DVD Reviews
One For The Money Review
Stephanie Plum (Katherine Heigl) is a newly divorced, unemployed lingerie salesman from Macy’s, who can’t pay the rent, and whose car gets repossessed. Feeling desperate and broke, she calls cousin Vinnie, who employs her as a bounty hunter. Stephanie’s first assignment is to find Joe Morelli, an ex-cop and an ex-lover. Now the excitement and drama begin as Stephanie toughens up, and buys a gun, with hopes of making some money to pay the bills. One for the Money is a comedy,action/adventure movie, based on a novel by Janet Evanovich.
Rating: 2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: May 15, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group:12+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content:Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
See a clip of my review here, along with a review of “Man on a Ledge.”
Talking Points:
I liked how Stephanie (Katherine Heigl) was persistent on getting a new job. She needed the money to pay the bills, so she took the initiative and got a job…something that could spark a parent/child conversation.
I’ve heard a lot of good things about this book series, and I like Katherine Heigl, so I thought this was going to be a good, entertaining movie. Well, there were some funny parts, Katherine Heigl was good, (and so was Jason O’Mara who played Joe Morelli), but overall I didn’t enjoy the movie.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- Stephanie and Morelli (the guy she’s assigned to find) are sexually attracted to each other. In one scene, he barges into her apartment while she’s taking a shower. He handcuff’s her to the shower rod, while commenting on how good she looks, naked in the shower.
- Stephanie takes her shirt off, while Morelli attaches an eavesdropping wire to her body.
- Prostitutes are shown, wearing low-cut, revealing outfits.
- There are many sexual references and comments; one regarding oral sex.
- An elderly man is shown naked, we see his back side.
Violent Content: Moderate
- There are many gun shots and deaths. One guy is shot five times in the chest.
- Two characters get into a big fight, punching and shoving each other, we see them injured and bloody.
- A prostitute is thrown out of a car, bloody and bruised.
- An SUV blows up.
Crude and Profane Language: Moderate
- Words such as “a–,” “d–n,” “b-tard,” and “b–ch,” are each used several times throughout the film.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Character’s are shown drinking wine at dinner.
- The bad guys are involved with heroin.
Overall this was a silly movie, with no redeeming qualities. This would be a good rental in which pre-teen and teenage girls may be entertained by,especially if they liked the book. Parents need to be aware of the sexual references and some moderate violence.
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian-Family Movie Review
Larry Daley, the security guard in the first movie, is now a huge success as an inventor and CEO of a gadget company. When Larry stops by the museum one day he discovers that the Museum is closed for renovations and his “historical plastic friends” are being shipped from their New York museum to the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. Larry immediately flies to D.C. when he learns that the monkey has taken the magical Egyptain tablet, which brings everything and everyone to life. So now, a new character, the evil pharaoh (Hank Azaria), who’s from the Smithsonian, hopes to use the tablet to conquer the Smithsonian and the world, and it’s up to Larry and his friends to save the day.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: December 1, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking points:
Hanks Azaria steals the show. He is an evil pharaoh with a lisp and a slightly feminine stream of consciousness way of talking. He’s hilarious. He choose Archie Bunker’s chair as his throne and was dismayed to discover that Dorothy’s ruby red slippers weren’t made with red rubies.
Amy Adams is terrific as Amelia Earhart. There are other fun and interesting new characters in this movie; Al Capone, bobble head mini Einsteins, and Abraham Lincoln.
A new idea of the sequel is that the artwork also comes to life, and they even entered into the artwork, which was fun and creative.
Amelia Earhart(Amy Adams) stresses the importance of having fun in what you do in life, she says “If you’re not excited by what you do, why do it.” This is a constant message throughout the movie.
In the end Larry say’s “ The key to happiness is doing what you love with people you love.”
Teddy Roosevelt says “Sometimes the greatest change brings about even greater opportunity.”
I read that the first film had a positive impact on museums, it boosted attendance at the New York Museum by 20%. This may encourage kids to visit a museum this summer.
Ben Stiller, who plays Larry, said “this movie makes the air space museum seem like the coolest place in the world.”
Sexual Content: Mild
- Jedediah say proudly ‘this cowboy got to second base.” This may spark a few questions, it did in my house.
- Characters kiss.
Violent Content: Mild
- There is some slaptick violence. Characters use swords and have silly battles.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- D-word is said twice. Also, “stupid,” and “sucks” are used.
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Overall this is a fun entertaining movie, one for the whole family!
Nanny McPhee Returns Review
This is the story about Isabel Green, (Maggie Gyllenhaal) a mother trying to run the family farm while her husband is away at war. Isabel has three mischievous kids of her own, but when her wealthy niece and nephew from London join the family on the farm, that’s when the trouble and chaos begins. Luckily for Mrs. Green, Nanny McPhee(Emma Thompson) appears at their door, ready to take over. Now Mrs. Green can actually have time to herself, and enjoy a cup of tea, while Nanny McPhee teaches the children five valuable lessons.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: December 10, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Any Age
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Nanny McPhee teaches the children to respect others, to have good manners, and to keep things cleaned and picked up. Initially the kids don’t like her at all; they are rude, disrespectful children, but they gradually learn to appreciate the rules and boundaries that are enforced by Nanny McPhee. They become much happier and well adjusted children.
