New this week!
THE LAST EXORCISM
TAKERS
Complete list of movies
(Movies are in alphabetical order)
A-D E-H I-M N-S T-Z
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKUEL
ANGUS, THONGS AND PERFECT SNOGGING (On DVD)
CATS AND DOGS, THE REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE
CELINE DION: THROUGH THE EYES OF THE WORLD
CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS
DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS
DINNER FOR SCHMUCKSHARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS
JONAS BROTHERS: The 3D CONCERT EXPERIENCE
NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN
PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF
STEP UP 3DSTREET FIGHTER: THE LEGEND OF CHUN-LI
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON RISING
TYLER PERRY'S I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF
DUPLICITY (Running time: 125 minutes)
Rated PG
Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, Tom Wilkinson
I was looking forward to this movie for weeks and am disappointed. First, it is a very long movie for kids and adults, over two hours. Second, it was hard to follow. The timeline kept changing: first it is the present, then it is five years ago, then the present, then three years ago, then the present and so on. I figure if I got confused, it must be even more confusing for a 12 year old.
The plot revolves around two government spies (Roberts and Owen) who decide to do some industrial espionage and make a killing. They become double agents in a ferocious industrial battle for dominance. The Julia Roberts character appears to be working for one company, but is really working for another company. Then the Clive Owen character comes on board and he’s just working for the double-dealing company. See, it’s confusing already.
The movie keeps throwing smoke screens at the audience to keep us from figuring out what is going on. I must say that they were successful. Duplicity is confusing. And would children understand or care about industrial competition and one company besting another? Probably not. In the end, I didn’t care either. And I guessed most of the twist at the end.
There are some sexual scenes and some bad language, but no violence. All in all, Duplicity is a big letdown. As for the kids, Monsters vs. Aliens is a much better, funnier, more clever movie, even for teens…and for adults, too.
12 ROUNDS (Running time: 108 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring John Cena, Steve Harris, Ashley Scott, Aidan Gillen
The premise of this movie – that a master criminal could plot an immensely elaborate scheme just to take revenge on a policeman he considered responsible for killing his girlfriend – was not believable. Still, I got caught up in the fantastic stunts and the excitement of beating the clock for every round this evil man set in motion.
Danny (Cena) is a muscleman turned cop. He has a lovely girlfriend and an adorable pug named Shorty. Danny gets pulled into an FBI operation where he captures Miles, the elusive badman. But the guy breaks out of jail and is bent on revenge…or is he?
Each round is dramatic, fast-paced and exciting. No matter how ridiculous the whole thing seems, you get sucked into the plot and find yourself chewing your nails down to the elbow, while Danny practically kills himself outsmarting Miles. It seems that 12 Rounds may not be the critics delight, if you love a high action movie, this is it. The movie moves so quickly you barely have time to catch your breath.
There is much violence and some blood, also some bad language but no sex. John Cena, former WWE wrestler-turned-actor doesn’t have the charisma or comic timing of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, also from WWE, but he can perform fabulous stunts, run like the wind and has a certain sincerity. If you’re looking for a wild roller coaster ride of a movie to share with your child of 11 and up, then 12 Rounds might just be a perfect fit.
MONSTERS vs. ALIENS (Running time: 90 minutes)
Rated PG
Animated with the voices of Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Seth Rogan
I was privileged to see Monsters vs. Aliens in 3D in an IMAX theater. But even without eye-popping add-ons, it is a terrific movie. The main plot is about how the monsters are saving the world from aliens. The subplot is about Susan, who is irradiated into a giant, and her relationship with her vain, selfish fiancé. The monsters are not really monsters, but look like lovable stuffed animals come to life. They are funny and determined, if not typical heroes.
The one scary thing and the reason for the “PG” rating is the giant robot. He is pretty big and pretty scary, trying to stomp our heroes to death. The head alien is silly-looking and funny, too. There is violence with the monsters and the military shooting the aliens, but there is no blood. The alien army men just crumpled on the floor when shot.
There is humor both for children and adults. I really enjoyed this movie. It is amusing, clever and fast-paced. Monsters vs. Aliens is the perfect distraction for your kids or grandchildren ages seven and up on a rainy spring Saturday afternoon. Tag along; you’ll enjoy it.
KNOWING (Running time: 122 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Nicolas Cage, Rose Byrne, Chandler Canterbury
The premise of this movie is intriguing: a document, written by a child that predicted all the disasters of modern society and did it with numbers. But where does it end and how? That is the driving force behind this grim movie. Half thriller, half sci fi, Knowing opens with a day in the life of an elementary school fifty years ago. After all the infamous paper is dropped in the time capsule, we are whisked to today and a Sunday night at the home of astrophysicist John (Cage) and his son, Caleb. Of course the mother here is dead, but we don’t know how she died and how long ago it happened. We do know that John is not over his wife’s death; sadness and grimness surround John and permeate the movie.
When John begins to unravel the mystery of the paper full of numbers, he doesn’t quite get it all, until he is at the scene of an airplane tragedy. This scene of people on fire, burning to death is very disturbing. John attempts to save passengers, but can’t.
In the meantime, some weird men are appearing to his son and trying to take him away. They are frightening looking. They scare the father and scare and fascinate the boy.
Once he solves the puzzle of the numbers, John knows where the next disaster will take place. He rushes to New York City to try and stop a subway disaster, but he is unsuccessful. Knowing is a depressing movie with the end of the world as the end of the movie. Knowing is very long and slow in places, with adult themes of loss and some science vs. religion overtones. There are too many loose ends. Knowing is too frightening for children under 13. The world ending, people burning to death and scary men taking two children away make this nightmare material.
JONAS BROTHERS: The 3D CONCERT EXPERIENCE (Running time: 76 minutes)
Rated G
Starring Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas
Disney brings forth a “recession special”, a concert in 3D that you can see at the movies for a fraction of the cost of a live concert ticket. The Jonas brothers, ranging in age from 16 to 21, are clean-cut, wildly energetic musical wonders that sing, dance, and jump around in a frenzy of fabulous music.
This film adds 3D to the mix to create a real sense of being at the concert. The music, loud and lively, makes you want to dance in your seat. I was surprised that people were not dancing in the aisles at the theater.
What I loved about this concert is the clean energy of the boys and their music. It’s so delightful to be a witness to a concert that I would have no problem sending children to because there is nothing objectionable going on.
Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience, a “rockumentary”, uses backstage footage to make the boys real people and shows adoring fans by the thousands. At only 76 minutes, it should be a fine movie for children of 8 or older and parents will get a kick out of it, too. The only sour note was the price. In NYC the theater charged $15.00 for it – however, that still is considerably less than the cost of a live concert.
PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND (Running time: 111 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Elle Fanning, Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson, Bill Pullman
While this movie sets out to explore the life of a little girl who feels different and can’t always control her actions, it’s really a darker movie than that. Phoebe (Fanning) gets into trouble repeatedly for spitting on children who are harassing her. Her parents are really cool people, definitely in tune with their two daughters, loving and accepting. But the troubles become more frequent and Phoebe’s behavior gets more and more bizarre.
Phoebe finds refuge on the stage in a production of Alice in Wonderland directed by Ms. Dodger (Clarkson), the drama teacher in her school. Only when she’s acting is Phoebe able to tame her demons.
The parents send her to a psychiatrist, then the mother refuses to believe the doctor. The parents, especially the mother, are tormented by Phoebe’s behavior and their inability to help or understand her.
In the end, it turns out that Phoebe has Tourette’s Syndrome. While there is much to like about this movie, the torment suffered by the family and especially Phoebe as she desperately tries to deal with her disability put this film in the “adults only” category. Also, there are issues between the parents from time to time, especially the mother who is torn between her desire to write and her desire to be a super mother. The stupid and unfeeling principal just adds to the stress of Phoebe in Wonderland.
Phoebe in Wonderland might be distressing or even boring to children under 13. Even older children may not relate to the adult issues of dealing with a “different” child – teaching her how to behave enough to get along in the world without destroying her individuality and creativity.
RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN (Running time: 99 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Chiarán Hinds
Wow! What a great movie for kids! Although Witch Mountain movies are not new, this one is fresh with a revised plot. The story begins with a former felon, Jack (Johnson), who has gone straight and is now a taxi driver in Las Vegas. Jack’s old mob cohorts keep coming back, trying to recruit him forcibly, if necessary. But Jack resists.
One morning, after an encounter with thugs, Jack finds two children in the backseat of his cab. The children hire him to drive them into the desert. During the journey it becomes clear that these children are from another planet and they need Jack’s help. Jack gets sucked into helping the children escape from both government bad guys who want to grab the kids and a “hit man” from outer space who is trying to stop their mission.
The race is fast and exciting. There is humor, especially when some action takes place during a Star Wars convention. Johnson, formerly known as “The Rock”, is surly and funny at the same time. Race to Witch Mountain is the perfect movie for kids as young as six or seven and up. The theater was filled with young kids and not a sound was heard during the movie; they were totally engaged.
There is violence and gunfire, but no one dies or bleeds. There is no bad language or sex. The hit man from outer space is a little scary, but Jack and the kids manage to outsmart him. I enjoyed Race to Witch Mountain immensely and recommend it highly to parents, grandparents and children. I guarantee that you won’t be bored for a second.
STREET FIGHTER: THE LEGEND OF CHUN-LI (Running time: 96 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Kristin Kreuk, Moon Bloodgood, Michael Clarke Duncan, Chris Klein, Neal McDonough
Here we have another Kung Fu fight movie with the same plot: a family member is kidnapped or killed or both, the remaining family member vows vengeance, the avenger gives up a good life to go after the bad guys. The bad guys are more heartless and evil than you can imagine. Ho hum – boring!
In Bangkok, Chun-Li’s (Keuk) father is nabbed by a bad guy when she is about 10 years old. She grows up to be a concert pianist. She shows kindness to a member of “The Web”, a group that fights for the little people. So they recruit her. She comes to Bangkok determined to find her father.
I love it when the bad guys are so evil that they are buying up half of Bangkok, but nobody can find them. How can that be? That is the story of the cop (Klein) who has tracked these guys to Bangkok.
Meanwhile, they are killing people and kidnapping people and nobody knows about them? I almost laughed in the theater.
The rest of the plot was equally predictable. The rap music was the best part of this film. The kung fu stuff was good, but I miss the clever and funny fighting of Jackie Chan, the master of kung fu originality. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li should be fine for kids 11 and up who can stay awake.
FAST & FURIOUS (Running time: 99 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster
No matter what you say about the plot of Fast & Furious the opening scene is one of the most incredible and complicated stunts involving cars and trucks ever. Also the re-pairing of Vin Diesel, one of my favorite action actors, and Paul Walker brought back the magic of this series.
Dom (Diesel) and Letty (Rodriguez) are living in a foreign country, stealing and being outlaws. Dom gets word that the Feds have found him, so he parks a load of cash with Letty and moves on alone to protect her. She ends up with the wrong crowd and is murdered. Now this becomes a revenge movie.
John (Walker), working for the Feds, meets up with Dom accidentally as both are out to get the same drug lord. They work together again, gritting their teeth the whole way. The car chases are fantastic with stunt drivers maneuvering cars in ways I never knew possible.
The movie is truly Fast & Furious, with never a dull second. There is violence, people get shot, but there is little blood. There is one pre-sex scene and a little bad language. Although Mr. Diesel isn’t much with dialogue, he fills the screen with his power. Fast & Furious, the fourth in this series and perhaps the best, should be fine for kids 12 and up. I enjoyed it.
BART GOT A ROOM (Running time: 80 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring William H. Macy, Cheryl Hines, Steven J. Kaplan, Alia Shawkat
Not knowing what to expect with this sleeper, I was pleasantly surprised. Bart Got a Room is a coming of age movie about the trauma of finding just the right date for the senior prom. Danny (Kaplan) is a nerdy Jewish boy who has a girl, Camille, for his best friend. He was going to ask her to the prom, but his male friends are pushing him to take a “hotter” date to the prom. They tell him that it is the biggest night of his life and he needs to have that “hot” prom picture to commemorate it.
In the meantime, Danny is adjusting to the break-up of his parents, two quirky, fabulous characters (Macy and Hines) who are crazy but devoted to their son. Danny tries to figure out who would be “hot”. He screws up the courage to ask out a hot date, but each time the situation turns to disaster.
With Danny’s hormones running wild, fantasizing about one girl after another, in addition to trying to find a prom date, he gets caught in the middle of his parents launching their new social lives. No child wants to know anything about his parent’s sex life, but it seems that Danny can’t avoid it.
Each catastrophe is more hilarious than the one before. Bart Got a Room, a warm, funny movie about an imperfect but loving family, has a sweet ending. There is no violence, one scene of implied masturbation and some bad language. Sex is a pervasive theme, making Bart Got a Room, inappropriate for anyone under 13 or even 16. The film is best for teens facing senior prom dilemmas and parents who can relate.
