Reviews by Genre

Movie Reviews by Genre

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2

“I didn’t choose security, security chose me.” That’s what security officer Paul Blart (Kevin James) says while giving the keynote speech to the Security Officers Trade Association Conference in Las Vegas. Blart is thrilled to attend the conference; he’s been through a lot since his infamous mall cop adventure – his wife left him and his mother passed away. So now it’s time to not only learn about the latest security weapons, but to take his teenage daughter for a relaxing getaway. However things don’t go as planned. Coincidentally, a group of thieves are staying at their hotel, plotting to heist the hotel’s expensive art, including one of Van Gogh’s finest. No rest for Blart…now it’s time for the beloved mall cop to use his unique skills to capture the criminals and save the innocent victims.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: July 14, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Though Blart is very goofy and silly, he’s a great guy. He’s a loving and protective father and a very conscientious security officer who takes his job very seriously.
When Blart gives the keynote speech at the security officers’ conference he highlights the fact that officers do what they do to help people! He says…”If you believe the purpose of life is to serve yourself, then you have no purpose. Help someone today.”

Sexual Content: Mild

Woman wear low cut tops and skimpy bikinis.

Violent Content: Moderate

There is a lot of slapstick violence involving Paul Blart (Kevin James). Blart is kicked and attacked by a giant bird, hit by a car while on his Segway, kicked by a horse, and crashes through a van window. He also stuffs himself in a suitcase which ends up sinking in a pool.
There’s a comedic battle between Blart and the villains. Blart Tases a bad guy and several characters are shot by guns, though no casualties.
Blart’s daughter is kidnapped in the hotel…this may frighten young kids.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear “freaking,” “you suck,” and “idiot.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see characters drinking martinis and beer in the hotel bar.
We see young hotel employees drinking from blue plastic cups at a party.

Overall Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 is a comedic film, appropriate for kids ages 10 and up. Parents need to be aware of the moderate violence throughout the film.

Get Hard-Teen Movie Review

Making money is easy for James King (Will Ferrell), he’s a successful stockbroker who enjoys his luxurious lifestyle, the local country club, and his high-end Audi. He cherishes that Audi and frequents the car wash weekly, he even has a regular car-wash guy named Darnell (Kevin Hart). Life is good for James, he’s engaged to a beautiful woman whose father (Craig T. Nelson) makes him a partner in his firm. However, things dramatically change for James. During his engagement party the Feds come and arrest him for tax-evasion charges and eventually he is sentenced to ten years in prison. How will the privileged James survive in prison? He can’t even survive without his maid and staff. James turns to Darnell, the car-wash guy. He assumes that Darnell has been in prison and can help him survive the horrendous prison way of life. Now the adventure begins as Darnell trains James on how to handle living in prison cell. Even though he’s never been in prison, and even though James is innocent, the odd couple manage to stir up trouble as they become good friends.

Rating: 1 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: June 30, 2015
MPAA Rating: R
Best Age Group: 17+
Sexual Content: Excessive
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drug and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Will Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

There aren’t any powerful or inspirational messages, however there are some humorous and entertaining parts in the film.
Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart are in the film, which will attract pre-teens. This is a very inappropriate R rated comedy, not for kids.

Sexual Content: Excessive

James is terrified of getting raped in prison, so Darnell prepares him on what to do and how to handle any homosexual activity. He takes James to a gay club and sets him up to perform oral sex on another man. We see them in the bathroom stall together.
We see topless woman, bare backsides, and a man’s private parts.
We see a couple in a sexual encounter.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

A character almost gets his face ripped off by a motorcycle wheel.
We see fist fights, gun shots and character’s severely beaten.
In one scene we see a knife protruding from James’ forehead. This was disgusting.

Crude or Profane Language: Excessive

The f-word is said numerous times throughout the film. We also hear, “a–,” “b–ch,” “h–,” and “d–n.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Excessive

Character’s are shown drinking wine, whiskey and beer.
We see character’s smoking joints.

Will Teens Like It? Yes

As I previously mentioned with Kevin Hart and Will Ferrell starring in the film, kids will find it entertaining and humorous.

Overall this is an R rated raunchy comedy not for kids, pre-teens or even teens.

