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Hamiliton-Kids’ Movie Review

Hamilton on Disney+ is the filmed version of the original Broadway production. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote and stars as Hamilton in this 2016 version. Based on the novel, Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow. This is the story about Hamilton’s life from an orphan immigrant to his role of Treasury Secretary and Founding Father. We see events in Hamilton’s life set to hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway music. This is an educational and entertaining film which will spark some great family discussions.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: July 3, 2020
Rating: PG-13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

As I mentioned the film is educational. We learn the formative years of the United States, the Constitution, and the Federalist Papers.

Sexual Content: Moderate

We see couples kiss.
The musical tells us that Hamilton was quite the ladies’ man.
Hamilton flirts with his sister-in-law and has an affair with another woman- with a very sexual dance number.
Some of the song lyrics are sexual.
It’s noted that Aaron Burr has an affair as well.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

Soldiers dance with weapons.
We hear gun and cannon blasts in the background, we see no blood.
Hamilton and his son are both killed in duels.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear the f-word once. Two uses of the word have been cut from the original version.
We also hear “s—t,” “damn,” “bastard,” “whore,” “hell,” “ass,” “pr—k.” “Jesus Christ,” and “God,” used as an exclamation.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

Hamilton and the Founding Fathers like their cocktails. Characters drink beer, wine and shots.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is an educational and entertaining family movie! Depending on the child this is appropriate for kids ages 11 and up.

Eurovision-Kids’ Movie Review

Lars Erickssong’s (Will Ferrell) life long goal has been to participate in Europe’s most important annual singing competition….Eurovision. Lars, and his childhood best friend, Sigrit Erickssdottir (Rachel McAdams) live in a small town in Iceland. They love music, they even have a their own band, named Fire Saga. The couple have worked for decades on their music and they feel that 2020 is their year.They hope to fulfill their lifelong dream and represent their country and win the Eurovision song contest!

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: June 26, 2020
Rating: PG-13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content:

There are sexual jokes and innuendos.
Jokes about male body parts including size, stuffing a costume to appear larger.

Violent/Disturbing Content:

There’s a lot of slapstick violence with falls, a knifing and a boat explosion.
We see a scary image of a bloody ghost.

Crude or Profane Language:

We hear “s–t,” “goddamn,” “penis.” We hear the f-word once.

Drug and Alcohol Content:

Characters are shown drinking beer, wine and champagne.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is a fun and entertaining movie with all-star cast.

Feel the Beat-Kids Movie Review

April (Sofia Carson) is a 20-something aspiring dance professional who faces eviction from her New York City apartment. Much to her dismay, she ends up back home in New Hope, Wisconsin. April receives a warm welcoming from her father, and her dance teacher, Barb. Eventually, Barb entices April to teach a dance class. Sadly, April is a very selfish, dismissive instructor who has her own agenda while trying to prepare her group of misfit students for a competition. After much drama, April’s heart softens as she tries to connect with her adorable, young, students. Feel the Beat is an upbeat, entertaining film, which will appeal to young dance students!

Rating: 4 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: June 19, 2020
Rating: TV-G
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

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Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

We see a man and woman kiss.
The young girls have some suggestive dance moves during their routines.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

An elderly woman falls off a stage. We eventually learn she broke her leg and wrist.
Two woman fight over a cab in the rain.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear “ass,” “butt,” “crap,” and “suck, and “weiner.” “S–t” appears in a song lyric. A character says, “grow a pair.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall, this is an entertaining film which will especially appeal to young dancers.

The King of Staten Island-Kids’ Movie Review

The King of Staten Island is a dramedy that’s loosely based on the actor/comedian, writer and producer… Pete Davidson. Scott Ready (Pete Davidson), is a 24- year-old man whose father died when he was a child. The loss of his father had a traumatic impact on his mental health. Scott basically smoked pot with his friends and practiced his tattoo art while living with his mother, Margie (Marisa Tomei). Scott’s life changes when he meets Ray (Bill Burr), a firefighter who his mom starts dating. Initially, Scott is not impressed with Ray, however when he gets kicked out of the house he ends up staying at Ray’s firehouse, and that’s when Scott learns some life changing lessons.

Rating: 3. 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: June 12, 2020
Rating: R
Best Age Group: 16+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids Like It? Yes

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Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Moderate

Graphic sex scenes and passionate kissing.
Sexual references and sex talk.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

We see a guy driving a car with his eyes closed, he almost crashes but doesn’t.
In an attempted robbery scene there are gun shots and punching.
A building is on fire.
The mature subject matter of death of a parent.

Crude or Profane Language: Excessive

We hear the f-word throughout the film. Also, “s–t” “bulls–t,” “p—y,” “t-ts,” “c–ksucker,” “c–k,” “a–hole,” “ass,” goddamn,” “damn,” penis,” “bitch,” “c–k,” “a–hole.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

Pot and cigarette smoking.
Characters are shown drinking shots of alcohol, beer.
References to “crack” and “doing coke.”

Will Kids Like It? Yes

This is a fun and entertaining film. Having said that, this is an R rated movie so parents need to aware of the various contents shown in my review.

Princess Bride-Kids’ Movie Review

We have one true love, and Buttercup’s (Robin Wright) one true love is Westley. Buttercup is a beautiful young woman who is madly in love with the handsome farmhand, Westley. However, when Buttercup hears that Westley was killed she agrees to marry the cruel Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon). Buttercup goes through many difficult times, while only thinking of her one true love. The Princess Bride is an enactment of a book read to a 10- year old boy from Chicago.

Rating: 4. 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: September 25, 1987
Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: None

A few kisses.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

There are several sword fights, a torture machine, death by poisoning, quicksand, fire pits.
A character makes a reference to killing herself.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “son of a bitch.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

A character has a drinking problem, he’s shown drunk.
We see characters drinking wine.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall, this is a fun and entertaining film for the whole family.