HANNAH MONTANA, THE MOVIE (running time: 99 minutes)
Rated G
Starring: Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Margo Martindale, Lucas Till
What a great movie for kids of all ages! I just loved this movie. The story of a teen juggling two lives: one as a rock star and one as a regular teenager – is as charming as Miley Cyrus herself. Hannah/Miley is a quiet girl in school who comes alive on the stage, where she is a great singer with tons of fans. Her publicist goes into overdrive, scheduling Hannah for appearances in New York when she is supposed to go to her grandma’s birthday celebration in Tennessee.
Hannah/Miley struggles to live two such different lives. Her dad, played by her real life dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, hijacks her to Tennessee. There she gets in touch with her roots, her old friends and family. Miley realizes that she cannot deny who she really is.
The music is outstanding in Hannah Montana: The Movie. You will be dancing in your seat to hip hop and country. The messages are great, too. The countryside, horses and family feeling make this a warm and loving movie. Margo Martindale is excellent as the no-nonsense grandma who guides the motherless girl in the right direction.
The theater was packed with kids as young as five or six. Since the movie is short, the music is delightful and the comedy is visual, everyone can enjoy it. I am breaking my rule that young kids don’t belong in movie theaters to say that you can take a five-year-old (one who can sit for 99 minutes) to see Hannah Montana: The Movie with no problem. And you will enjoy this one, too. It’s a “don’t miss”!
DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION (Running time: 100 minutes)
Rated (Not yet rated)
Starring: Justin Chatwin, James Masters
I was dreading this movie. It is the live-action version of the animated TV series, Dragonball Z. Those TV programs drove me screaming from my living room. But the live-action version was better.
The movie is about Go-Ku (what a name!) who is trained by an old master who he considers his grandfather. The old master emphasizes restraint and doing the right thing. Go-Ku is strong and quick, but he promised his father that he wouldn’t fight the kids in school. So when the bullies corner him at a party, all he does is dodge and they end up knocking each other out. I like that message: if you just get out of the way, these guys will do themselves in.
The movie has a complicated plot about an ancient demon and collecting all seven Dragonballs to get a special wish granted. The fighting is cool and the special effects are dazzling. The evil guy is scary with a green head and a vicious temperament.
Of course Go-Ku saves the day and gets the girl. At the end, the green-headed guy is not dead, leaving room for a sequel. Dragonball: Evolution was painless. It has good messages, lots of violence, no blood, no sex and no bad language. It should be fine for martial arts aficionados age 10 or 11 who can follow the plot. Don’t leave when the credits start, there is a little more to the story.
17 AGAIN (running time: 102 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring: Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Matthew Perry
17 Again has some of the elements of It’s a Wonderful Life updated with a dash of Freaky Friday and a few twists of its own. When Mike, a 30-something man gets passed over for the big promotion, finds his marriage failing and his teenage children ignore him – he feels like his life is a failure.
So what does Mike do? He looks back to better times – in high school he was a winner: popular, a basketball star with a juicy college scholarship just waiting to assure a promising future until his beloved girlfriend got pregnant. Mike walked away from everything to stand by her. They married, he gave up his college dreams and – eighteen years later, he’s miserable.
Mike wishes he could go back and do it all over again. He’s convinced that he made the wrong decisions. So a “fairy godmother” in the person of an old janitor makes his wish come true and Mike wakes up his 17-year-old self with his 30-something brain. Then the fun begins.
17 Again shows how a man would handle teenage crises, like dating, bullies, food and such. It is funny to see a teen (Efron) act like a man. It’s great to see Mike come to the aid of his kids and even his wife, who is filing for divorce. So what is Mike going to do when faced with the opportunity to take the college scholarship route? You’ll have to see the movie to find out.
I really liked the messages about fatherhood, responsibility and making good choices. I’m not so sure the teenage pregnancy thing was great. But the rest of the movie is very moral and encourages all the right things. Of course there is some music and dancing. Zac Efron fills up the screen with his energy and good looks. Both silly and serious 17 Again, pauses occasionally to slip in the serious moments, painlessly, not dampening the liveliness of this good film.
There are alcohol references, sexual references and some bad language but no violence. 17 Again should be fine for teens and ‘tweens 12 and up and super for parents. What would you do differently if you were 17 again?
STATE OF PLAY (Running time: minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring: Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren
This Washington, D.C. political thriller mixes elements of real cases with fiction very effectively. Cal (Crowe) is a dogged reporter working on one murder when another one crops up. The second murder has political implications involving a congressman who was Cal’s college roommate. Cal is torn between searching for the truth and protecting his friend.
The plot takes twists and turns including questionable practices of a big corporation, congressional hearings, homeless druggie teens, a romantic triangle and a tough Editor (Mirren). The complicated plot, violence and murder and sexual innuendo make State of Play best for teens, 13 and over. The performances are outstanding. This is a great movie to see with your kids. It might spark some lively discussions about outsourcing military tasks, how far should good reporting go and where does loyalty stop?
THE SOLOIST (running time: 109 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Jamie Foxx
The Soloist is a very adult film, based on a true story, about friendship, commitment and doing the right thing even when it isn’t easy or fun. Steve Lopez (Downey, Jr.) is a talented, self-involved journalist who couldn’t make a marriage work or his relationship with his son work because he can’t accept emotional responsibility.
One day, Lopez runs into Nathaniel Anthony Ayers (Foxx), a homeless man who is also a gifted musician. Ayers is probably schizophrenic, and he can’t cope with the real world. But his commitment to and love of music keeps him going. Even with only two strings on his violin, Ayers makes beautiful music on the street.
Everyone responds to this story and Lopez finds himself continuing to write about and hang around Ayers. Along with a huge story comes a blossoming friendship.
Steve write about the plight of the homeless in Los Angeles. His stories get government attention and money for the homeless./ He wins a Pulitzer and writes a book, which is the basis for this movie. Mr. Downey, Jr. and Mr. Foxx make this story fascinating. But it is often sad and at times disturbing, especially some of the homeless people taking drugs and disconnecting.
The Soloist is an excellent, serious movie with some violence, no sex but drug scenes, homeless scenes. It is best for adults and mature teens 15 or 16 and up.
FIGHTING (running time: 105 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring: Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard, Zulay Heneo
I was prepared to totally hate this movie. I don’t, but the fighting scenes are brutal. The story is about the underbelly of illegal fighting and gambling in New York City. Sean McArthur (Tatum) has run away from his home in the South to New York City. He is trying to survive buying cheap goods in Chinatown and selling them in midtown Manhattan. When someone attempts to rob him, he beats them up.
