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A Dog’s Way Home-Kids’ Movie Review

“Man’s best friend,” is a common phrase referring to the loving relationship between a dog and his human family. As a puppy, Bella (voice of Bryce Dallas Howard) is rescued by a young man named Lucas (Jonah Hauer-King). Lucas and Bella are best friends; they play numerous games together, sleep in the same bed together, and enjoy snacks together. However, when Bella becomes separated from Lucas she desperately wants to get home, after all she misses her buddy. On Bella’s 400 mile journey home she has many adventures and meets various animals and humans along the way. Though her goal is to reach Lucas…her best friend.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: April 9, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

We see a couple snuggling in bed.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

There are a lot of sad and disturbing scenes in this film. First off we see Bella’s mother captured by an animal control officer. Animals whine and Bella says, “I never saw her again.”
Bella is separated from his owner, Lucas. When animal control takes Bella away from Lucas, Bella is so scared and confused. Lucas is told that Bella will be euthanized if animal control picks him up again.
Bella runs away from a family that’s temporarily taking care of him. He desperately wants to go home to Lucas and his family. It’s sad to see Bella in the woods by herself.
We see Bella with a homeless veteran who always has Bella on a leash. {Spoiler Alert} It’s very upsetting when the veteran dies and Bella is chained to him.
Bella is hit by a car and injures her leg.
Bella is attacked by a group of wolves.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear “hell,” and “freakin.” There is also some name calling such as “moron,” “shaggy butt,” “crazy” and “stupid.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see adult characters drinking beer and wine.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall, this is a wonderful and heartfelt movie. Having said that, parents need to be aware of the emotional element of the film. Depending on the child this is appropriate for kids ages 10 and up.

The Upside-Kids’ Movie Review

Life is tough for Dell Scott (Kevin Hart). He is on parole, he’s struggling to find a job, and he wants to reconnect with his tween son and ex-girlfriend. Life is also tough for Phillip Lacasse (Bryan Cranston). Phillip is a wealthy quadriplegic whose wife has recently passed away. When Phillip hires Dell to be his caretaker in his New York penthouse a unique and unlikely friendship develops. Both men help each other to improve their lives and live life to the fullest. The Upside is a heartwarming dramedy, based on a true story.

Rating: 3. 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: January 11, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
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: Moderate

There are several comments revolving around Dell learning how to insert a catheter. There are anatomical descriptions and a lot of jokes in this scene. Dell says, “Worst porno ever.”
Dell brings two women up to his room, one gives Dell a massage and the other straddles Phillip while suggestively massaging his ears.
We see flashbacks of Phillip and his wife in a sexual encounter. The scene is blurry, though we see some explicit movements.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

Phillip and Dell get angry and Dell throws some valuable items and smashes them on the floor.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “s–t,” “bulls–t,” “damn,” “hell,” “goddamn,” and “ass.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

Character’s smoke marijuana and it’s demonstrated as a way to feel better and have fun.
Adult characters drink wine and smoke cigarettes.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is a heartwarming and entertaining film. Parents need to know that this is a dramedy and has a mature subject matter. Depending on the child I recommended this for kids ages 14 and up.

Escape Room-Kids Movie Review

“Where’s the key? What’s the four digit code?” These are some typical questions when people go to Escape Rooms. Escape Rooms are meant to be fun, team building, puzzle solving activities. The goal is to escape from a locked room through various questions while trying to crack the code. However, in the film Escape Room, it’s not a fun experience at all. In fact, the six strangers that enter the rooms all encounter dangerous situations from an extremely hot room to an upside-down pool hall. Some of the people in the group include an extremely intelligent college student, an Iraq vet, a grocery store employee who likes to party, and a stockbroker. They’re all very different people, but they must all unite and work together to survive and escape from the outrageously dangerous Escape Rooms.

Rating: 3. 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: April 23, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

There are a couple of sexual innuendos.

Violent/Disturbing Content:

Characters are trapped in various rooms, and in peril throughout the film.
Characters are burned, tortured, poisoned, and crippled.
We see a character trapped under the ice in a lake.
Character’s are shot to death.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “f–k,” “ass,” “s–t,” “bitch,” “hell,” and “goddamn,”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Teenage characters are shown drinking while driving.
We see characters smoking.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

I interviewed two teenage boys who loved it.

Overall this is a scary, though entertaining film. Depending on the child, Escape Room is appropriate for kids ages 13 and up.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse-Kids Movie Review

Could there possibly be more than one Spider-man? Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse follows the life of Miles Morales. Miles is an adorable 14- year-old boy whose parents enroll him in a prestigious New York City boarding school. Miles would much rather hang out with his friends in Brooklyn, but listens to his parents. Miles’ life dramatically changes the day he gets bitten by a radioactive spider. He notices some weird changes in his behavior, and claims it’s puberty until he discovers that he’s transformed into Spider-Man; and there are four more Spider-people from parallel universes. Initially, they’re confused as to all the Spider-people, but eventually the gang gets together and tries to save the world from the evil villain who is responsible for pulling different versions of Spider-man from other universes, and bringing them into our world.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 19, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

Miles’ uncle coaches his son on flirting with girls and says his nephew has to have “game.”
Miles flirts with a girl he has a crush on, and tries to use the moves he learns from his uncle.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

There is a lot of action and violence. Spider-man is constantly fighting with bad guys.
There are chase scenes, explosions and buildings destroyed.
Super-man uses his superpowers; laser weapons are used to battle as well as guns.
{Spoiler Alert } Two important characters die while fighting.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear, “stupid,” dumb,” “hell,” and “what the…” (not finished).

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids Like It? Yes

I interviewed two 9 year old boys who thought the movie was so funny. They loved it and want to see it again.

Overall this is a fun and entertaining film for the whole family. Parents need to be aware of the violent content.

Creed 2-Kids’ Movie Review

Another boxing movie…more drama, more sweat, and more tears, but that’s okay. Creed II is all about working hard with a fierce desire to win!! Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) is a newly crowned heavy weight champion. He’s engaged to his beautiful and supportive girlfriend, and they’re expecting a baby. Adonis’ life gets complicated when Viktor Drago challenges him to fight. Viktor’s father was the man who killed Adonis’ father while fighting in the ring. Now Adonis, and mentor Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), train extremely hard with hopes to defeat their hostile rival. Creed II is the sequel to the 2015 movie- Creed, and is the eighth boxing drama in the Rocky series.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 5, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Moderate

We see a couple passionately kissing on a hotel bed.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

There is violence relating to boxing. There are some very intense fighting scenes. We see character’s bruised and wounded.
Adonis trains at a desert camp. We seem him training with a big guy who continually punches him in the gut. In another scene Adonis collapses from exhaustion.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “sh-t,” “b–ch,” “d–n, and “h—,” throughout the film.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Character’s are shown drinking at a dinner party.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is an entertaining sports drama. Rocky and Creed fans will most likely enjoy the film. Appropriate for kids ages 13 and up.