The Hangover Part 2 Review
Yuck, and not that funny. In this sequel to The Hangover, we see the same group of guys; Phil, Stu, Doug and Alan, however this time Stu, the straight-laced dentist, is getting married, and all the wedding festivities are in Thailand. The gang’s last wedding events were all too fresh in Stu’s mind, so he refused a bachelor party. However, after being humiliated by his father-in-law to-be at the rehearsal dinner, Stu and the guys, along with Stu’s 16 year old soon-to-be brother-in-law, Teddy, head to the beach for a bonfire, and ONE cold beer. About twelve hours later, we see Stu, Phil and Alan waking up in a disgusting hotel in Bangkok, completely disoriented. They’re shocked when they see Stu, with a tattoo on his face, Alan’s shaved head, and a monkey in the bathroom. Moments later they realize one very important thing….Teddy, (Stu’s soon-to-be brother-in-law), is nowhere to be found. Sound familiar? This sequel to The Hangover may have a different bride and groom, and a different location, however the storyline is the same, though not as humorous, and believe it or not, even more disgusting.
Rating: One out of five buckets
Release Date: December 6, 2011
MPAA Rating: R
Best Age Group: Adults
Sexual Content: Excessive
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Talking Points
I’m not a prude. I liked The Wedding Crashers, Bridesmaids, and even first Hangover movie, but I did not like this movie at all. It was one disaster after another, with crass, gross humor.
This movie is so inappropriate and disgusting for not only teenagers, but adults as well. I read in a review that Zach Galifianakis, the actor who plays Alan, told comingsoon.net, “It is so bad in parts that I told my mom she is not allowed to see it. I forbid, forbade, forbid her from coming.” That says it all if the main actor won’t even let his mom see the movie.
Sexual Content: Excessive
• While retracing their steps from the previous night, hoping to find Teddy, it’s revealed, and later shown, that Stu had sex with a hermaphrodite prostitute.
• Between the various flashbacks shown throughout the movie, and the photos in the closing credits, we see the guys taking drugs, we see various sexual encounters with naked men and women, and we see Stu having sex with his hermaphrodite prostitute.
• There are also many crude sexual comments and crass references throughout the movie.
Violent Content: Mild
• A photo of Teddy cutting off his finger while drunk.
• During a car chase, the guys hit a hanging pig that bursts open, we see blood all over Stu.
Crude and Profane Language: Excessive
• The f-word and every other word is used throughout the whole movie.
I reviewed this movie for teens that want to see these popular R rated movies. They may not see it with their parents at the theater, but they just might want to see it when it comes out on video. I don’t recommend The Hangover Part II for teens or adults. It’s so disgusting I wanted to take a shower after the movie.
Gnomeo and Juliet Review
This is the story about two feuding families, the Montagues (the blue family), and their next door neighbors, the Capulets (the red family). This story is based on Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy, but in this movie the characters are garden gnomes. The two families bicker and battle throughout the whole movie, while Gnomeo, (member of the blue family), and Juliet, (member of the red family), secretly fall in love.
Rating: Three out of five buckets
Release Date: May 24, 2011
MPAA Rating: G
Best Age Group: Any age
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
See a clip of my review, plus the review of Just Go With It!
Talking Points
This is a cute, entertaining movie, with some nice messages. The two families are seeking revenge against each other throughout the movie, however, the film stresses how miserable they are in trying to seek revenge. It takes Gnomeo and Juliet’s love affair to help the families forgive and forget.
Adults will love the music; classics from Elton John, who is the executive producer of the film.
The movie is similar to Toy Story in that the gnomes only come to life when people aren’t watching them.
The movie is a nice way to introduce youngsters to Shakespeare. My son and I talked about the story of Romeo and Juliet on our way home from the movie.
Violent Content: Mild
- The gnomes battle and fight continuously. One gnome seeks revenge by getting a powerful lawn tractor that rips down their fence, and destroys the families lawn and gardens. However, it’s not too scary for little kids.
Profane/Crude Language: Mild
- Slight potty humor. One gnome says, “Let’s go kick some grass!”
I interviewed kids ages 4 to 12 after the movie; they all loved it, and thought it was funny. Parents loved the innocence about the film. However, my eleven year-old son thought it was stupid and predicable.
This G-rated movie is targeted for young kids, and they do a good job of keeping it sweet and innocent. Adults may get a little bored, but with Elton John’s music playing parents will be thoroughly entertained.
Glee: The 3D Concert Experience Review
“Gleeks,” if you missed the Glee concert, don’t worry, you have two weeks to catch it in the theater. Glee 3D Concert Movie is a documentary which is revolved around the 14 members of the television show’s cast, and their 2011 summer concert. We see behind the scenes interviews and special moments with the cast, and some interviews with their enthused fans! So if you missed the concert, or you want to see it again, this is your chance!
Rating: Two out of five buckets
Release Date: December 20, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking Points:
I read that the cast of “Glee” are among the most hardworking actors in the business right now. They worked almost year-round filming and promoting the TV show, and then had a three month concert tour, on which the movie is based. Now the cast heads back to film the third season of their popular TV show, Glee!
