Reviews by Genre
Movie Reviews by Genre
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted Review
Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman have been traveling far too long; they’re ready to get back to their home town…New York! After leaving Africa they end up in Monte Carlo, where they find their gambling penguin buddies. So now they’re all ready to head back to the Big Apple, however things don’t go as planned. Capitaine Chantel DuBois, the evil French animal control officer, finds the animals, and desperately wants to capture Alex; hoping to add a lion’s head to her wall of captured animals. To escape the officer and get back home, they end up joining a traveling circus. Now Alex and the gang not only have to run from the evil officer, they also have to take part in helping a troubled traveling circus improve their show; with the ultimate goal of getting back to their beloved cages in the Central Park Zoo. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted is a wonderful, animated film for kids!
Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: June 8, 2012
MPAA Rating:PG
Best Age Group:5 +
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points
Not only is this a funny entertaining movie for kids, there are some great messages woven throughout the film. The animals continually try to help one other, by being supportive during their circus events, and trying to make it the best it can be.
Alex helps the circus’s animal leader overcome his fears. While giving him an inspirational talk, the Pomp and Circumstance march was playing in the background. This was a very motivating scene.
The 3D effects were very well done. Kids will like the vibrate colors in the film, and the fun circus acts.
The theater was packed; the kids were very attentive and laughed at the comedic parts of the film, however parents may get a little bored.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Two of the animals flirt with each other, and fall in love. While flirting one says, “Ooh, you have a very hairy back. I like that in a woman.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Animals crash through a glass ceiling in Monte Carlo, causing mayhem in a casino.
- There are car chase scenes as the Capitaine tries to capture the animals. We see vehicles tumbled and blown up, thrown through buildings.
- The Capitaine uses her dart pistol at the animals.
- A group of cute little dogs turns out to be a pack of mongrels. We see them fight with each other while threatening others.
- Knives are thrown
- The animals fight with the Capitaine. In one scene the bear hits her with a motorcycle wheel, she’s smashed between two elephants and falls unconscious off a raised platform.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “Poopy,” and “heck” are said.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- When referring to a circus company, an animal says,” the members are drunk from their maple syrup.”
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this is a fun animated movie for kids. Depending on the child, I recommend this film for kids ages 5 and up. Parents need to be aware of the slapstick moderate violence.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Review
In the beginning of the movie we see a recap of the 1st movie(how Alex is separated from his family, he goes from Africa to Central Park Zoo). When the story starts the four main characters are in Madagascar ready to board a broken down plane to New York. They don’t make it far, end up in the plains of Africa,( in the middle of an animal reserve where Alex’s mom and dad live). Many surprises happen there, good and bad.
Rating: Three out of five buckets
Release Date: February 6, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Like the first one, the movie highlights the importance of friendship. I read a review by David Schwimmer(voice of Giraffe). He said a question that was being raised throughout the film was: “What is the definition of home? Is it Manhattan? Is it Africa? Is it Madagascar?” Home for those guys is each other. They’re loyal to each other. They have each other, that’s what counts.
After Alex is reunited with his mom and dad they discover how little he and his dad have in common. His dad learns to appreciate and respect his son. Alex is a dancer not a fighter. Main point is: value who you are, follow your dreams and be proud of who you are.
The four main characters have their own story(subplot).
Lion-(Alex) is trying to prove himself to his dad. Alex is named heir to the throne- if he can prove himself in a rite of passage that involves fighting another lion, he assumes it’s a dance contest.
Zebra-(Marty) Trying to find his individuality among a herd of zebras.
Hippo-(Gloria) looking for love. She meets Motto, Motto, which means hot, hot.
Giraffe(Melman) is in love with Gloria.
Sexual Content: Mild
- King Julian makes sexual comments such as “I’m a lady, which of you is attracted to me?’” (He’s wearing a coconut bra and skirt).
- Gloria says she wants to sign up for the breeding program. She and Moto Moto talk in low and sexy voices with each other.
Violent Content: Mild
- Lions battling each other.
- Humans are also stranded in Africa. A tough granny punches Alex, he steals her cell phone. Penguins attack the grandma.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “Jeez, “heck,” darn” and “oh snap” are used in the movie. There’s name calling such as: “loser” and “stupid.”
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Gloria drinks wine, there are champagne glasses on the plane.
Overall there is good music, with colorful and vivid landscapes. A lot of detail in the animals, which kids will enjoy!
The Lucky One Review
Zac Efron as a U.S Marine…it’s gotta be good! Logan (Zac Efron) is determined to find his guardian angel, an unknown woman who saved his life. While in Afghanistan, Logan found a photo on the ground, and walked over to pick it up. Suddenly there was an explosion in the spot where he was initially standing. Logan was convinced that if he wouldn’t have found the photo, his life would be over. With the message “keep safe,” written on the back of the picture, Logan found that to be true, as he made it home alive and well. However, he wasn’t going home to relax, he was going home to find the women in the photo, and thank his lucky charm. Based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, The Lucky One is a wonderful love story, with some romantic love scenes that parents need to be aware of.
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 buckets.
Release Date: April 20,2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Excessive
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
See a clip of my review, along with reviews for Bully and Touchback!
Talking Points:
The acting was fantastic; with Zac Efron as Logan, Taylor Schilling as Beth (the woman in the photo), and Blythe Danner as Beth’s Grandma!
Dog lovers will really enjoy this film, as Beth, (the woman in the photo), owns a dog kennel. There were many fun dog scenes.
There were some mature relationship issues in this film. Beth is a single mom, and her ex-husband is a jealous cruel man, who caused many intense conflicts in the film. However, Beth has a wonderful relationship with her 7 year old son, and her grandma (Blythe Danner) with whom she lives with. We eventually learned that Beth’s parents died in a car accident, and her brother died in the war.
