her about the horrors of World War I that’s going on outside of her sheltered paradise. Diana is convinced that she can stop the war, and she ultimately discovers her true powers as Wonder Woman! Wonder Woman is based on DC Comics character of the same name.

Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: September 19, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Moderate

There is a sexual attraction between Steve and Diana (Wonder Woman). We see them briefly kiss, and it’s implied that they’ve slept together.
In one scene we see Chris Pine naked, though he covers his privates with his hands.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

There’s a lot of violence throughout the film. There are bad guys and numerous battles. There are sword fights (someone is impaled by a sword), characters punch and kick each other.
The movie takes place during WWI, so there’s a lot of combat fighting. We see injured soldiers with missing limbs. Numerous characters die from the war, explosions and bullets.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear “h—” a few times in the film.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see characters drinking beer and other alcoholic beverages.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is an entertaining, action pact film. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul-Kids’ Movie Review

Summertime is finally here and twelve year-old Greg Heffley (now played by Jason Drucker) is ready to just relax and chill out. However, his mother has a different plan. She forces the family to take a four-day road trip to Granny Meemaw’s 90th birthday party…a tech free car ride too. Initially Greg is upset until he realizes his favorite YouTube gamer will be making a live appearance at a video game convention in Indianapolis, which is close to Granny’s house. Now Greg has to figure out how he can sneak off to the convention…a challenging feat which he’s determined to accomplish. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul is the fourth movie in the series based on Jeff Kinney’s popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid books; starring an all new cast.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: August 8, 2017
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:

Despite all the potty humor, and kids defying their parents, the boys ultimately realize the importance of family.
Greg and his brother Rodrick lie, steal, and break into a hotel room.

Sexual Content: Mild

Roderick finds a large bra and examines it.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

There’s a car chase scene that ends in a accident.
Greg is cornered in a bathtub by a large scary man who’s been chasing him.
Greg and Rodrick lie to their parents and take an Uber to a gaming convention – an hour away.
Greg ends up in a runaway boat down a grassy hill which ends up in a swimming pool.
The family stays in a roach infested hotel room.
There are some gross scenes involving vomit, bowel movements and sounds, and other bodily functions.
Greg pees in a bottle in front of his family on the drive.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

“H-ll,” and name calling such as: “stupid,” “weirdo,” and “loser.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is an entertaining film, however parents need to be aware of potty humor throughout the film.

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.

Sing-Kids’ Movie Review

“Dream big dreams.” That’s Buster Moon’s (voice of Matthew McConaughey) motto. Buster is a koala bear who loves the theater. When he was a 6 years-old his goal was to own his favorite theater…and years later that dream came true. However, due to financial problems things get difficult for the koala bear, though he doesn’t give up. To boost business he decides to produce a singing competition. Now the drama and singing begins as we see Buster Moon try to fulfill his lifelong dream.

Rating: 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 21, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sing is a fun and entertaining film for the whole family. The film highlights the importance of working together and following your dreams.

Sexual Content: Mild

Three female rabbits wiggle their butts while singing, “Oh my gosh, look at her butt.”
There is flirting between the animals.
We see some revealing outfits and risqué dances from the animals.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

Some angry gangster bears try to kill a cheating mouse.
A building collapses and puts several characters in harms way.
There are several car chases, causing accidents.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear name calling: “old fart,” “stupid,” “fool,” and “bozos.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see animals drinking alcoholic beverages at a night club.

Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Overall this is a cute and entertaining film for the whole family.