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Adrift-Kids’ Movie Review

To be young and carefree…that’s how Tami Oldham (Shailene Woodley) and Richard Sharp (Sam Claflin) live their lives. It’s the summer of 1983 and Tami is in her twenties enjoying a fun job at a local pier in sunny Tahiti. Life is good for Tami and it gets even better when she meets Richard; a very handsome and carefree Englishman. The couple quickly fall in love and talk about sailing around the world together. Then they get an amazing job offer. A wealthy couple pays them $10,000 to deliver a 44-foot yacht to California. It’s a 4,000 mile trip and well worth the money for the adventurous couple. Once they begin their trip, Tami and Richard are having an amazing time until they encounter a massive storm which changes their lives forever. Adrift is a romantic drama based on a true story about two avid sailors.

Rating: 2.0 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: September 4, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? No

Talking Points:

The film features two stars that have been in movies targeted toward young adults (Shailene Woodley in the Divergent Series and Big Little Lies, and Sam Claflin, in The Hunger Games and Me Before You).

Sexual Content: Moderate

Tami is shown laying on her back naked. We see her full frontal view, though not shown very clearly.
There’s brief talk of the couple having sex.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

We see Richard’s injured leg which is very gory and eventually turns gangrenous.
Tami has an open head wound. We see her stitching the wound together.
There are very violent and disturbing storm scenes throughout the film.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “f–k,” “s–t,” “hell,” and “damn.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Tami is shown smoking pot and a cigar.
We see character’s drinking beer and wine.

Will Kids Like It? No

The film is slow in parts but the storm scenes are very uncomfortable.

Overall this is an intense drama with several uncomfortable scenes which will most likely frighten kids.

Show Dogs-Kids Movie Review

Max is an NYPD police dog, and he’s the best around! Max can solve all kinds of crimes and he can do it on his own. However, the human police officers like to involved, which really irritates Max. Eventually, Max is forced to work with FBI agent, Frank (Will Arnett). Max and Frank are assigned on a special case to find a stolen baby panda. They discover that the smugglers will be at an elite dog show in Las Vegas, so the detective duo heads to Vegas. Max goes under cover as a contestant in the show to get the scoop and ultimately rescue the panda along with some other animals who have been captured.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: August 21, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 6+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

There is some flirting between dogs and also between humans.
Suggestive references to male dog’s body parts.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

A baby panda is kidnapped.
A bad guy and police officer get into a fist fight.
A bodyguard, a police dog and an FBI agent chase one another.
An innocent dog is captured.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

“Hell,” “damn,” son of a…” (doesn’t finish the sentence), “stupid,” “sh-t,” and “grow some balls.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is a fun and entertaining film for young kids; however, adults may find it boring and not as entertaining. Parents need to be aware of the moderate violence and profane language.

Deadpool 2-Kids’ Movie Review

Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is back as Deadpool; a disfigured man with superpowers. In this sequel Wade/Deadpool suffers from the loss of a loved one. He eventually decides to help a troubled young boy who’s been abused his whole life, and who is also wanted by an evil time-traveling mutant named Cable (Josh Brolin). Wade/Deadpool realizes that he’ll need some help to take on the evil villain so he brings together a group of fellow mutants and they try to save the young boys’ life.

Rating: 2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: August 21, 2018
MPAA Rating: R
Best Age Group: 17+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

There are a lot of pop-culture references that may go over some pre-teens’ and teens’ heads.
The film highlights the importance of helping other and being selfless.

Sexual Content: Moderate

We briefly see Wade’s baby genitals. In this scene his legs/pelvic are regrowing.
Wade and his wife are shown passionately kissing.
There are some sexual references and flirting.
We briefly see a character’s IUD.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

There is a lot a graphic violence throughout the film. Characters are decapitated, tortured and crushed to death. We see limbs cut off and shot off.
People that are crushed, impaled, run over by trucks, and burned by acidic vomit.
There are numerous bloody injuries and explosions.
There is a sad death scene of a main character.
Children are abused.

