DVD Reviews
The Lego Batman Movie-Kids’ Movie Review
They’re all back; Batman (Will Arnett) and his sidekick Robin (Michael Cera), his loyal butler Alfred (Ralph Fiennes), and of course his arch nemesis the Joker (Zach Galifianakis)… all as Lego’s. In this film Batman wants to stop the Joker from his hostile takeover of Gotham City, the only problem is Batman thinks he can do it alone. Eventually Batman comes to realize he might just need a little help from his friends and cohorts to save his beloved city.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: June 13, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The film highlights the importance of teamwork and family. Batman is humbled and realizes he can’t do everything by himself.
- There’s some potty-humor in the film. There are references to “farts” and being “silent but deadly.”
- There are a lot of butt jokes as well. Batman refers to Alfred as his “Buttler.”
Sexual Content: Mild
- Bruce Wayne labels himself as a “playboy.”
- Batman loves his body and well built physique.
- There’s a lot of humor relating to Robin’s given name, Dick.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- There’s a lot of slapstick, silly violence.
- We see superheroes and villains get beat up, bashed and blown up.
- There are a lot of bad guys and battles throughout the film.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear, “butt,” “loser,” and “sucks.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Batman and his butler Alfred discuss different kinds of wines.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- I interviewed kids ages 5 to 8 who loved the film. Having said that, one 5 year old girl was scared, and didn’t like all the fighting.
Overall this is a fun, entertaining film for the whole family. Parents need to be aware of the mild potty humor and moderate violence throughout the film. I recommend this for kids ages 7 and up.
The Space Between Us-Kids’ Movie Review
Sara Elliot ( Janet Montgomery) is an adventurous woman. She travels with a group of scientists to Mars for a four-year colonizing mission. She is a single woman who is very excited about the opportunity to travel through space. However, Sara discovers that she’s pregnant on her space journey and delivers a beautiful baby boy on Mars. Sadly, Sara dies during childbirth while her son, Gardner (Asa Butterfield), is raised by a group of astronauts and scientists. When Gardner travels to Earth for the first time as a 16 year-old boy he embarks on many adventures as he tries to find his dad. He also meets Tulsa (Britt Robertson), an adorable teenage girl who becomes his true love. The Space Between Us is a romantic sci-film targeted to pre-teens and teens.
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: May 16, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Sexual Content: Mild
- We see a teenage couple kiss. They’re shown in a sleeping bag together with their bare shoulders sticking out of it.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- A mother dies during childbirth.
- Gardner has surgery; his arm is cut open and a metal tube is inserted.
- Gardner drives a cart recklessly on Mars. He crashes it and disconnects his oxygen tube and almost dies.
- On Earth we see a teen couple stealing cars and driving recklessly.
- Gardner has an enlarged heart when he is on Earth. We see him in painful moments. He has nosebleeds, passes out several times, and almost dies.
- We see a character try to commit suicide, but is rescued.
- A plane crashes and causes a huge explosion, but there are no deaths.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear “d–n,” “a–,” and someone says, “stop being a d–k.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- An adult character is an alcoholic and is shown passed out most of the time.
Will Most Kids/ Teens Like It?
- This will most likely appeal to pre-teens interested in a love story rather than a sci-fi movie.
Overall this is a teen romantic drama. Parents need to be aware of the moderate violence and alcoholic content
A Dog’s Purpose-Kids’ movie review
“Why am I here? What’s the purpose?” That’s what a curious dog named Bailey (voice of Josh Gad) often wonders. Bailey is reincarnated several times over the course of five decades. The dog keeps its memories and adorable personality, however his name changes and he becomes different breeds and genders. We see Bailey grow up with a young boy named Ethan, his best friend and companion. When Ethan goes off to college Bailey passes away. He’s reincarnated and has new owners, but no one he loves as much as Ethan. The dog discovers the meaning of life through its many lives and the humans whose lives he touches. A Dog’s Purpose is a wonderful and charming film for the whole family.
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: May 2, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
The film highlights the importance of love and companionship; for humans and animals.
Sexual Content: Mild
- We see a couple kiss passionately throughout the film.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- A high school bully drops fireworks through his rival’s front door mail slot, starting a horrific fire.
- A middle aged man, who’s an alcoholic, forcefully pushes his wife to ground.
- There’s an intense scene with a police officer and his trained dog. They are pursuing a man who has kidnapped a girl. The girl is pushed over a bridge into the water. The dog rescues the girl but he gets shot and dies. We see his bloody wounds.
- We see a man mistreat his girlfriend’s dog. Chaining him outside in the cold weather and never letting him enter their home.
- We see deaths of various versions of Bailey. They are brief, but heartbreaking.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- One of the main characters is an alcoholic. We see him drinking beer and sipping from a flask. He becomes depressed and aggressive.
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Overall, parents need to be aware of the heartbreaking and the violent/upsetting scenes. Having said that this is a wonderful and warmhearted film. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for kids ages 10 and up.
The Founder-Kids/Teen Movie Review
“Franchise. Franchise. Franchise.” That’s what Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton) tells Mac and Dick McDonald, owners of a burger joint in 1950 Southern California. Ray Kroc is a struggling salesman from Illinois. However, his life and career dramatically changes the day he eats a burger from McDonalds. He not only loves the burger and fries, but he was so impressed with the concept…a meal in a paper bag which is ready in 30 seconds. When Kroc leaves McDonalds, he’s excited and thrilled to turn this small town burger restaurant into a multi-billion dollar franchise. Based on a true story.
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: April 18, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
The film highlights the importance of persistence, hard work and dedication!
Sexual Content: Mild
- While married, Ray Kroc flirts with Joan, a pretty blond piano player who’s also married. Ray and Joan each divorce their spouses and eventually marry one another.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
- Ray Kroc and the McDonald’s brothers get into verbal arguments.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- The f-word is said once. We also hear “sh-t,” “a–,” “b–ch,” “h— and “d–n.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- Kroc drinks alcohol throughout the film.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- I interviewed a 17 year-old boy who liked the film and thought it was very interesting.
Overall this is a very thought wonderful film. Parents need to be aware of the moderate profane language and drug and alcohol content.
Sing-Kids’ Movie Review
“Dream big dreams.” That’s Buster Moon’s (voice of Matthew McConaughey) motto. Buster is a koala bear who loves the theater. When he was a 6 years-old his goal was to own his favorite theater…and years later that dream came true. However, due to financial problems things get difficult for the koala bear, though he doesn’t give up. To boost business he decides to produce a singing competition. Now the drama and singing begins as we see Buster Moon try to fulfill his lifelong dream.
Rating: 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 21, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Sing is a fun and entertaining film for the whole family. The film highlights the importance of working together and following your dreams.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Three female rabbits wiggle their butts while singing, “Oh my gosh, look at her butt.”
- There is flirting between the animals.
- We see some revealing outfits and risqué dances from the animals.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
- Some angry gangster bears try to kill a cheating mouse.
- A building collapses and puts several characters in harms way.
- There are several car chases, causing accidents.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear name calling: “old fart,” “stupid,” “fool,” and “bozos.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see animals drinking alcoholic beverages at a night club.
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Overall this is a cute and entertaining film for the whole family.