Harvey (Howard) is a hustler who recruits Sean into the world of underground street fighting. After the first fight, the movie shift emphasis from fighting to characters. We get portraits of the low-life people who feed on the fighting. Even though the characters are interesting, this movie – like so many others – ignores the suffering of the fighters. After a brutal fight, Sean is ready to party. How can that be? The message that no one ever gets seriously injured from these fights is false and a terrible message to young teens watching movies like Fighting.
There is a love interest, lying, manipulation and dishonesty. Although the underground may be fascinating, it is also grubby and dangerous. In the end, there are crosses and double-crosses. Our hero pulls a fast one and gets out of town.
While I found that I did care about the characters, the immorality of the life, the message that you can take that route to success and happiness and that fighting is okay – as long as you win – force me to give a “thumbs down” for teen and ‘tween boys. There is so much violence, one scene of implied sex, some bad language and a bad message – so I can’t recommend this movie for children.
GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST (running time: 100 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner
I really hated this movie. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past tried to paint a sympathetic picture of a boy who fell under the mis-guidance of his womanizing uncle early in life because his parents died. This boy becomes a huge womanizer himself. We are supposed to feel sorry for him, as he breaks hearts and sees women only as temporary sexual partners. Rubbish! I didn’t feel one whit sorry for him.
I found him a predatory, cold, superficial disaster looking to happen in the lives of too many gullible, lovely young women. The movie glorifies casual sex – not a great image for teenagers.
By the time the movie tries to redeem our sexual athlete, it’s too late. He is an unsympathetic character, despite the charm of Mr. McConaughey. The last thing teens and ‘tweens need to see is a man who is just interested in sex but can be rehabilitated by the love of a good woman. The messages here are terrible, especially the underlying one that by giving in, the women are complicit in his bad behavior. The movie is tasteless.
There is no violence or bad language but tons of sexual references. The way women are treated in this movie makes it inappropriate for anyone under 21 years of age. Send the kids to see Earth; it’s a much better movie. Shame on all of you in Hollywood for making this movie!
X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE (running time: 107 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber
I liked this X-Men movie more than most. It has more of a plot, taking you back to Wolverine’s childhood. The back-story helps to explain the other movies. Of course there is the usual bad guy, trying to take advantage of the mutants. In the end, Wolverine and his brother come together to take down the bad guy.
There are terrific special effects here. Some plot twists and lots of action. Hugh Jackman is wonderful as Wolverine, a mutant with a conscience. There is lots of violence and occasional bad language. There is no sex, but a few scenes of intimacy. X-Me Origins: of Wolverine should be fine for children 11 and 12 and up who will not be frightened by the violence.
EARTH (running time: 99 minutes)
Rated G
I loved this movie. Earth is the beautiful story of life on our Earth from the North Pole to the South Pole. It is narrated by the great James Earl Jones and the photography is truly awe-inspiring. The struggles for survival of the wildlife in each different climate mixes environmentalism with biology in a real and immediate way. The animals are fascinating. But this is a true nature movie and so we see a wolf hunt down and catch a baby Caribou, a cheetah hunt down and catch a baby gazelle and a pride of lions take down an elephant. While the movie cuts away after the catch is made, this might not be appropriate for sensitive or younger children.
This Disney Documentary, along with the intimate portraits of wild animals is engrossing, educational and entertaining. Earth is a “don’t miss” for families with children six and up who understand the survival of the fittest in the wild.
STAR TREK (Running time: 126 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana
What can I say about this excellent prequel? I loved it!
The movie opens with James T. Kirk’s father sacrificing his life to save his crew, including his wife and just-born son from the wrath of the Romuluns.
Jim Kirk is wild and reckless, even as a young boy. Discovered brawling in a bar over a girl, he is recruited for Starfleet by the Commander of the Star Ship Enterprise. Kirk (Pine) is a brilliant bad-boy who gets into trouble but still manages to outshine all the other cadets.
Things so wrong on the ship, Spock and Jim clash and the adventure takes off at light speed. I loved seeing all the old favorite characters there as young men and women. There are laughs, tears, disgusting things and big monsters. Star Trek recaptures the humor that made the TV show a stand out among adventure programs. There is plenty of violence, some sexual situations but no bad language. Star Trek is a “don’t miss” for parents and kids age 10 or 11 and over who can “get” the complicated plot and sit for two hours.
BATTLE FOR TERRA (running time: 85 minutes)
Rated PG
Animated with the voices of: Evan Rachel Wood, Justin Long, Luke Wilson, Dennis Quaid
The story begins with two rebellious teens, Senn (Long) and Mala (Wood) who live on the peaceful planet, Terra. Terrians look like a cross between extra-terrestrials and seahorses.
A huge spaceship manned by Earthlings cruises over the planet, making Terrians curious. The Earthlings wrecked Earth then went to Mars. The two planets had a war and both were destroyed. The remaining Earthlings created a home on a space station that is running out of oxygen. Now the Earthlings have to find a new place to live.
The atmosphere on Terra doesn’t have enough oxygen for Earth people. But if you surround yourself with certain plants that give off oxygen, you can live. However, too much oxygen suffocates the Terrians. Earthlings like Terra and so military decide to take it over.
During reconnaissance, a pilot gets shot down and Mala’s father gets taken. Mala brings the pilot into her home to save him. Each is afraid of the other, but they do come to terms. The pilot has gotten to know the Terrians a little and now is opposed to a forcible takeover. But his leaders press on.
The movie has a strong environmental and anti-war theme. One scene of the Earthlings trying to take over has them suffocating the Terrians by flooding the planet’s atmosphere with oxygen. This scene may be frightening for young children.
Battle for Terra is a good movie with strong, positive messages. But it is a serious movie for children with many unarmed Terrians getting killed. Just before the destruction of all the Terrians, the pilot sacrifices his life to save them. This sad event brings about peaceful co-existence.
I enjoyed Battle for Terra as the anti-war theme was put across in an engaging way. While this is a short movie, it is not suitable for children under age nine. Battle for Terra is a good movie to see with your children as it raises some interesting questions about military aggression and peace.
ANGELS & DEMONS (Running time: 140 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring: Tom Hanks, Ayelet Zurer, Ewan McGregor
Although I haven’t read “The DaVinci Code” I did see the first movie. This one is supposed to be based on the same book. I liked this movie better than the first because it was less talky with more action.
