DVD Reviews
Rio 2-Kids Movie Reviews
“Happy wife, happy life,” a well known phrase and a motto that Blu (voice of Jesse Eisenberg) tries to live by. In this sequel to the 2011 film Rio, the beloved birds Blu, Jewel and their three kids leave the city of Rio de Janeiro and journey to the Amazon rainforest. On there way they come across many adventures as they run into Blu and Jewel’s former nemesis, Nigel the cockatoo; who wants to seek revenge on the Macaws. Things get even more complicated upon their arrival when they see Jewel’s father. Now Blu not only has to deal with vengeful Nigel, but even worse he must try to fit in with his father-in-law…which isn’t easy. Rio 2 is a fun adventurous animated movie for kids of all ages.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5
Release Date: July 15, 2014
MPAA Rating: G
Best Age Group: Any
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes
Talking Points:
The film stresses the importance of family and friendships.
The colorful scenery, fun songs and entertaining characters will appeal to young kids. Having said that teens and adults may get bored.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
- We see huge tractors trying to run over two characters; fortunately they escape.
- Dynamite is attached to a number of trees. Blu cuts the explosives and flies them away before they detonate.
- Nigel, Blu’s nemesis, threatens to use poisonous excretions to seek revenge.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Potty words such as “poop,” and “pooping,” were used; which the youngsters found very humorous.
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Characters drink champagne.
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes
Overall this is a fun and entertaining film for kids of all ages.
Draft Day-Teen Movie Review
Should you go with your gut, or what your boss tells you to do? That’s what Sonny Weaver (Kevin Costner), the Cleveland Browns general manager, faces as the NFL draft day quickly approaches. The owner wants a “big splash” someone to excite the fans, he wants the number one pick. However Sonny wants to do the right thing; he wants a guy with character and passion, he wants the right guy for the team. So on the day of the draft, Sonny must decide what to do to save not only his job, but also the Cleveland Browns. Draft Day is an exciting film as we see the ups and downs and daily stress of the NFL Draft!
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: September 2, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes
Talking Points:
We don’t see a lot of action football scenes, however football fans will enjoy the excitement and thrill of the behind the scenes stress of the NFL draft day. Having said that, it is a little slow in parts, some kids may get bored.
Though Draft Day is fiction, I read that the NFL worked with the movie producers to make the film as accurate as possible.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Sonny’s girlfriend, Ali (Jennifer Garner), who’s also the team’s financial executive, is pregnant with his child. We don’t see them in a sexual encounter, only kissing.
- There are sexual references. Some of the coaches discuss the sex life of a possible draft pick, wondering how many girls he “bangs” per day.
Violent Content: Mild
- Sonny smashes a laptop into a wall.
- A player was upset with Sonny and proceeded to destroy his office.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- The f-word was said once. We also heard “d–n,” “a–,” “h—,” and “b–ch,” numerous times throughout the film.
- An angry player suggests that an intern have “intercourse with his mother.”
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- We see characters drinking beer and hard liquor.
Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes
- The film will most likely appeal to pre-teens and teens.
Overall Draft Day is an entertaining and exciting sports drama. Parents need to be aware of the excessive language and some sexual references in the film. Depending on the child, this film is appropriate for kids ages 12 and up.
Muppets Most Wanted-Kids Movie Review
Berlin, Madrid, Dublin and London…the Muppets take their tour to a whole new level, they travel overseas!! Things are going well as their concerts are selling out all over the world. However the beloved Muppets get involved with an international crime caper, who happens to be a Kermit the Frog look a-like. Things get complicated for Kermit and company as Kermit is mistaken for this evil criminal. Muppets Most Wanted is a sequel to the 2011 movie The Muppets. It’s an entertaining film with fun music and wonderful characters.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: August 12, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes
Talking Points:
The importance of family and friends are woven through the film. Kermit’s gang eventually realize how much they miss Kermit’s loving and endearing qualities.
Kids will be entertained by the fun loving character’s and catchy tunes, while adults will enjoy the comedy and well known actors.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Moderate
- There is a lot of slapstick violence. We see the evil frog using his karate skills on human guards.
- A character has a bomb, we see several explosions.
- A large freezer flattens Fozzie Bear into a bear rug.
- Miss Piggy grabs Constantine and throws him around.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes
Overall this is a cute entertaining film. Parents need to be aware of the moderate slapstick violence throughout the film.
Divergent-Teen Movie Review
“The Dauntless never give up,”and that’s why Beatrice Prior (Shailene Woodley) chooses to be in the Dauntless faction. Set in futuristic Chicago, people are divided into factions based on human virtues. Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the kind), Candor (the honest), Dauntelss (the brave) and Erudite (the intelligent). The storyline centers around the life of 16-year old Beatrice Prior. Continue reading
Need For Speed-Kids Movie Review
Tobey Marshall (Aaron Paul), a former race car driver and blue-collar mechanic, owns a garage in upstate New York where he and his friends tune performance cars. Dealing with financial concerns, Tobey desperately wants to save his struggling garage, so he partners with his former rival Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper). Dino is a very wealthy, but wicked, ex-NASCAR driver who makes Tobey a deal he can’t refuse. However, problems occur during a disastrous race when Dino frames Tobey for manslaughter. After Tobey serves two years in prison, he desperately wants to seek revenge, and race against his arch-nemesis… Dino Brewster. Based on the very popular video game series, Need For Speed is an action packed, suspenseful film where you’ll be at the edge of your seat!!!
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: August 5, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes
Talking Points:
There are no life lessons or inspirational aspects to the film. However, it’s an exciting action packed movie with fun and entertaining characters!
The movie is very unrealistic and hopefully kids will take it for what it is; a fictional movie! There’s even a disclaimer in the closing credits stating, “DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME KIDS!”
Sexual Content: Mild
- One of Tobey’s friends quits his office job. So thrilled to be leaving, he strips down to his socks as he walks out of the building. We see his bare rear several times.
- We see a couple kiss.
Violent Content: Excessive
- There are a lot of intense high-speed races throughout the film. We see many horrible crashes with several fatalities of innocent victims.
- After driver was forced off the road, we see his car flipping into air as it explodes. This is a very graphic scene.
- Thugs use a shotgun to force Tobey and Julia’s (Tobey’s love interest) car off the road.
- The DeLeon race that Tobey and Dino participate in destroys several of the driver’s cars, along with numerous police cars.
- We see Tobey punch Dino in the face.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- The f-word is said once. We also hear “h—,” “a–,” b–tards” and “douche bag” several times throughout the film.
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Characters are shown drinking alcoholic beverages.
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes
Overall this is a entertaining action packed film. Parents need to be aware of the intense car crashes and illegal car races we see in the film. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for kids ages 12 and up.