This is a great movie for the whole family, with some valuable lessons for children. Nanny’s five lessons are:
1) Stop fighting, 2) Share nicely, 3) Help each other, 4) Be brave, and 5) Have faith. She doesn’t leave the Green’s farm until the lesson’s are all completed.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content:
- The only violent or disturbing scenes would be when we first meet the children. They are a parents worst nightmare. Punching, kicking, and pulling each others hair was their normal behavior. They would also break things and destroy other people’s property, until Nanny McPhee arrived.
The movie is rated PG. There was some potty humor, which made the kids giggle in the theater, but other than that it was a very wholesome fun movie.
While the movie was fun and entertaining, some parts were a little drawn out, and boring, my ten year old son agreed.
I interviewed a family afterwards that had kids ages six to thirteen. They all loved it, and said they would see it again.
Overall this is a wonderful, feel good movie. With Nanny McPhee’s five lessons, it’s hard not to enjoy, and hope that your kids get something out of it. I read a statement in a movie review that said, “Talk, Make these subjects part of the post-movie ice cream experience for your family.” What a great idea! I give it four out of five buckets.
My Sister’s Keeper Review
“My Sister’s Keeper” is about a family with 2 kids. The daughter is diagnosed with leukemia as a young child and the family is desperate to save her life. When they can’t find a compatible bone marrow donor for their daughter, they go to drastic measures, and the parents conceive another daughter, who is genetically engineered to be the perfect match. Later, as a 7 year old, Anna(the younger child) realizes that she was brought into the world for the sole purpose of saving her sister’s life, and she decides to sue her parents to get out of the procedures that had dominated her life. The decisions that the parents made to save their ill child, raises moral and ethical conflicts that could destroy the whole family.
Rating: Two out of five buckets
Release Date: November 17, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking points:
Though the family faced many trials, they still had family meals, laughed and played together.
Parents in the audience will relate to the unconditional love that Kate’s parents portray, while trying to save their daughters life.
Kate’s mom’s(Cameron Diaz) whole life is consumed with trying to save her ill child. She will do anything to save her daughters life, though she neglects her 2 other kids and husband.
It’s not a feel good movie, my daughter and I left feeling depressed.
I interviewed many teenage girls who thought that the movie was okay. That’s exactly how my daughter and I felt. The book was much better!
Sexual Content: Mild
- In the movie Kate implies that she and her boyfriend had sex. Kate said to her mom “we did it.”
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- The film is very disturbing when Kate vomits blood, and when her nose bleed profusely in many scenes. At the end of the movie she’s really sick, her face and body are covered with bruises.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- The f-word is used once ,and about five s-words. The d-word, h-word and
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters drink wine and beer. It’s mentioned that someone was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver.
Overall it’s a very heart-wrenching dramatic movie that will make you laugh and cry.
The movie is suitable for girls, 13 and up, who would be interested in the movie’s mature subject matter.
The Roommate Review
This is the story about Sara (Minka Kelly), a young ambitious college freshman, with hopes to be a major fashion designer. Things start out well for Sara in her first year of college; she’s likes her classes, she’s got a nice, cute boyfriend, and a roommate she likes to hang out with. When Sara gradually comes to realize that her roommate is very possessive and creepy, it’s too late. Now Sara and her friends try to survive the evil threats from Rebecca.
Rating: One out of five buckets
Release Date: May 17, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group:
Sexual Content: Excessive
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language:
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Talking Points:
This is a psychotic, disturbing movie, and a situation that could really happen, which makes it even more disturbing.
I interviewed four 16 year old girls at the end of the movie. They thought it was disturbing, but they liked it. They said it was one of the better horror films.
Leighton Meester(from Gossip Girls) who plays Rebecca, the creepy roommate, does an excellent job. I had nightmares about her! Her portrayal of a creepy, possessive teenage girl is amazing. I was impressed, especially after just seeing her in Country Strong, playing a sweet country singer.
Sexual Content: Excessive
Besides the creepy element of this movie, there are a lot of sexual scenes, that parents may feel uncomfortable with. To name a few:
- Sara and her boyfriend take off their clothes, it’s implied they’ve slept together.
- Rebecca (creepy roommate), poses as Sara, and has phone sex with Sara’s ex-boyfriend. This scene is interwoven with Sara and her boyfriend’s first sexual encounter.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
The disturbing element of the movie is what really bothered me. There are many intense, uncomfortable scenes.
- Rebecca attacks a girl in the shower.
- Rebecca stabs Sara’s ex boyfriend to death.
- The part that disturbed me the most was when Rebecca wanted to trick Sara into thinking she had been raped and beaten. So Rebecca punches herself in the face, and cuts her stomach with a knife.
- Rebecca pierces her own ears with Sara’s earrings.
- She kills their cat by putting him in the dryer.
Before seeing this movie I asked some girls, ages 12 to 14 years old, if they wanted to see this movie. They wanted to see it because of the familiar actors such as Leighten Meester from Gossip Girls and Minka Kelly from 500 Days of Summer. This is not a movie for young teens, for that matter it’s not a movie for anyone. Overall this was a very disturbing movie, one that kids should not see. I couldn’t wait for the torture to end.