The movie opens in a lab where two scientists are creating explosive anti-matter, hoping to use it to save energy. But it gets stolen.
Cut to The Vatican, where the Pope has died and the process to replace him has begun. Unfortunately, the four men in line to replace him have been kidnapped. The stolen anti-matter has also turned up in the hands of the bad guys. Are the bad guys the Illuminati come back from centuries ago?
Professor Langdon (Hanks) has been called in to help the Vatican find the missing Cardinals. History mixes with mystery when the bad guys begin the race to save the Cardinals and the Vatican in Angels & Demons.
The excitement of the race following each complicated clue to stop a murder, each time – too late, keeps you glued to your seat. I must stop before I reveal too much of the plot. I didn’t foresee the ending.
There is violence and some gore, a cut out eyeball and some gruesome murders. The plot requires keen attention to follow. There is no sex and not much bad language. An exciting, thoughtful movie, Angels & Demons is best for ‘tweens, 12 and up to see with parents, who will enjoy this original story.
THE BROTHERS BLOOM (running time: 109 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz
Speaking of original stories, The Brothers Bloom is right in there. The offbeat story begins with two pathetic, orphan boys – Stephen (Ruffalo) and Bloom (Brody), who can’t seem to stay in a foster home for very long. They are incorrigible, but not mean. Bloom, the sweet, sensitive boy relies completely on Stephen to take care of him. And Stephen does, by becoming a successful con man, along with Bloom.
Having such unhappy lives was the driving force behind Stephen’s conjuring up of different identities for Bloom and himself in each con. Stephen wrote the stories, plotted out the cons and created the characters they became.
Bloom, although quite accomplished as a con man himself, hated what he was doing. He is sad and depressed. He has played so many different parts that he doesn’t really know who he is or what is real. Until he meets Penelope, a lonely, beautiful heiress (Weisz).
They plan the con, but Bloom falls in love. Penelope comes alive during their adventures and joins them in a con while they are conning her. Things get a little confusing and The Brothers Bloom goes a little too long, but it is a sweet story of brotherly love and people with only half a life coming together to make it whole.
While this is billed as a comedy, it is sometimes funny, sad and sensitive with a bittersweet ending involving love and death. There is violence, blood, some bad language and two tender scenes of implied sex. The Brothers Bloom should be fine for kids 12 and up and parents, too.
NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN (Running time: 104 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Robin Williams, Ricky Gervais, Hank Azaria
I really enjoyed the first “Night at the Museum” movie and was expecting this to be the same. Of course the surprise of all the figures coming to life was gone, but this version has a better plot and many new delightful characters moving around.
Ben Stiller plays Larry the night guard again, only now Larry is the successful business owner who is making a fortune. The museum has decided to have more technologically up-to-date exhibits and ships the old exhibits to the Smithsonian, where they will be stored for eternity. Larry doesn’t want that. He runs to D.C. to track down the tablet, which brings all the exhibits to life. Of course by the time he gets in, it’s too late and we have many more exhibits coming to life, including Rodin’s “The Thinker” and Abe Lincoln of the Lincoln Memorial.
There is a big battle between the new exhibits and the old exhibits. The battle becomes a clever chase scene but in the end, the good guys prevail.
You can enjoy the history, humor and cool characters from a giant octopus to Al Capone in this sequel. Hank Azaria as a lisping Kahmunrah, an Egyptian bad guy, has the best lines and steals the show. Kids will love seeing these famous figures running around and speaking like regular people. And the monkeys and stone cupids are cute, too.
There is some scary stuff, like the octopus and Kahmunrah’s soldiers back from the dead with heads like hawks. There is some fighting, but no one gets hurt. There is no sex and no bad language. So Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian should be a great adventure for families with kids 8 or 9 and up who don’t scare easily. Parents this one has humor for all and might raise an interest in history with your kids. It should spark an interest in visiting the Smithsonian – a great place to learn all about these people.
TERMINATOR SALVATION (running time: 114 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Christian Bale, Sam Worthington
I have been following the Terminator series and was looking forward to see John Connor fight the machines. Terminator Salvation is clever and as violent as the others. It should not disappoint the series fans.
The central plot is about John Connor searching for his father, Trevor Reese, as a teenager to send him back in time and save the human race. Along the way we meet a half human, half machine guy who helps. The resistance folks come up with a way to beat the machines, or do they?
I can’t tell too much of the plot without giving things away. There is tons of violence, but since the resistance fighters are killing machines, there is little blood. Some of the machines are scary creatures with red eyes and metal skulls with teeth. There is no sex or bad language. Terminator Salvation is very dark, like its predecessors. The special effects are amazing and the plot is gripping. Terminator Salvation is more of a “guy” movie for boys 11 and up who can follow the complicated storyline.
UP (Running time: 96minutes)
Rated PG
Animated with the voices of: Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Christopher Plummer
How does Pixar do it? They have another winner. Up combines adult issues, feelings and experiences with childhood issues, feelings and experiences, stirs it up with fabulous humor to come up with the perfect movie. I don’t remember when I laughed so hard in a movie as I did when I saw Up.
The story starts when Carl Frederickson was a boy. Quiet and shy, Carl was fascinated with adventure and a famous explorer. He meets a girl, Ellie, about his age who is taken with the same explorer. They start and an adventure club.
Ellie and Carl fall in love and get married. Their dream to follow the explorer to Paradise Falls continues through their years together, though life demands prevent their realizing their dream. Then Ellie dies.
Faced with a life alone and a construction company that is trying to buy his house, Carl feels that he must live the dream he and Ellie shared. So he fills thousands of balloons with helium and floats his house out of the city and to Paradise Falls.
Unbeknownst to Carl, a pudgy boy scout named Russell was on his porch when the house was launched. The old man and young boy set out for adventure. There is a bad guy, shooting and some scary dogs. But humor counteracts the scariness. Just as the dogs get frightening, something funny happens and the audience dissolves into laughter.
The bad guys fall great depths and disappear, so we don’t see anyone die. There is violence but no sex or bad language. Up is my first candidate for best movie of the year. It blends the warmth and heartbreak of loving relationships, bonds between old and young, people and animals and makes you laugh and laugh. What could be better? This is definitely a “don’t miss” movie for dog lovers and kids 8 and up who can understand adult themes and won’t be scared by growling dogs. Remember, it’s Pixar and not geared to young children. See it with your kids and include the grandparents, too.
