I Don’t Know How She Does It Review
I Don’t Know How She Does It is a film centered around the life Kate Reddy (Sarah Jessica Parker). Kate is a very successful finance executive, happily married to Richard, (Greg Kinnear) and she has two wonderful children, (ages two and five). Sounds like she has it all together, right? Well, not really. In the film we see many of Kate’s successes and failures, however she eventually comes to realize that she can’t do it all, and that somethings got to give. This film, based on a novel, is a wonderful story with some good moral lessons about the importance of family; and knowing what’s truly important in life.
Rating: Four out of five buckets.
Release Date: January 3, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
I really enjoyed this film and the messages portrayed throughout the story. Kate was an intelligent successful woman, though things at home were being neglected; after all she is only human. Though she loved her job, she loved her family more. In one scene Kate told her husband, “Me without that job isn’t me. But me without you and the kids…is nothing!”
Kids may not be able to relate to this film, however mom’s will. When Kate missed her son’s first haircut, you could feel her pain. Whether it’s a first haircut, first step, or first words, we want to be apart of it!
This movie won’t be up for an Oscar, or win any awards, though it does have an all-star cast, to name a few; Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, and Kelsey Grammer.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- We see Kate jump out of bed, only wearing a slip.
- There are many sexual references regarding affairs, oral sex and orgasms.
- Kate’s assistant gets pregnant and she’s not married. Kate tells here assistant, “parenting is most rewarding enriching experience one could ever have.”
Violent Content: Mild
- Kate’s son falls down the stairs, ends up going to the hospital.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- The s-word is used several times, also the h-word, a -word and d-word are used.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters drink wine and beer, one character orders a martini at dinner.
The subject matter may not interest many kids, though I think teenage girls, especially those who like Sarah Jessica Parker, will enjoy the film. As a mom of three, I absolutely loved it, I laughed and cried, it was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon at the movies! I recommend this film for teenage girls, and moms!!!
Ice Age: Continental Drift Review
Can a prehistoric squirrel really cause an earth-shattering event? That’s what happens in this fourth segment of the Ice Age series. When Scrat, (the squirrel) chases his beloved acorn, he inadvertently causes the continents to drift apart. So now Manny, Diego, Sid, and Sid’s Granny embark on a new adventure as they travel on their iceberg ship; facing many challenges while exploring a new world. Ice Age: Continental Drift is an entertaining, fun movie for kids of all ages.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 buckets out of 5.
Release Date: December 11 2012
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
This movie not only exciting and fun, it highlights some great family values and lessons throughout the film. There are some relationship issues amongst the characters, for example; Manny and his teenage daughter (Peaches) have some father/daughter conflicts, however Peaches comes to realize how much she loves and needs her father. Sid and his Granny have an adorable relationship, he takes care of her and keeps her safe.
Sid is a positive, upbeat character. He says, “Bad news is just good new in disguise.”
Peaches, the teenager, is influenced by peers to gossip and turn away from a friend. Peaches regrets her decision and learns the true value of friendship. She eventually comes to her friend’s aid when he’s trapped on a high ledge; Peaches says, “You don’t leave a friend behind.”
Kids in the theater were laughing at the humorous parts of the film. They were thoroughly entertained!
Sexual Content: Mild
- Peaches flirts with another teenage Mammoth, she comments on how “hot” he is.
- Two character’s kiss.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Captain Gutt, the villain in the film, may scare young kids. He threatens to steal all of Manny and his friends belongings.
- Capt. Gutt and Manny have several battles. Gutt uses a sword-like weapon, and his sharp claws when fighting.
- Two character’s slash at each other with their claws.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “Holy crab,” is said once.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this is an innocent entertaining movie for youngsters. It highlights the value of family, friends and teamwork! It touches on parent/teenage conflicts, and the importance of communication!!! Depending on the child I recommend this film for kids ages 5 and up. Parents need to be aware that the villain in the film may scare younger kids.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Review
The main characters, Manny, Sid, Diego and Ellie are all back in this third film of Ice-Age series. Manny and Ellie are expecting their first baby, so now Sid begins to wish for a family of his own. When Sid stumbles upon 3 dinosaur eggs, he takes it upon himself to become their mom, which then leads him to a strange underground world. Now Sid’s friends, led by a 1 eyed weasel named Buck, must rescue him from the constant danger of dinosaurs.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: October 27, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 4+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Kids will love the humor. While Scrat was on a desperate hunt for an acorn, he gets distracted by a female squirrel, which leads to a romantic love affair. Kids in the theater thought this part was hilarious.
The 3D affects are terrific, which added a lot of depth and detail to the film.
Parents can relate to Manny and Ellie’s excitement and nervousness of having their first baby. Manny is very anxious because he wants things to be perfect when the baby arrives. In their way, they’re baby proofing the house.
The theater was packed!! I interviewed kids ages 5 to 9, who all loved it. Some comments I overheard kids saying were, “That was awesome, I loved that song, that was the best movie ever!” I gave it 4 buckets.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Mild potty humor. When Ellie’s newborn daughter is born Sid says, “it’s a boy,” then Diego says, “that’s his tail.”
