Musicals
Musicals
Hamiliton-Kids’ Movie Review
Hamilton on Disney+ is the filmed version of the original Broadway production. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote and stars as Hamilton in this 2016 version. Based on the novel, Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow. This is the story about Hamilton’s life from an orphan immigrant to his role of Treasury Secretary and Founding Father. We see events in Hamilton’s life set to hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway music. This is an educational and entertaining film which will spark some great family discussions.
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: July 3, 2020
Rating: PG-13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- As I mentioned the film is educational. We learn the formative years of the United States, the Constitution, and the Federalist Papers.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- We see couples kiss.
- The musical tells us that Hamilton was quite the ladies’ man.
- Hamilton flirts with his sister-in-law and has an affair with another woman- with a very sexual dance number.
- Some of the song lyrics are sexual.
- It’s noted that Aaron Burr has an affair as well.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
- Soldiers dance with weapons.
- We hear gun and cannon blasts in the background, we see no blood.
- Hamilton and his son are both killed in duels.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear the f-word once. Two uses of the word have been cut from the original version.
- We also hear “s—t,” “damn,” “bastard,” “whore,” “hell,” “ass,” “pr—k.” “Jesus Christ,” and “God,” used as an exclamation.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- Hamilton and the Founding Fathers like their cocktails. Characters drink beer, wine and shots.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this is an educational and entertaining family movie! Depending on the child this is appropriate for kids ages 11 and up.
Trolls World Tour-Kids Movie Review
Best friends and love interests Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) are back, and Poppy is now the queen of the Trolls. She loves being queen and wants to handle the trolls’ problems with love and hugs. However, her life changes when she receives an invitation from the Queen Barb, the queen of the hard Rock Trolls. Poppy is optimistic and excited about the invitation, however she eventually discovers that Queen Barb wants to destroy any kind of music that’s not her beloved Hard Rock. Now Poppy and her friends try to save all the Trolls. Trolls World Tour is the sequel to the popular 2016 animated musical, Trolls.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: April 10, 2020
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 6+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- There is a lot of fun music that kids will enjoy. We hear Hard Rock, Country, Funk, Classical and Techno.
- The film highlights themes of love and accepting people who are different. We don’t always have to agree with each other, but we should respect each other’s differences.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Flirting between two Trolls.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- The Hard Rock Trolls have attacked other troll territories and kidnapped their leaders.
- Bounty hunters are sent out to find Poppy and Branch.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear “you suck,” “dang,” and “we’re screwed.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall, this is a fun and entertaining film for kids and 6 and up. Parents need to be aware of the moderate violence.
Uglydolls-Kids’ Movie Review
Uglyville is an adorable, though very different town. If you’re strange, weird and ugly… it’s the place to be. Moxy (voiced by Kelly Clarkson) is an Ugly Doll who lives in Uglyville with her UglyDoll friends. However, Moxy desperately wants to find a child that will love her, so she and her friends travel to the other side of the mountain, and that’s where they discover the Institute of Perfection! Perfection is a town under control by Lou (Nick Jonas). Lou is absolutely perfect. He has perfect hair, perfect teeth, perfect eyes, and is always dressed to perfection. In this town the dolls grow “from pretty to perfect.” Eventually, the UglyDolls lives change in their new environment, and they discover that you don’t need to be perfect to be happy or loved.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: May 3 ,2019
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:
UglyDolls is a wonderful animated musical about a group of toys who learn they will be loved no matter what they look like. Having said that, in the beginning of the film there are some catchy tunes that imply if you’re ugly you’re not worthy of being loved. This may confuse young kids.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Girls dolls flirt with a handsome male doll.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- Characters fall down dark, creepy holes.
- The Ugly Dolls are thrown into a recycling machine and shredded.
- Dolls fight with one another. They also fight with a scary robot dog.
- Characters are kidnapped and put in large sacks.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Character’s drink wine.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this is a fun and entertaining film. Parents need to be aware of the moderate violent content.
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!
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again- Kids’ Movie Review
“Mamma Mia, here I go again. My my, how can I resist you?” ABBA songs are woven throughout this whimsical musical comedy. Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again takes place five years after the original film Mamma Mia. The story follows the life of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), who is planning the grand opening of a bed-and -breakfast in Greece. Sadly, her mother, Donna (Meryl Streep), had died a year earlier, but it was originally Donna’s dream to open a hotel on the Greek isle of Kalokairi, and it is Sophie’s goal to fulfill her mother’s dream. However, Sophie faces many challenges, though she often thinks of mother and we see many flashbacks of young Donna (Lily James) in her twenty’s. We see Donna’s inspiration to open a quaint hotel in Greece, and we see her three romances along the way. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is the sequel/prequel to 2008’s romantic musical Mamma Mia!
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: October 23 , 2018
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Sexual Content: Moderate
- A woman has three different sexual encounters in the same month. We see them kiss and in bed next to each other but no sexual activity is portrayed.
- Kissing and flirting.
Violent/Disturbing Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear “son of a bitch,” and “h-ll.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- Characters drink beer, wine and cocktails.
- Characters are shown drunk at parties and taverns.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- I interviewed kids ages 8, 10 and 16 who all loved it.
Overall this is a fun and entertaining musical. Recommended for kids ages 11 and up.