Reviews by Genre
Movie Reviews by Genre
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules Review
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is the second movie of the series, based on the best-selling illustrated novels by Jeff Kinney. Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) is now in seventh grade, he’s no longer the wimpy sixth grader. However, his confidence is brought down very quickly by his older brother Rodrick (Devon Bostick), who jumps at the chance to harass his little brother. Meanwhile, their parents (especially the mother) desperately want the two boys to be friends, and get along; they even go out-of-town for the weekend, leaving Greg and Rodrick alone so they can have a “bonding” weekend with each other. There are many comedic and entertaining parts to this movie, one for the whole family to enjoy.
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: March 25, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 9+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points
I am a huge fan of this series, they are not only fun movies, but the books are entertaining too, and may encourage young kids to read!
It is Rowley (Robert Capron), Greg’s overweight best friend, who serves as the obedient, moral boy in the movie. There’s a great contrast between the two boys. Rowley always tries to do the right thing, despite what people think of him, and things usually work out well for him. Greg makes his decisions based on what’s going to be popular, which almost never works out for him.
The two boys visit their grandpa in a retirement home. Even though they are bored, it’s cute to see the grandfather/grandson interaction, and shows the importance of family.
Some parents may feel uncomfortable with this movie. The two boys do some inappropriate things; they lie and manipulate their parents, they have a party when they were instructed not to, and Rodrick pulls some mean pranks on his younger brother. However, this could spark some great parent/child conversations; of what NOT to do.
Here are Rodrick’s Rules: They may be funny to your children, however, they’re rules that you won’t want your children to follow!
• Rule #1: “Don’t be good at something you don’t want to do.”
• Rule #2: “Always lower mom and dad’s expectations.”
• Rule #3: “Never do something when someone else can do it for you.”
Sexual Content: Mild
• Nothing for parents to be concerned about.
Violent Content: Moderate
• Rawley sits on a small ball filled with toothpicks. Though this hurt him, it was a funny scene.
• There are a few mild arguments amongst the two brothers, but nothing for parents to be too concerned about.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
• Words such as “jerk” “butt-brain” and “doofus” are used.
I interviewed parents and children after the movie, some comments were:
“I liked the fake vomit,” said a 9-year old boy.
“I liked the part with the chocolate on Greg’s pants,” said a 10-year old boy.
“It was a fun and entertaining movie,” said a mom.
As I previously mentioned I loved this movie. The film portrays the reality of every family; whether it’s trying fit in at the middle school or being a rebellious teenager trying to figure out life. We all have our issues, but as parents, we want nothing more than our children to be happy, have good morals, and treat each other with respect! That’s ultimately what Greg and Rodrick’s parents wanted from their children.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Review
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” is based on the best selling illustrated novel by Jeff Kinney. This is a story about a pre-teen boy named Greg, who is trying to figure out how to survive in middle school. In Greg’s eyes middle school is awful, and filled with bullies and morons. To survive, he comes up with a series of schemes, with hopes of climbing to the top of the social ladder. Though his plans backfire on him, in the end he realizes what’s really important.
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: August 3, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Greg’s older brother, Roderick, plays many pranks and jokes on Greg.
Talking Points:
Through all the bullying and teasing there are nice messages throughout the movie.
- Be a good and loyal friend.
- Greg’s mom say’s “You have to trust your gut and do the right thing . . . because it’s our choices that shape us.”
- There’s also the message to be yourself and people will like you.
At the end of the movie one girl says to a mean, controlling girl, “There’s middle school, then high school, then life, all the things that matter to you now won’t matter then.”
One of my favorite things about he movie is that even though Greg was teased and bullied, he never lets it get him down. He remained upbeat, and even more persistent.
There’s a lot of potty humor, from Greg urinating all over his brother, and kids playing with boogers.
There are no doors on the bathroom stalls, we see some students sitting on the toilet. Greg say’s that he’s not pooping until high school.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Greg found a magazine under his brother’s bed, with a women in a skimpy bikini on a motorcycle.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- Teenagers chase and threaten to beat up Greg, and his best friend Rawly, throughout the movie. Younger kids may find them scary.
- Teenagers force Rawley to scrape a rancid piece of cheese off the ground and take a bite of it.
- On Halloween they go to Devil Worshipper Woods. Before they go trick or treating, Greg’s older brother tells the boys a scary story about those woods.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Words such as “idiot” and “jerk”
Overall it’s a fun movie, with humor that kids will enjoy, great characters, and nice messages. I think the target grade is third grade and up. Though there were younger kids in the theater, some parents may feel uncomfortable bringing younger kids, because of the potty humor, and the bullying. Everyone that I interviewed in the theater loved it, they thought it was funny. One mom loved the nice messages that were brought out in the movie. I give it 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets.