Even though the movie is called Glee 3D Concert Movie, I thought it would be a story focused on their lives, rather than a concert with interviews. I respect and admire the groups talent of singing and dancing, however, I’m not a huge fan of the show.
The 3D effects were great, the movie had a concert feel to it.
The message of the movie is to embrace everyone – no matter how tall, short, fat, skinny, or your sexual preference; it doesn’t matter, just be yourself! This could spark a parent/child conversation.
The fans interviewed idolized the characters; in my opinion a little too much. One girl said the show changed her life. A boy explained that he felt comfortable “coming out of the closet,” because of some characters on Glee.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- There are some suggestive dances and lyrics that parents need to know about.
- References of sexual preferences.
Violent Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- One character talked about her “boobs.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
The “Gleeks” of the world will be entertained by the music and dancing, however if your kids are not a fan of the show, or if you don’t want your kids watching a concert, with some sexual lyrics and dances, I don’t recommend this film. As my eleven year old son said, (I dragged him to the show), “You could watch most of the concert on youtube.” Something to ponder!
GI Joe Rise of the Cobra Review
The movie is based on the long time action figure and the 1980’s cartoon, about a special operation unit known as GI JOE. The GI JOE team uses the newest futuristic spy and military equipment to fight the highly advanced crime organization known as Cobra. The GI JOE team must prevent the evil Cobra organization from destroying the world.
Rating: Three out of five buckets
Release Date: November 3, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
I brought four boys ages 9 to 14. They all thought it was an entertaining movie, they liked it.
Adults may think it’s corny and over the top with some of the futuristic scenes.
There’s an odd inconsistency in that it’s unrealistic in the same way that little boys who play with GI Joe action figures are unrealistic but it’s not geared for little boys -It’s a PG 13 movie with a lot of graphic violence.
When the bad guys blow a hole through the polar ice cap, hoping the ice will destroy the GI Joe submarines below, the ice sinks.(That bothered my husband).
I read some fun facts on-line about the movie:
- G.I. JOE is an acronym for Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity.
- The term G.I.JOE was a generic term given to the general infantry soldiers of the U.S. Army during WW II.
- Dennis Quaid took the role of General Hawk because his son is a G.I. JOE fan.
- The film-makers enjoyed working with Quaid so much that the screenwriter created 10 to 15 more scenes for him.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Women wear low cut outfits, revealing cleavage.
Violent Content: Excessive
- Younger kids (7 and under) may get scared by the violence and disturbing scenes.
- In a flashback, we see two of the characters as children beating each other up to a pulp, using martial arts.
- In other scenes the characters are shot, sliced, stabbed, poked in the face with needles.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- Swearing throughout the film; the a-word, d-word, s-word and b-word are used.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- One character takes a pain medication.
Overall it’s an action packed, mindless, entertaining movie with well-known characters. Boys that like action packed movies may enjoy it. For boys ages 8 and up, with parental guidance. My kids said to give it 3 1/2 buckets, my husband said to give it 2 buckets, so I decided to give it 3 buckets.
Frankenweenie Review
“A dog is man’s best friend,” that was the case for a young boy named Victor. The day his dog, Sparky, ran into traffic and died, was the day that changed Victor’s life. Feeling sad and depressed, Victor came up with the idea to bring his best friend back to life by an experiment he learned in science. Victor succeeded in resurrecting his dog, however he didn’t succeed in keeping it a secret. When Victor’s friends and family discovered that Sparky was alive, chaos began as many other kids tried the same experiment on several deceased animals. Frankenweenie is based on Tim Burton’s original 30 minute short film from 1984, however I read the film was never released because it was too scary for kids.
Rating: 2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: January 8, 2013
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive and Disturbing
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? No
Talking Points:
This is a dark creepy movie, though at times very heartwarming. When Victor’s dog dies, his mom tells him, “When you lose someone you love, you never really lose them. They just move into a very special place in you heart.” A great parent/child discussion.
The idea of bringing a pet back to life is a confusing concept for kids.
This film was in black and white, which made it even more disturbing.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
- It’s disturbing when Victor resurrects Sparky. The dog is shocked, it reminded me of charging a car battery, though it was a cute dog with bolts screwed in his head.
- Kids found or dug up animals and brought them back to life. These animals became scary, destructive creatures.
- A turtle becomes a monster and crushes cars and smashes buildings.
- A rat becomes a large beast that claws people.
- A cat, holding a dead bat in his mouth, is transformed into a creepy flying creature that hisses at people.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see animals drinking from a keg of beer.
Will Kids Like It? No
- It wasn’t a suspenseful, scary movie..it was an old time horror film.
It’s Halloween season and your kids may want to see a scary, gory film; however with the subject matter of resurrecting your deceased, beloved pet, might not be the movie for your child. I recommend Hotel Transylvania, especially for younger kids who want to see a good Halloween flick.