DANCE FLICK (Running time: 83 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Damon Wayans, Jr., Craig Wayans, Shoshanna Bush
This parody of dance movies by the Wayans Brothers misses more than it hits. The true parody parts are well done. When the Wayans Brothers are being clever instead of just silly, they hit the mark.
The story is about a white girl who can’t dance who meets up with a black boy who wants to dance. They attend high school together. The movie parodies so many movies, I can’t list them all. But “Hairspray” and “Fame” and “Flashdance” are all targeted.
There is racial humor, sexual humor and gay humor. There is some amazing dancing, especially break dancing. Dance Flick is harmless and silly. The parodies don’t mean much if you haven’t seen the movies being parodied. There is little violence, no bad language and no scenes of sex, although there are sexual references. The movie is best for teens 13 or 14 and up. Parents, this is one you might want to let the kids see at home.
LAND OF THE LOST (Running time: 93 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell movies can be funny, silly and gross. This one is a cut above most of his as there is little bathroom humor, some bad language, but less than usual and some sexual references.
Dr. Rick Marshall (Ferrell) is gifted in some ways, but pompous and stupid in others.
He talks about parallel universes and then he and a pretty female colleague and a guy who runs a dumb, phony desert ride end up slipping into one. That is when the fun begins.
There are lizard creatures, monkey-like creatures, bugs, scary dinosaurs and silly adventures the trio have as they try to get back to the world as they know it. For example, Dr. Marshall insults a T-Rex who becomes bent on revenge. Marshall spouts silly “adages” as he and the others search for their Tachy machine that will transport them home. Some of the fun comes from incongruous things, like small dinosaurs eating ice cream. As ridiculous and hair-brained as he is in this movie, Will Ferrell is still funny and entertaining to watch.
There is violence - also bugs, some bad language, some drug references – which really bogged down the film – and sexual situations, including scantily clad monkey-women at the end. Land of the Lost is best for teens 13 and up. Parents, if you are not big Will Ferrell fans, then you can miss this one.
MY LIFE IN RUINS (Running time: 98 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Harland Williams
Nia Vardalos is the creator and star of the immensely popular My Big Fat Greek Wedding. She is charming and funny, as is this film.
Georgia (Vardalos) is a college professor-turned-tour-guide in Greece. She approaches the ruins from a historical viewpoint and ends up totally boring her charges. She is about to get fired or quit, when her luck changes and she get a more interesting group along with a handsome Greek tour bus driver. Or is it jus that she changes and sees them differently?
The group has a few stereotypes, like the loud Americans and the grump teenager plus a fRunning time: 107 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Eddie Murphy, Yara Shahidi, Thomas Haden Church
I enjoy watching Eddie Murphy, whether the movie he’s appearing in is good or bad. Fortunately, Imagine That is a good movie. The story is about Evan (Murphy), a successful, divorced financial advisor in Denver and his daughter. Success in the financial world means total devotion to his career and very little time for his young daughter. Now that powerful career is challenged by a bizarre newcomer: Native American, Johnny Whitefeather (Church). Evan’s position in the company is slipping and he doesn’t know what to do.
One day, his daughter finds the answer for him through her imaginary world and her “googah” or security blanket. Evan is now paying attention to her and they find a new closeness as he steps into her world.
Of course things go awry; Evan almost loses his daughter and must rely on his own intelligence, instead of magic, to prevail. In the end, he must make a choice – support his daughter or pitch the top man for the big job he has been working toward all his life. Evan makes the right choice.
The messages about family and parenting are allew more original types, like the old lady pickpocket and the wise-cracking widower (Dreyfuss).
The tour is not going well, until Georgia gets close to the widower. He gives her guidance and she begins to come out of her shell.
Slowly some of the problems of the group’s members get solved and Georgia finds love. The members of the group get along and become friendly. Some of the hijinks are silly and some really hilarious. Mostly, it is a warm, funny movie about people that will make you smile and bring a tear to your eye. I enjoyed the movie, even if the plot was predictable at times, because the characters were so interesting.
There is no violence, or bad language, but some sexual humor, sexual innuendo and brief sex scenes that are inappropriate for younger children. My Life in Ruins should be most appropriate for older teens and fun for parents and grandparents, too.
IMAGINE THAT ( good, as in most Eddie Murphy movies. However, these messages are really for adults, not children. Evan is driven toward career success at all costs. This is not something most young children understand. In the beginning of the movie, the daughter is more of a burden to him than a joy.
Mr. Murphy can get into a child’s world in the most funny and engaging way. When he does that, he appeals to parents and children. There is no violence, no bad language and no sex. Mr. Murphy is very funny in many scenes of physical comedy and very warm with his daughter, when he gets the message. Children eight and up may understand the “pay attention to your children” message. Imagine That is a funny, feel-good movie. See it with the kids.
EASY VIRTUE (Running time: 93 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Jessica Biel, Colin Firth, Kristin Scott Thomas
Based on a Noel Coward play, Easy Virtue is a romantic comedy/drama depicting the clash between a traditional 1930’s English mother-in-law (Thomas) and her beautiful, modern American daughter-in-law (Biel). The clash of English and American values and traditions keeps the ladies from getting along and Larita and her Mother-in-law are polar opposites.
John, the son and husband, proves to be too young, too attached to “Mum” and tradition to stand up properly for his wife. After a series of hilarious mishaps, Larita discovers that her hasty marriage after a whirlwind courtship was really more an affair than a commitment.
The writing is snappy and sophisticated. The story is for adults and mature teens. The scenery, period details and traditions are fun and fascinating. Teens will understand how difficult it can be to have two generations under one roof.
There is no violence, a little bad language and several scenes of implied sex. The comedy ends sadly as the provincial, local English folk and John, make it impossible for Larita to remain in their society. This well done movie should be fine for teens 13 and up, mostly girls.
THE PROPOSAL (Running time: 104 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Betty White, Craig T. Nelson
There’s nothing like a good romantic comedy to brighten your day. The Proposal is a warm, delightful hot-fudge-sundae of a movie.
The movie begins with the set-up: world’s nastiest boss, Margaret (Bullock) pushes around her assistant, Andrew (Reynolds) unmercifully. She’s demanding, selfish, competitive and difficult. She is also smart, accomplished and highly prized as an editor by her bosses.
And, she is Canadian. There is a problem with her work visa meaning that she is about to be deported. So she forces Andrew into a phony engagement to stay in the U.S. and at her job. To keep up the façade for the dogged immigration man that they are really in love and getting married, they fly off to Alaska to visit Andrew’s family. That is where the fun begins.
