Reviews by Genre

Movie Reviews by Genre

Monster Trucks-Kids Movie Review

Life can sometimes be dull in a small town, especially for high school senior Tripp (Lucas Till). Tripp is sick of high school and the obnoxious kids in school. He’s tired of Sheriff Rick, the know-it-all cop who happens to be dating his mom. Luckily, Tripp has a hobby and passion for trucks which keeps him occupied and out of trouble. He builds a Monster Truck from bits and pieces of scrapped cars. The only problem is he still needs an engine, so he can’t get very far in his truck. Tripp’s life dramatically changes the day an oil company accidentally releases three sea creatures, and one of them ends up under the hood of Tripp’s truck. Tripp discovers this creature who not only acts as the engine to his truck, but eventually becomes a loving friend. Monster Truck is an entertaining film for families with elementary school age kids.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: April 11, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

Flirting between two characters.

Violent Content: Moderate

A character poisons an entire ecosystem which kills hundreds of people.
We see numerous car chases and vehicles being demolished.
There’s some gun violence which includes kids being shot at.
Tripp’s truck drives over a lot of vehicles crushing them all.

Crude and Profane Language: None

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

A character drinks a glass of alcohol.

Overall this is a fun and suspenseful film, great for elementary school kids. Parents need to be aware of the moderate violent content.

Passengers-Kids’ Movie Review

Mechanic Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) is on a 120-year voyage with 5,000 other people. They’re all leaving earth for Homestead II, an earth-like world with “room to grow.” They will be in hibernation, sleeping agelessly and waking when the ship is four months away from it’s final destination. However, there a slight problem. Due to a technical glitch, Jim wakes up 90 years before the ship is due to reach their new world. Living alone for almost a year, Jim gets very lonely. As he continually stares at a beautiful woman named Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence), while she’s in her hibernation pod, he gradually falls in love. Jim discovers that he could try and wake her from her deep sleep. So, after much thought and consideration he selfishly awakens her to have a companion, a friend and a potential true love.

Rating: 3 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 14, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Moderate

There is passion between Jim and Aurora. We see them in several intimate encounters.
We see the couple in bed together- showing sexual movements. They are covered by the sheets.
In a cafeteria Aurora crawls over a table to Jim and they start making love right there. Jim’s shirt comes off and then we see the two in bed together; covered by the sheets.
We see Jim’s bare back side.
Aurora takes off her dress in front of Jim. She asks him to turn around and he does. We only see her bare shoulders.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

When the ship begins to fall apart we see Jim and Aurora in comprising situations. Aurora almost dies when the gravity field shuts down while she’s swimming
We see a pointy object shoot into Aurora’s arm. Blood runs down her arm as she pulls it out.
A man is shown coughing up blood.
In a fit of rage, Aurora attacks Jim while he’s sleeping. She kicks and punches him.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “sh-t,” “b–ch,” “a–,” “h—,” and “d–n.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

In numerous scenes throughout the film we see Jim and Aurora in the ships bar talking to Arthur, the robot bartender. They drink cosmos, martinis, margarita’s, wine and champagne.

Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Overall Passengers is an entertaining and suspenseful film. Parents need to be aware moderate inappropriate contents listed above.

A Monster Calls-Kids’ Movie Review

Conor O’Malley (Lewis MacDougall ) has one true friend, and that happens to be a monster (voice of Liam Neeson). Conor is a 12-year-old boy who has challenges unlike most young boys. Conor’s mom, Lizzie (Felicity Jones) is dying of cancer. Conor struggles as he tries to cope with the unbearable outcome, though he is repeatedly visited by a monster. This monster doesn’t come to attack Conor, he comes to comfort and counsel him by telling stories. The monster helps Conor through several stages of grief: denial, anger and ultimately acceptance. Set in present-day England A Monster Calls is based on the young adult novel; A Monster Calls.

Rating: 3 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 28, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 15+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? No

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: None

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

Conor is bullied by kids at school. They repeatedly beat him up. Conor defends himself and punches a kid numerous times; sending him to the hospital.
Conor has nightmares where he and his mom are in a graveyard. His mother falls down a deep hole and Conor fails to save her.
The monster destroys property and in frustration Conor does as well. Conor trashes a room in his grandmother’s house. He also destroys her favorite heirloom.
The monster tells Conor stories which we see via animation. One of the stories involves a king who is poisoned and a wife who is murdered.
Though the monster can be very scary, he ultimately comes to comfort Conor.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear “d–n.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see characters drinking wine.
We see Lizzie’s (Conor’s mom) collection of prescription drugs.

Will Kids/ Teens Like It? No

Overall A Monster Calls is a very sad and dark story. Parents need to be aware of the violent and disturbing content. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for mature teens.

Collateral Beauty-Teen Movie Review

Howard (Will Smith) is the man. He’s a successful New York advertising executive. Not only do all the agents in the firm love his electric personality and strong work ethic, he also attracts clients from all over. However, Howard’s life dramatically changes the day his 6 year-old daughter passes away. Howard becomes reclusive and severely depressed; he no longer has the will to work. His friends and co-workers become very concerned about the guy they always admired. They eventually come up with a plan to help Howard find meaning and beauty from his tragic loss.

Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 14, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? No

Talking Points:

The movie highlights the importance of love and how all humans need it. The movie suggests that love is important in happy times and times of grief.
The movie also demonstrates that time, love, and death are three major components of life.

Sexual Content: None

Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

We see a bicycle accident.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear the f-word, “b–ch,” “sh-t,” “b–ch,” and “h–l.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see characters’ drinking at a bar.

Will Kids/ Teens Like It? No

The subject matter will most likely not appeal to kids as the movie highlights mature themes relating to grief. We hear several grieving parents’ stories about their loss.

Overall this is a wonderful heartfelt drama. Parents need to be aware of the mature subject matter that may be disturbing to young kids.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story-Kids’ Movie Review

“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…..,” the famous Star Wars opening line is back. This film focuses on a group of rebel spies who are on a mission to steal the plans for the original Death Star, the Empire’s weapon of destruction. Now the war begins between the Rebels and Imperial troops. Rogue One: Star Wars Story is an action packed film, one for all those Star Wars’ fans!!!

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: April 4, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Most Star Wars’ fans will enjoy the nostalgic sentiments similar to the the original 1977 film.
The battle between good and evil is once again highlighted in the movie.
The film demonstrates the importance of hope, trust, friendship and doing the right thing.

Sexual Content: None

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

There are numerous battles throughout the film. Characters are killed by lasers, bombs and explosions.
We see a Rebel shooting a wounded Stormtrooper to ensure his death.
A creepy looking creature wraps its tentacles around someone’s head.

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see characters drinking in a bar.

Will Kids Teens Like It? Yes

I interviewed several teenage boys. Most of them loved it, however a few thought it was slow and boring.

Overall this is another wonderful Star Wars film. Having said that, parents need to be aware of the excessive violence.