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To All The Boys I’ve Loved: P.S.I Still Love You-Kids Movie Review

“It was perfect!” That’s what Lara Jean (Lana Condor) says after her first official date with Peter (Noah Centineo). The high school teens spend a lot of time together while enjoying each others company. However, things get complicated when another boy responds to one of Lara Jean’s previous love letters. His name is John Ambrose, a charming boy from middle school who Lara Jean hasn’t seen in years, though he’s now back in her life as they volunteer together. Lara Jean is really confused as she tries to figure out how to handle being a good girlfriend with Peter, while intrigued by her middle school crush. To All The Boys I’ve Loved: P.S. I Still Love You is the sequel to 2018’s popular Netflix teen romantic comedy To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

Rating: 5 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: February 12, 2020
MPAA Rating: TV-14
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

This could spark some great parent/child conversations regarding teenage issues with relationships.

Sexual Content: Mild

We see kissing.
There is a conversation about whether or not to have a sexual encounter.
Peter was in a relationship before Lara Jean. He’s had some experience sexually which bothers Lara Jean.

Violent/Disturbing Content: None

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear “s–t,” “b-tch,” and “hell.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see an adult drinking beer and Bloody Mary.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is a fun and entertaining romantic comedy!

Taylor Swift: Miss Americana-Kids’ Movie Review

Who is Taylor Swift? Label executives would say to her, “A nice girl doesn’t force her opinions on people, a nice girl smiles and waves and says thank you.” Taylor Swift: Miss Americana is a documentary following Taylor Swift’s life-starting out as a young aspiring country singer to the mega superstar that she is today. The film highlights Taylor’s ups and downs in life, her hard work and dedication, her desire to please, and ultimately her desire to speak her mind. This is not a concert film but an in-depth look into who Taylor Swift is and her previously well guarded opinions.

Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: January 31, 2020
MPAA Rating: MA
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

The film highlights some important messages for pre-teens and teens:

Taylor learns that getting approval of others does not bring happiness.
Taylor discusses her struggles with an eating disorders. There are messages regarding self-worth, body image, and coping with adversity.
She makes her political beliefs clear and is truly passionate on her views.
She is an advocate for the LGBTQ community and the rights of all human beings.

Sexual Content: Mild

The documentary focuses on Taylor’s battle in court against a man who groped her.
Taylor discusses abuse against women and sexual discrimination.
We see provocative dancing with revealing outfits.
The Dixie Chicks are shown naked on the cover of a magazine, though their private parts are covered.
Taylor calls a Republican Senator a “homophobic racist.”

Violent/Disturbing Content: None

Crude or Profane Language: Excessive

We hear “f–k,” “s–t,” numerous times throughout the film. We also hear “damn,” bitch,” and “ass.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see people drinking beer, wine and champagne.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is an interesting documentary for pre-teens and teens. Parents need to be aware of the excessive profane language and mature subject matter relating to controversial issues.

Dolittle-Kids movie review

Wouldn’t it be great to talk to your house pets? I wonder what my dog Joey would have to say… of course it’s something only Dr. Dolittle would know. Dr. John Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.), is a famous doctor and veterinarian for England’s Queen Victoria. He secludes himself and becomes a hermit as he’s sad and depressed after losing his wife seven years earlier. However, when he gets word that Queen Victoria is sick, Dolittle, and his group of talking animals, embark on a fascinating journey to find a cure for the Queen. Dolittle is based on the children’s 1922 classic novel, The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle.

Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: January 17, 2020
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Maybe

Talking Points:

The film highlights the importance of helping others. Dr. Dolittle says, “It’s only by helping others that we can truly help ourselves.” This could spark a good parent/child conversation.

Sexual Content: None

Violent/Disturbing Content:

A human is attacked by a tiger and bats.
Soldiers point guns at a boy.
A character holds a knife to his enemy’s face.
A cannonball is fired at a boat filled with animals; we see the animals struggling to survive.
A teen jumps from a high bridge onto a passing ship.
There’s the mature subject matter of death as the main character’s grieves the wife’s death.
A scary character threatens humans.

Crude or Profane Language:

We hear “damn” and name calling such as “shut up.”
There is potty humor focused on gas and butt jokes.

Drug and Alcohol Content:

Dolittle performs surgery on a wounded squirrel and uses a sleeping gas to knock out him out.

Will Kids Like It? Maybe

I got mixed reviews from kids in the theaters. An 8 year old boy thought it was boring, though his 5 year old sister liked it.

Overall this is a family friendly movie, though parents need to be aware of the moderate violent content. Depending on the child, Dolittle is appropriate for kids ages 8 and up.

Underwater-Kids’ Movie Review

Norah hears a thumping sound and notices water coming from the ceiling. Norah (Kristen Stewart) is a twenty-something mechanical engineer on a deep sea research project. However things go awry when something damages their lab beyond repair. In order to survive, Norah and her research team must put on their diving suits and walk across the ocean floor to reach another station. During this endeavor they come across some interesting and dangerous creatures. Underwater is a sci/fi thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seats.

Rating: 3 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: January 9, 2020
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Between all the action and adventure there are some comedic parts as well. One of the crew members says, “What’s a fish say when he runs into a wall . . . Dam.”

Sexual Content: Mild

We see male and female characters in their underwear.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

Sci-fi violence. There’s battle with deep sea scary monsters. We see them eating humans.
Several characters die and the surviving humans have bloody wounds and broken bones.
Frightening explosions in the boat.
Humans implode inside their deep sea suits.

Crude or Profane Language: Excessive

We hear “f–k,” “ass,” “damn,” “g-ddamned,” “hell,” “s–t” numerous times throughout the film.

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is a sci/fi thriller. Parents need to be aware of the violent content and profane language.

Little Women-Kids’ Movie Review

“How little are they?” A comment from Joey on the TV show Friends. Little Women is an adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel (a book that Joey read) Little Women. It follows the lives of the four March sisters (Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy), set in Civil War era Massachusetts. We see their day to day struggles, a love interest with the new neighbor Laurie, and their lives from childhood to womanhood in the 1860’s.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 25, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

The film will spark some great parent/child conversations. The March sisters have different goals and aspirations. For example, Jo is a modern woman. She pursues her writing career, which is difficult for a woman in the 1860’s. Interestingly, she resists the idea from her publisher that if she wants her book published the heroine must die or be married by the end of the novel. On the other hand, Jo’s sister Meg wants a more traditional life – her great ambition is to get married and have a family.

Sexual Content: Mild

Characters kiss.

Disturbing Content: Moderate

One of the girls becomes very sick with scarlet fever.
A character falls through ice while skating.
One of the girls burns her sister’s important papers.
The girls’ father comes home injured from the war.
There is the mature subject matter of death of a loved one.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

Name calling such as; “idiot,” “savage,” “foolish,” and “selfish.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Characters are shown drinking champagne at a party.
We see a few drunk characters as well.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Overall this is a wonderful and thought proving film. Depending on the child, appropriate for kids ages 10 and up.