Get Hard-Teen Movie Review

Home-Kids’ Movie Review

“Home is not a home without family.” That’s what Tip (Rihanna) says. Tip is a young girl who’s the only human left on Earth. When an alien race, called the Boov, conquer Earth and relocate all of the human population, Tip manages to hide from the aliens. Feeling sad and alone, she desperately wants to find her mother. The day she meets a fugitive Boov, called Oh (Jim Parsons), things begin to change. Initially they don’t trust one another, though after much time together they develop a special bond and eventually become good friends. The misfit couple come across several adventures as Oh is on the run from the Boov’s enemies, and Tip is on the run to find her mother, and to be home once again. Home is a wonderful animated film for the whole family.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: July 28, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

This is story about the importance of family and caring of others.
The movie highlights some dangers of social media as Oh accidentally sends an evite to the whole universe; inviting them to a house warming party.
There is a lot of potty humor. Oh brushes his teeth with a toilet brush. There are several jokes discussing the difference between going number one, number two or number three. Two Boov’s discuss their “pee break.”
Oh lies a lot… the Boov turn green when they lie.

Sexual Content: Mild

When a Boov stumbles in a trap, he’s hit with dirty laundry and some makeup. We see him covered in pink with a bra on his head.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

The villains use gigantic earthmovers to try and destroy the Earth’s surface. Slapstick violence ensues with the destruction of cars and buildings.
A character repeatedly bonks others on the head with his staff, which he calls the “shusher.”

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

Name calling…”lying fart face.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids Like It? Yes

I interviewed a family with a 4 year old son and 6 year old daughter. The two kids loved the film, they thought the characters were fun and didn’t get scared by the bad guys.

Overall this is a wonderful animated film with fun loving characters.

Insurgent-Teen Movie Review

Insurgent is the second installment in the very popular Divergent series. As in the first film, Insurgent is set in futuristic Chicago, where people are divided into factions based on human virtues. Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the kind), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave) and Erudite (the intelligent). Insurgent continues following the lives of teenagers Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) and her boyfriend Four (Theo James). In this film the young couple are on the run from Jeanine Matthews (Kate Winslet), the leader of the Erudite faction. Tris and Theo are on a mission to stop the powerful alliance from tearing their society apart, while hoping to figure out the secret to a better future. Based on the best-selling book series, Insurgent is an action packed, suspenseful film.

Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: August 5, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will it Appeal to Most Pre-tees/teens? Yes

Talking Point:

There is an all-star cast, to name a few; Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Octavia Spencer and Miles Teller.
Tris is a strong character who wants to protect and save everyone. She’s willing to risk her life for the innocent victims whose lives are in jeopardy.

Sexual Content: Mild

It’s implied that Tris and Four have a sexual encounter. We see them kissing, while sitting on a bed. They remove their shirts, we only see their bare backs.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

The violence is very disturbing especially when subjects are involved in virtual reality simulations. They’re forced into a a room with glass walls. The subjects are attached to cords, which are hanging from the ceiling. They’re injected with strong drugs and we see their memories, fears and special relationships. In one simulation we see someone trapped in a burning building, while flying through the air.
In the real world, there is a war. We see characters shot and killed, fist fights and stabbings. Many characters are injected with mind-control devices, which causes them to commit suicide.
Tris and Four are injected with truth serum. We see the needles going into their necks. If the subjects are not telling the truth, the serum causes great pain, which we saw with Tris.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear “d–n,” “h–,” and “sh-t.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

We see character’s drinking wine.
Throughout the film we see character’s injected with powerful drugs. These drugs are very dangerous, causing great pain and even death.

Will it Appeal to Most Kids? Yes

Pre-teens/teens that have read the books will most likely enjoy the movie.

As I previously mentioned, Insurgent is a very action packed suspenseful movie. Parents need to be aware of the excessive and disturbing violence throughout the film.

Cinderella-Kids Movie Review

“Be kind and have courage,” were Ella’s (Cinderella, played by Lily James) mother’s dying last words. Ella honors her mother’s request and is a very kind and courageous loving young lady. After her mother’s death, Ella and her father remain very close and enjoy their lives together, however Ella’s life dramatically changes when her father decides to re-marry. Sadly he becomes very ill, and unexpectedly dies shortly after the wedding. Ella is left with an evil stepmother and two evil stepsisters. Continue reading →