A movie with Zac Efron, will attract many pre-teen girls to the film. Parents may feel uncomfortable with the intense romantic love scenes.
Sexual Content: Excessive
- There was a very sensual scene with Logan and Beth (the two main characters) in the shower, which led them to the bedroom. We saw sexual movements while they were in the bed.
- There were many steamy embraces and passionate kisses throughout the film.
Violent Content: Moderate
- We saw several war scenes, with explosions and gunfire.
- When Logan returned back home, he was very nervous and jumpy. When his nephew woke him up, Logan jumped and viciously grabbed him by the throat.
- One character was very cruel and abusive. When drunk, he pulled a gun on Logan.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear “h–,” many times, and “a–,” and d–n,” a couple times.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters are shown drinking beer.
- One character is shown drunk at a bar.
Once again another romantic Nicholas Sparks movie, with a handsome leading actor, and a good storyline. As I previously mentioned, I know that many pre-teen and teenage girls will want to see this film. However, parents need to be aware of the passionate scenes in the film. Depending on the child, I recommend this movie for kids ages 13 and up.
The Lovely Bones Review
“The Lovely Bones” is based on the 2002 bestselling novel by Alice Sebold. This is the story of the murder of a 14 year-old girl named Susie Salmon. She lives happily in a suburban neighborhood in Pennsylvania with her parents and 2 younger siblings. She tells us her story by narrating everything that happens from “in-between” somewhere between earth and heaven. Susie watches her family and friends heal from their loss and search for her killer.
Rating: Three out of five buckets
Release Date: April 20, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Talking Points:
As parents we always tell our kids, “Don’t talk to strangers.” Well, in this movie the murderer is a neighbor, someone who she knows and trusts. When the neighbor wants to show Susie something that he made for the neighborhood kids, Susie is curious, but a little apprehensive, though she follows him, and that’s the beginning of the end for Susie. This could bring up a good discussion with kids about safety and to follow their instincts.
Parents will relate to what Susie’s parents are going through. Her dad is determined to find the killer, and her mom is in denial, sealing off Susie’s bedroom. Their marriage is also strained from the stress of this horrific event in their lives.
The movie is entertaining at times. Susie’s grandma (Susan Sarandon), who enjoys her liquor, adds some humor to the movie as she demonstrates her terrible housekeeping skills when she comes to take care of the kids.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- There’s no indication that Susie gets raped, as she does in the novel, and her murder occurs off screen, but knowing what happened is creepy.
Violent Content: Excessive
- The movie was scary, I was on edge in most of the scenes. However, I read that the movie was intentionally made less upsetting for teens.The movie will scare some teenage girls. As viewers, they will get to know Susie from the various flashbacks in the movie that show her interest in photography, her crush on a boy at school, and her day to day life with her parents and siblings. Teenage girls will see that Susie is a normal teenager and that they can relate to her in some aspects of their own lives. Like the author, Alice Sebold, said, “No one is immune from violence, it touches everyone.” The novel, in which the movie based on, arose from the author’s own experience with violence, her rape as and 18 year old girl.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
- Susie’s grandma is an alcoholic and drinks a lot throughout the movie.
I’m not a fan of scary movies, for myself or my kids, so the movie did not appeal to me. However, I liked the characters, and I appreciated the fact that we didn’t see the gory details of the actual murder. If your unsure about the movie, I would view it first before allowing your kids to see it. It’s rated PG13 for disturbing violent content and images.
My 13 year old daughter and her 2 friends saw the movie. They all liked it, but thought it was scary. My daughter did not sleep well the night after she saw the movie. I rate it three buckets with the recommendation, as I mentioned, that parents see it first.
Little Fockers Review
This is the story about Greg (Ben Stiller) and Pam Focker (Teri Polo), from Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers. In this third series Greg and Pam are busy arranging for their twin’s 5th birthday party, which means the in-laws will be coming for a visit. Pam’s dad, Jack (Robert De Niro) the ex-CIA , hard-nosed, very suspicious man, will be watching his son-in-law Greg the whole time, just waiting for him to make some sort of mistake. However, there’s more pressure this time with Jack’s visit. De Niro tells Greg of his plan to turn Greg into his successor as the head of the family, he calls him, “The Godfocker.” We now see how Greg has to live up to his new title, and how he handles the pressure from his father-in-law.
Rating: Three out of five buckets
Release Date: April 5, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: Older teenagers
Sexual Content: Excessive
Violent Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Talking Points:
The movie has an all star cast, to name a few; Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, Owen Wilson and Jessica Alba. They were all funny at times and entertaining.
Dealing with in-laws can sometimes be difficult and uncomfortable. However, through all the comedy and slapstick humor in this movie, there is an underlying message of the importance of family, and fidelity. Hopefully, the message will get through to the viewers.
Sexual Content: Excessive
Throughout the whole movie there are sexual references and comments. For example:
- Much of the storyline is focused on Greg’s relationship with Andi (Jessica Alba), a cute, flirtatious, pharmaceutical rep.,who recruits Greg to be a spokesperson for Sustengo, an erectile dysfunction drug for men with heart problems. Of course with this drug there are many jokes and sexual references that kids don’t need to hear.
- Greg’s mom hosts a sex-therapy show, this was another source for sexual jokes in the movie, ones I won’t even mention on air.
Profanity: Moderate
With the family name Focker, that says enough right there. Many jokes were triggered with this name, while many other swear words were used as well.
Overall this was a predictable, entertaining movie with a lot slapstick humor throughout the movie. For people that have enjoyed the previous movies, they will most likely like this one too. Parents need to know the movie is filled with sexual references before sending their kids. I would say it’s okay for older teenagers.