Crude or Profane Language: Excessive

We hear the f-word throughout the film, we also hear “s–t,” a–hole,” a–,” “d–k,” “c–t, “bitch,” and “c–k.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

We see Wade smoking a cigarette, drinking vodka in a bar, and inhaling cocaine.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

I interviewed some teenage boys who liked the film and thought it was funny.

Overall this is an entertaining R rated superhero film. Due to the R rating, kids under 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence and profane language throughout the film.

Life of the Party-Kids’ Movie Review

She purchases her Archaeology 301 book, her Decatur University sweatshirt, and eagerly moves into the dorms. Deanna (Melissa McCarthy) is not your typical college student, she’s been a dedicated mother and housewife whose husband unexpectedly leaves. Feeling regret that she didn’t finish her bachelor’s degree, Deanna ends up back to the college she previously attended, and it’s the college that her daughter currently attends. Now this middle aged college student hangs out with her daughter, and her daughter’s sorority sisters, and discovers what she missed years ago.

Rating: 3 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: August 7, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Melissa McCarthy is a very popular actress. She appeals to tweens and teens with her comedic roles. Parents are wondering is this a sweet and innocent role for Melissa McCarthy, like she plays in the TV series Gilmore Girls, or is this a role like in Bridesmaids? See details below…

Sexual Content: Moderate

There are many sexual jokes and references throughout the film. For example they talk about Deanna’s “mom boobs.”
Deanna frequently hooks up with a frat boy and spends the night with him.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

There is some silly slapstick violence. Deanna is hit with a paddle during sorority initiation.
Several women destroy a beautiful wedding reception.
Two women get in a fight: they push and hit one another.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “s–t, “a–,” “d-mn,” “b–ch” throughout the film.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

We see many frat parties with college students drinking (some are underage).
Characters’ drink shots of tequila, wine and beer.
Some girls accidentally eat chocolate bark infused with marijuana. We see them very high.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is a funny and entertaining film. Having said that, parents need to be aware of the sexual references, drug and alcohol contents, and moderate profane language throughout the film.

Avengers: Infinity War – Kids’ Movie Review

The Earth’s mightiest superheroes, the Avengers, are back along with their superhero allies including Star-Lord and Gamora from Guardians of the Galaxy. Sadly, the most evil super villain is back as well, and his name is Thanos. Thanos is on a mission to seek all six of the powerful Infinity Stones in the universe. If he succeeds he will have power over everyone. His goal is to remove half of all the people in the world, as he thinks it is overpopulated. Now it’s up to the Avengers and other superheroes to come together and the save the world. Avengers: Infinity War is the first part of a two-part story.

Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: August 14, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Infinity War will spark some interesting parent/child conversations regarding the death of loved ones.
There’s a positive message of teamwork, courage and self-sacrifice.
Fans of Marvel movies will appreciate and understand the story line. Random viewers may get confused as there are many characters with intersecting plots.
Between all the violence there is a lot of humor woven throughout the film which viewers seemed to enjoy.

Sexual Content: Mild

We see flirting and kisses between couples.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

There is a lot of intense and disturbing violence throughout the film…
Characters are tortured, beaten, impaled and crushed to death.
{Spoiler Alert} There are deaths of beloved characters which will likely upset young viewers.
We see a flashback of a scared child hiding with her mother from bad guys.
Randomly throughout the film characters turn to ash and blow away.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “sh-t,” “a–,” “d-mn,” “b–tard,” “d–khole,” “h–l,” and incomplete uses of “f–k.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids Like It? Yes

I interviewed kids ages 9-11 who all loved the movie. They liked Spider-Man and Hulk the best. Some kids said they were sad with the ending, but overall liked it a lot!!!

Overall this is an intense action packed film. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence, mature subject of death, and profane language throughout the film.