Violent Content: Mild
- Kids may get scared when several large dinosaurs chase Manny and his friends. At one point Sid is picked up and tossed around bumping into trees and rocks.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Words such as “idiot” and “cheeare used.
Overall, it’s a cute, entertaining movie for kids ages 4 to 9. The movie stresses the significance of family, and the importance of helping family and friends out in time of need.
How to Train Your Dragon Review
This is a heartwarming, animated story about a Viking teenage boy named Hiccup. He is a softhearted, sweet boy, who doesn’t fit in with his tribes tradition of killing dragons. When Hiccup encounters a dragon, instead of killing the dragon, which he was supposed to do, he develops a loving relationship with him. While bonding with the dragon, he names him Toothless, and does everything he can to try and stop his father, and their tribe, of slaying this dragon and all the other dragons.
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: October 15, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Any age
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking Points:
The relationship between Hiccup (the boy) and Toothless (the dragon), is similar to a boy and his dog. While Hiccup is feeling insecure, lonely and rejected, because he’s not like all the other Vikings. Toothless is always there for him; being a very loyal companion and friend. Toothless even risks his life for Hiccup. I couldn’t wait to get home and cuddle with my dog.
The movie could bring up some good parent-child discussions. Hiccup’s dad, the leader of the tribe, is a very big, strong, tough, leader; he wishes his son was more like him and the other Vikings. Though he loves his son very much, he has a hard time relating to him. Hiccup has a hard time communicating with his dad as well. Initially, Hiccup doesn’t tell his dad about Toothless, he even considers running away. In the end they both realize their mistakes, and learn to appreciate and accept each other for who they are.
He has a charming relationship with Astrid( America Ferrera), his “girl buddy,” who later becomes his girlfriend. Initially, she’s the only one that knows about Hiccup’s relationship with Toothless.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Innocent flirting.
Violent Content: Moderate
- A main concern for many parents with younger children, (4 and under), are the intense battle scenes. At the end of the movie there is a massive battle involving a very large, scary dragon. This may scare younger kids, as it did in the theater.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
When I interviewed people in the audience, some comments were:
A dad said, “The trailer was deceiving, it seemed more comedic, but this was intense, especially for my 4 year old.”
A mom said, “ I liked the message of communicating and not fighting.”
Overall this is a wonderful animated movie. It’s suspenseful, but yet sweet and endearing as well. I recommend this for kids ages 5 and up. I give 5 out of 5 buckets.
House at the End of the Street Review
Change can be very hard especially when it comes to moving. With a new job, new friends, and new neighbors, you never know what to expect. When Sarah (Elisabeth Shue) and her teenage daughter, Elissa (Jennifer Lawrence) move to their dream house in the woods, they’re excited about the change they’re about to embark upon. However, things get a little creepy when they learn that the house down the street was the scene of a double murder. Ryan Jacobson, is the young man who lives in the house; a house he inherited, and the house where his sister killed their parents. Elissa and Ryan gradually become friends, and Elissa learns the horrific truth about Ryan, his sister, and his deceased parents. House at the End of the Street is a horrific thriller staring The Hunger Games’ Jennifer Lawrence.
Rating: 1 and 1/2 buckets out of 5.
Release Date: January 8, 2013
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids Like It? No
Talking Points:
Fans of The Hunger Games may want to see this movie because of Jennifer Lawrence (who played Katniss in The Hunger Games). However parents need to be aware that this is a very creepy, scary and disturbing movie. It’s not an unrealistic horror film with ghosts and goblins. This is a movie where we see a young man kidnapping and hurting young women.
Elissa continuously lies to her mother. She tells her mom she’s home, when she’s not. She even forwards their home phone calls to her cell phone, that way her mom will think she’s home.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- At a high school party a boy pressures Elissa into having sex. He tries to get on top of her, but she pushes him away.
- Ellisa and Ryan make-out.
- We see a young couple in a car contemplating whether they should have sex in the car.
Violent Content: Excessive
- The film starts out with Carrie Anne (the neighbor’s sister) killing her parents.
- (Spoiler alert) We’re to believe that Ryan’s sister died in the woods. However, we learn that Ryan kept her in a locked room in his basement. He thought that would be better than having her institutionalized, as she had brain damage as a young child. He keeps her perpetually sedated. When he feeds her, she violently hits and bites him, it is very disturbing.
- When Ryan’s sister escapes, she runs through the woods with a butcher knife.
- Ryan gets into a brawl with some teenage boys, he breaks a boys ankle.
- Boys trash Ryan’s car and try to set his house on fire.
- We see characters being stabbed and murdered.
Crude of Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear “a–hole,” “b–ch,” “d-ck,” and “d–n,” a number of times.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- We see character’s drinking wine. Sarah (Eiissa’s mom) drinks a whole bottle.
- We see a high school party where it’s implied that kids are drinking alcoholic beverages.
- Ryan injects sedatives into his sister to calm her down.
Will Kids Like It? No
Overall House at the End of the Street is a creepy film, one that I feel is not appropriate for kids. Mature teenagers, that like scary films, may enjoy this movie, but I doubt it and I don’t recommend it. Parents need to be aware of the disturbing violence and teenage social issues.