Reviews by Genre
Movie Reviews by Genre
Daddy’s Home-Kids’ Movie Review
Rating: 3 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 22, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Initially the father and stepfather are competing with each other and bribing the children with material things to win their hearts. However, both men eventually realize what takes to be a responsible parent and they ultimately want what’s best for the children.
- There are several inappropriate and somewhat raunchy scenes in this PG13 rated film which is targeted towards kids. See details below.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- Dusty, the biological father, introduces Brad, the Step-father, to an infertility specialist. This scene was very disgusting especially when the doctor stands in front of Brad and Dusty with their pants pulled down. We don’t see anything, but there are comments comparing their male private parts.
- When Brad is in the masturbating room at the specialist, the blinds fall down and expose him to a crowd in the room next door.
- When Brad is drunk at the Laker’s game he broadcasts that he had sex with his wife the night before.
- Dusty claims that he’s “good with his hands,” then winks at his ex-wife.
- There are jokes and comments regarding male body parts
- A character has motorcycle accident. He’s injured as he accidentally drives through his house, crashing through the walls.
- A character attempts to skateboard down a half-pipe course and hits a power line and gets electrocuted.
- Dylan, the elementary school aged son, claims he’s bullied in school by fourth graders. Brad, Dylan’s biological dad, tells him to punch the bully in the Adam’s apple and kick him in the crotch.
- The two dad’s get in a fight at a daddy-daughter dance.
- A drunk character accidentally throws a basketball at a Los Angeles Lakers cheerleader, and also hits a boy in a wheelchair.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- We hear “sh-t,” “b–ch,” “h–l,” “a–,” “p—y,” “b–tard,” “holy balls,” and “d–n.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Dusty drinks a lot of beers and proceeds to get drunk at a Laker’s game.
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
- Elementary school aged kids in the theater were laughing a lot throughout the film.
Overall this is an entertaining film, though parents need to be aware of the inappropriate sexual comments and profane language.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens-Kids’ Movie Review
As you may know, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is set in a galaxy far far away. It’s been thirty years since the defeat of the Galactic Empire and now the galaxy faces a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and the First Order. However, when a defector named Finn lands on a desert planet and meets a rugged scavenger girl named Rey (Daisy Ridley), things change. Rey’s recently found droid contains a top-secret map, so now Finn and Rey, along with Han Solo (Harrison Ford), work together to defeat the First Order and find Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the last of the Jedi.
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: April 5, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The Star Wars: The Force Awakens is not only an action packed adventure movie, it may also spark some great parent/child conversations regarding redemption, faith and family.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Flirting amongst two couples.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- Numerous characters die. There are battles and explosions.
- There are scary creatures who try to eat people.
- X-wings and enemy fighters are blown up and crash into planets below.
- There are deaths and injuries from light sabers.
- Characters are thrown around, fall from extreme heights, and injured from brutal fistfights.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “D-nm,” and “h—l,” are said.
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Overall Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a wonderful sci-fi film; one that Star Wars fans will most likely enjoy.
In the Heart of the Sea-Kids’ Movie Review
Tom Nickerson was haunted his whole life by his horrific memory of a whale attack as a 14 year-old boy. In the nineteenth century whaling was a very lucrative business. Hundreds of men in Nantucket, Mass would sign up for a whaling ship to gather the pure whale oil. However, in 1820 the New England whaling ship, the Essex, was attacked by an enormous whale. The surviving crewmen (played by Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy) faced many obstacles as they were stranded in the middle of the ocean. This amazing true story is told in flashback by an elderly Tom Nickerson as he tells his tale to a young Herman Melville and it became the inspiration for Melville’s classic novel Moby Dick.
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 8, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- In the Heart of the Sea is an interesting and educational film inspired by a true story, one that teens may be intrigued by. The survivors of the attack demonstrated courage and a strong will to live while enduring unbearable circumstances.
- There are many disturbing and graphic scenes. See violent content below.
Sexual Content: Mild
- We see a man carving a woman’s breasts on a whalebone.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- Harpoons are thrown into the the whales. Blood spews from the beasts blowhole covering the water and the sailor’s faces.
- We see a whale continuously butchered and speared to death.We learn that whale oil is found in the sperm whale’s head. We see a sailor cutting a hole in the whale and a crew member crawling into the hole. This was very disturbing.
- {Spoiler Alert} The Essex’s hull is cracked by the white whale. The whale brings down the ship. Men are killed from falling overboard or crushed by the enormous whale.
- The ship’s survivors are stranded in the middle of the ocean. We see character’s starve to death, dead bodies are kept aboard as food. The crewman draw straws to see who will be shot and cannibalized.