As the two play the part of lovers, they begin to fall in love. Chilly Margaret who has no family thaws out as she is swept into the warm bosom of Andrew’s family. There are some conflicts: Andrew butts heads with his Dad (Nelson) and times when both main characters act decidedly human – boss lady starts singing and dancing wildly in the woods.
However, the real charm of the movie comes from the hilarious performance of Betty White as “Gammie”, the 90-year-old grandma. She steals the show.
There is sexual innuendo, an almost nude scene that is played for laughs, a little bad language and no violence. There is a local Alaska male stripper who is more funny than sexy.
The Proposal is a “chick flick” with a happy ending. Moms, grandmas and girls age 12 and over will enjoy the sweet story and the sassy dialogue.
YEAR ONE (Running time: 97 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Jack Black, Michael Cera
The best description of Year One was one I overheard walking out of the movie. A boy aged 12 or 13 said that this movie is “not bad for a stupid movie”. I guess that is a new genre of movies for teen and ‘tween boys: the stupid movie. Jack Black is the king of stupid movies, along with Will Ferrell and Owen Wilson.
While Year One made a few good jokes about the differences between then and now, Cave Man vs. Modern Man, there were still too many dumb, sexual and scatological jokes to make it palatable for anyone over 15 years of age.
There is a loose storyline, but the movie just jumps from one bad gag or joke to another. The two main Cave Men get kicked out of their village. Year One then becomes a Stone Age road trip movie with the guys having silly and stupid adventures on their way to Sodom. You can imagine the idiocy that occurs there.
Ridiculous jokes about overly hairy men and bananas fill this ultimately boring movie. Because of the sexual content, it should be best for boys 13 and up who have nothing better to do. Parents, avoid this like the plague. Getting clunked on the noggin by Fred Flintstone would be more fun than watching this movie.
I LOVE YOU, BETH COOPER (Running time: 102 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Hayden Panettiere, Paul Rust, Jack Carpenter
This coming of age comedy wasn’t funny or charming. The only thing that kept me from leaving was the wad of gum fastening me to the back of my chair.
The movie starts out beautifully. Its graduation and the class Valedictorian, a super geeky guy, is making his speech. In it, he tells people in the class things that he observed about them, like the bully was really sexually abused and who is anorexic. And he tells the hot captain of the cheerleading squad that he loves her. That is a great beginning that goes nowhere.
The movie then proceeds to jump from stupid episode to stupid episode, trying to be funny. Instead of clever, it was just boring. Beth (Panettiere) is a reckless driver and that’s supposed to be funny. Denis (Rust) is chased down by Beth’s military boyfriend. The boyfriend wrecks Denis’ house and threatens to kill Denis. Does he call the police? No. Watching him get punched in the nose and his kitchen destroyed is supposed to be funny. It’s not.
Denis’ best friend is presumed gay by Denis and the rest of the school, but he insists he isn’t. That’s supposed to be funny. It’s not. The movie never does anything original or cute or surprising after the first nine minutes. It skirts real teen issues, like abusive parents, and makes them cartoonish.
Beth Cooper is the only character with any real substance. And we see that intermittently. It appears that I Love You, Beth Cooper is a poor man’s American Pie – the original teen coming-of-age comedy. So rent that and don’t waste your time on this.
There are scenes of implied sex and drinking. There is violence, including someone getting hit by a car and some bad language. There is one poignant scene by the lake, but otherwise there is nothing redeemable about I Love You, Beth Cooper.
WHATEVER WORKS (Running time: 92 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson, Ed Begley
This black comedy written and directed by Woody Allen has many of his wonderfully funny one-liners. But as he gets older and the main male characters in his movies get older, his leading ladies get younger. This time the under-21-year-old marries the man with gray hair.
Boris (David) is a disillusioned older man who gives up his successful life, wife and drop-dead apartment to live the Bohemian lifestyle downtown and teach chess in the park for a living. He’s a brilliant scientist and completely self-obsessed. He takes in a young runaway to give her shelter for a night and the movie takes off from there.
The plot is good. The humor is adult. But I can’t see teens being interested in an older man’s obsession with illness and death or a young woman’s obsession with the older man. Although there is no violence or bad language, Mr. Allen’s portrayal of alternative sexual lifestyles makes the movie inappropriate for kids under 16 or 18. The one-liners are the funny part; the rest is a tiresome 74-year-old man unsuccessfully fighting aging. Although Whatever Works, which seems to be Mr. Allen’s mantra these days, is hilarious for anyone over 50, I doubt it will appeal to teens.
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (Running time: 153 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent
This is the first Harry Potter film I have seen without reading the book first. I’m sure that I missed understanding everything that was going on because I haven’t read the book.
Even though I wasn’t prepared in advance, the movie drew me in completely, right from the start. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince begins with the return to Hogwarts School. But after last year, Hogwarts is a different place. There is more security to keep Death Eaters out. Students and faculty are on edge. This is a darker Harry Potter story and movie.
The movie delves into Voldemort’s past, when he was just the orphan, Tom Riddle, and not the evil Lord. This fleshes out the story. Horace Slughorn (Broadbent), Voldemort’s early teacher, returns to Hogwarts to teach and helps Harry. Dumbledore begins preparing Harry to defeat the Dark Lord.
On the lighter side, this Harry Potter movie has Harry and his friends as full-fledged teens with romantic entanglements, misunderstandings, jealousies, crushes and even a real love potion. After all, this is Harry Potter! The story captures the innocence of first love. The movie never goes beyond “making out” and all the scenes between the teens are tasteful and often funny.
We are treated to a Quidditch game again, too. While all this is happening, evil forces are gathering quietly within Hogwarts. Draco Malfoy has gone to the dark side as has a professor who shall remain nameless here. Harry is ever watchful around the castle, but the darkness wins this round and a major character dies.
The level of excellence of the Harry Potter series continues with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. While there are dark elements, there is less violence and direct conflict than in past installments. Still, this is a dark movie and very long --probably not appropriate for children under 10. Some of the images will make for perfect nightmares. There is no sex and no bad language. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is another “don’t miss” movie, destined to end up on the top ten list.
G-FORCE (Running time: 153 minutes)
Rated PG
With the voices of: Nicolas Cage, Steve Buscemi, Penelope Cruz, Sam Rockwell, Tracy Morgan and live performances by: Bill Nighy, Will Arnett and Zach Galifianakas
G-Force became Z-Force for me as I dozed off in the middle of the movie. But what G-Force lacks in easy-to-understand plot and original dialogue, it makes up for with cute guinea pigs, clever gadgets and superb computer 3-D animation.