Despicable Me Review
This is a story about Gru, a middle aged man who wants nothing more than to become history’s number one super-villain by stealing the moon. To do this, he adopts three cute little orphan sisters. Initially, he wants to use the girls for his plans to conquer the world, and then get rid of them. After a while his heart softens, and he realizes that he might be a better dad than the bad guy.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: December 14, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Any Age
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking Points:
I loved this heartwarming story, and the impact that these three little orphan girls had on Gru. It was nice to see his gradual transformation from being a” bad guy” to a loving father. Initially taking the girls to ballet class, reading them bedtime stories, and even going to a carnival, drives him crazy. But their continued interactions, and loving ways, makes Gru think twice about his evil goal.
It’s a fun, simple movie with a great storyline.
The little orphan girls are absolutely adorable! They make Gru realize that love and family will make him happy, not conquering the world.
The movie started out a little slow, initially we saw a lot of Gru’s evil ways and plans. It got a lot better once he met the orphan girls.
Sexual Content: None
Violent or Disturbing Content: Mild
Some things that may scare younger kids:
Gru, at first, seemed like a scary mean old man. He had a secret hideout hidden in his home which was filled with an army of little men called minions. He also had a lot crazy gadgets, designed to help him achieve his goal; these may scare younger kids.
The girls sleep in beds made out of bombs. At one point Gru says, “It’s highly unlikely they will blow up.”
The head of the orphanage, a mean old lady, locks the girls in cardboard boxes labeled “Box of Shame.”, if they don’t sell enough cookies for their school.
Crude or Profanity: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Overall, this is a wonderful, heartwarming movie, good for the whole family. Stay and watch the credits, they’re very entertaining.
Delgo Review
The movie is an animated fantasy adventure about a teenager, named Delgo, who is from a very friendly, prosperous and peaceful civilization. Then a more war-like civilization attempts to take over and wipe out the Lockni people. So Delgo and his friends try to protect their world.
Rating: One out of five buckets
Release Date: August 4, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 9+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
The leader of his peaceful civilization tells Delgo that, “ people cannot change the past, but they can choose what they learn from it.”
“Where one learns vengeance, another learns mercy.”
Through Delgo’s relationship with Kyla(war-like people), the 2 groups of people learn to appreciate each other, and work together. It has a Romeo and Juliet aspect to it.
Plot is somewhat involved for young kids, and very BORING.
I read that,“Delgo’s” computer imaging took more than 6 years to complete. The visuals are colorful and detailed, but not fantastic.
The only redeeming quality of the movie is that if offers a pleasant message of peace and racial equality.
Conflict can be resolved when people forgive and work together.
Good triumphs over evil.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Two characters hold hands and kiss once.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Delgo’s parents are murdered.
- The villain breaks in to someone’s house and uses a glowing green gas to poison the family.
- Many characters are kicked, punched and knocked down.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Words such as “idiot,” “fool,” “pansy” and “wuss” are used.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters drink wine in one scene.
While the movie might spark a good family conversation, there are better movies that cover that subject. Overall it’s a boring ,dull movie with a lot of violence.
Death at a Funeral Review
“Death at a Funeral” is a remake of a 2007 British comedy. This is the story about an American family who come together to mourn the loss of their beloved husband, father, brother and friend. The funeral is at the family home, but this is not a typical funeral. This funeral is completely chaotic, filled with dark secrets, blackmail, hallucinogenic drugs, competitive brothers and much more. Though with all the mayhem, this is a family filled with love, who deeply care for each other.
Rating: Two out of five buckets
Release Date: August 10, 2010
MPAA Rating: R
Best Age Group: 17+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Talking Points:
There’s a star ensemble including Chris Rock, Danny Glover, James Marsden, Luke Wilson and Zoe Saldana, and many more well known actors.
The characters are very likable. Chris Rock plays Aaron, the older responsible son who’s in charge of the arrangements, and when everything gets out of control, you actually feel sorry for him. James Marsden was also great, he was accidentally given a hallucinogenic drug, and he’s hilarious.
Like I mentioned, there were some funny parts, but this is not the type of humor that I typically enjoy. However, some teens may like the potty, slapstick humor that ensue over the course of 90 minutes.
This is an R rated movie, which means that kids under 17 must be accompanied by an adult. This movie is rated R for language, drug content, and sexual humor.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- There are many sexual references and comments throughout the movie.
Violent or Disturbing Content: Mild
There’s a bathroom scene in which Uncle Russell has diarrhea. It was disgusting because fecal matter was smeared on a man’s clothes, face and hands.
.Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- There is a lot of crude and profane language throughout the movie, which parents may not want their teens to see. The f-word is used numerous times.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Excessive
- There’s also a scene in which actor James Marsden, who plays the boyfriend, ends up naked on the family’s roof, because of the hallucinogenic drug he was accidentally given.
- Jeff, a relative, and pharmacology student, mentions that he prepares illegal “prescriptions” and sells them to his friends.
I’m going to give it 2 1/2 buckets, because I thought the movie was okay. I liked the characters, but it was not as funny as I had hoped. Most of the humorous lines are in the trailer. If parents are okay with their kids seeing a movie with a lot of swearing, and mild sexual humor, it would be fine for kids ages 15 and up. Though, like I said before, kids under 17 must be accompanied by an adult.