- A character points a gun at his head and shoots himself.
- A character is shown with bloody hands as he suffers from a rope burn.
- A character vomits all over another crew members shoes.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear “d–n,” “a–,” “h—,” and “b–ch,” throughout the film.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see character’s drinking wine.
- Tom and Melville drink whiskey as Tom tells Melville his long story.
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Overall In the Heart of the Sea is an interesting drama about survival. Parents need to be aware of the excessive and disturbing violence throughout the film.
Krampus-Kids’ Movie Review
The Christmas season is a festive time of year to be with loved ones. However, for Max (Emjay Anthony), a pre-teen boy, things aren’t that wonderful. He misses the days when his family was happy and didn’t argue, but when he loses the Christmas spirit and has given up hope, Max’s world changes completely. Krampus, an enormous goat-like creature, and his creepy clan of toys, elves and gingerbread cookies arrive at Max’s house. His German Grandmother is familiar with the Krampus legend and says, “Krampus came not to reward, but to punish.” Not to give, but to take.” Now Max and his family must forget their differences and bond together to save one another and bring back the Christmas spirit.
Rating: 2 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: April 26, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Krampus is a strange but thought provoking Christmas film. The wise German Grandmother tells the family that Krampus took everyone in her family after WWII except her. She said, “He left me as a reminder of what happens when hope is lost, when belief is forgotten, and when the Christmas spirit dies.” Grandma also explains to the family that the true meaning of Christmas is to focus on others’ needs, not our own selfish desires. Great parent/child discussion.
- Though there are some wonderful messages, the film is very dark and creepy. See violent content below:
Sexual Content: Mild
- There’s a joke about squirrels “playing with their nuts.”
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- A group of kids get into a fight wrestling and tackling one another.
- Krampus is a very large and very creepy beast. When he invaded Max’s house, he brought with him evil stuffed animals and toys, creepy elves and wicked gingerbread cookies.
- We see huge angels with bloody teeth, bears and clowns who try to devour the family. Sadly they do eat a child.
- A baby is kidnapped.
- Gingerbread cookies attack Uncle Howard with a nail gun.
- A character is shown hanged by Christmas lights, then cut down.
- The humans fight back and continuously shoot the evil creatures.
- We see Krampus dropping two children into a deep fiery pit.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- The f-word is said twice. We also hear “sh-t,” “d–n,” “b–tard,” “a–,” “a–hole,” “d–k,” and “b–ch.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- We see a teenage boy holding a Christmas bong.
- Aunt Dorothy likes her alcohol. She shows three tweens how to make her favorite concoction of peppermint schnapps with hot chocolate; then offers the drinks to the tweens.
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
- Krampus will appeal to kids that like horror films.
Overall Krampus is a scary and creepy horror film. However, there are some redeeming qualities and noteworthy messages for kids. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence and crude language throughout the film. Depending on the child, Krampus is appropriate for kids ages 13 and up.
Creed-Teen Movie Review
Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) loves to fight. As an adolescent he’d get into trouble due unwarranted fighting at school. Even as an adult he felt the urge to throw a punch at someone. Fighting was in his blood due to the fact that Adonis’ father was the boxing champion Apollo Creed (who died before Adonis was born). When Adonis decides to pursue his passion he seeks out Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a retired boxing champ and Apollo’s rival, to be his trainer. Now the excitement begins as Rocky is back in the boxing world, however this time he’s on Creed’s side.
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5
Release Date: March 1, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The film highlights a strong work ethic. No matter how difficult things can get, you need to give it your all.
- Also the importance of family and forgiveness is another noteworthy theme. For example..Adonis has a lot of anger towards his father. Rocky encourages him to forgive his father’s past actions.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- We see Adonis and his girlfriend passionately kiss, they caress and fondle one another. It’s implied that they’ve had a sexual encounter.
- It’s noted that Adonis is the product of Apollo Creed’s infidelity.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- There are graphic boxing scenes with men forcefully hitting one another.
- We see open wounds and blood on the fighters faces. We see blood bursting out of cuts after fierce hits.
- We see elementary aged kids punching one another in school.
- Characters are shown unconscious on the ring floor.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear “a–,” “b–ch,” and “h–,” several times throughout the film.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see characters drinking beer, wine and hard liquor.
Will Kids/Teens Like It? Yes
- I interviewed boys ages 10 to 15 who loved the film. They were walking out of the theater pretending to be boxers.
Overall Creed is a wonderful sports drama. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for kids ages 10 and up.