It is hard to buy off on the idea of the FBI training guinea pigs to become special agents; hard for me as an adult, but probably not so hard for an eight-year-old. The guinea pigs pull off secret missions and have near-misses that will be thrilling for younger children.
While the guinea pigs are pursuing a bad guy, they are also being pursued by FBI men trying to stop them. Who is the bad guy? We think we know, but we don’t know. The plot twist may be confusing for younger kids, but the whole idea of these cute creatures outsmarting dogs and people will be fun for them while it might be boring for you. Though this isn’t the best movie this year, it will be entertaining for children. Can you rope grandparents into taking the kids to see this one?
There is some violence with scary machines – your child may have nightmares about your coffeemaker, no bad language and no sex. G-Force should be fine for children seven and up but a snoozer for parents.
500 DAYS OF SUMMER (Running time: 95 Minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel
Ugh! This movie is 95 minutes of whining! This story involves a young man (Gordon-Levitt) who believes his life will be transformed when he meets, “the one”. He thinks he met her in his office. But Summer (Deschanel), his dream girl, seems permanently damaged by her parents’ divorce and doesn’t believe in forever love.
But our boy jumps in with both feet anyway. The movie attempts to be clever by skipping around the 500 days. One minute we are at day 87 with Summer and the next we are at day 432, watching our guy being depressed. This makes it hard to know exactly where their relationship was at the time.
The bottom line is that our boy gets his heart crushed by not believing Summer, a total flake. When she leaves him, it’s tragic. But the real kicker is that Summer changes her mind about love after she leaves him and gets engaged to the next guy who comes along. That is a supreme blow to our twenty-something guy who takes it really hard. So she didn’t really mean what she said or she just didn’t love him. What a downer.
500 Days of Summer seemed like a twenty-something screenwriter spent 90 minutes complaining to us about the girl who broke his heart. I can’t see teens relating much to this movie. You just want to throw a pie in Summer’s smug, “let’s be friends” face and walk out.
There is no violence, some scenes of pre-sex and post-sex and little bad language. This is a talky movie. While I liked our guy, I just didn’t get what was so great about Summer. Better to skip this one.
JULIE & JULIA (Running time: 123 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci
Julie & Julia, taken from two books, shows the lives of two women: Julie Powell (Adams) who is struggling to find her writer’s voice and Julia Child (Streep), trying to establish herself as a serious cook in Paris in the 1950’s.
While the story about Julie cooking her way through Julia Child’s cookbook and blogging about it is interesting, it can’t compare to the story of the life of Julia Child, lead with gusto in Paris. However, all the food scenes are terrific as are the atmospheric scenes of Paris in the ‘50’s.
This movie is about two happily married women working hard to find their voices and make their mark. We laugh with them, cry with them and enjoy their victories. The messages in this movie are all good: self-determination, don’t give up and have confidence.
It is refreshing to see Ms. Child, a plump, older woman having a warm, sexual relationship with her husband. They were quite a pair of lovebirds. There is no nudity or explicit sexuality, but all is implied as an extension of their great love for each other. Such a delightful change of pace!
There is no violence, an occasional bad word and a few scenes of kissing in bed or as a prelude to bed. I found Julie & Julia to be completely delightful. With Ms. Streep perfectly capturing the essence of Julia Child, I preferred that part of the movie. See this one with your teens and ‘tweens who may enjoy both the modern, adorable Julie and the earlier indomitable Julia equally.
GI JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA (Running time: 118 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring: Channing Tatum, Dennis Quaid, Marlon Wayans
The Hasbro toys come to life on the screen as fighting members of the Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity or G.I. J.O.E. The movie begins in 1641 where a Scottish traitor is punished by being made to wear an iron mask for the rest of his life. We see the red hot iron mask being put on the screaming bad guy right at the beginning. That is enough to make this movie inappropriate for younger children.
Then we go to present day, with General Hawk (Quaid) directing his elite troops after the deadly nanobites warheads and Duke (Tatum) leading the team. The action heats up quickly. There are plenty of explosions, planes, nifty weapons, fancy fighting suits and, of course, the sexy bad girl in a tight black leather, low-cut outfit.
The plot is hard to follow and there are frightening scenes: huge needles inject the nano guys into people’s brains where they eat out the sections the bad guys don’t want and leave the rest. This process creates human robots who can be destroyed by the nano-guys with the flick of a switch. We see that happen and it’s disgusting.
The computer effects are dazzling and the action is non-stop. It is engrossing, even if you can’t completely follow the story, but has scary elements for kids under age 10. There is violence, an occasional bad word, but no sex. GI Joe, The Rise of Cobra should be okay for kids 11 and up and parents, too.
PONYO (Running time: 90 minutes)
Rated G
Animated with the voices of: Cate Blanchett, Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Liam Neeson, Cloris Leachman, Betty White, Lily Tomlin, Frankie Jonas, Noah Cyrus
From the great Japanese animator, Hayao Miyazaki, who created the movie, Spirited Away, comes a new fable, Ponyo. The movie is based on Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Little Mermaid.” Unlike Spirited Away, Ponyo is not as scary. The little mermaid creature, Ponyo, meets a boy and wants to become human. The little boy is lonely and when Ponyo comes on land and becomes a girl, the two become fast friends.
Of course Ponyo’s father objects and there is the boy’s mother to deal with and the old ladies at the senior center where she works. This is a delightful fable. Most stunning is the use of vibrant color, the motion, and the dazzling art. The plot becomes complicated when a huge storm threatens the people on the land. Ponyo is the only one who can save the humans. There are some slightly scary waves, but otherwise, nothing here is frightening.
This gorgeous import should be fine for kids age 6 and up who may not understand the story, but will love the beauty and motion.
THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE (Running time: 118 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana
This movie is taken from the long-time best-seller book. The concept of being able to travel through time is very intriguing. I found myself sucked into this love story quickly.
The story is about a young man who suffers from a genetic disorder that sends him hurtling through time at frequent intervals, often for a stay of a week or two in the new time zone.
Henry (Bana) our time traveler, falls in love with a young heiress, Clare (McAdams) when they meet during his travels. She falls in love with him and they spend the rest of the movie trying to have a normal life together.
Henry travels mostly by accident to various times, always ending up without clothes. While he does return to spots he has been before, he insists that he has no control over where and when he goes.
There are so many interesting possibilities for time travelers, mostly one’s view of life before and after you have actually lived it. But none of that comes through in the movie.
The movie is a love story with extra bells and whistles thrown in. Knowing that this best-seller has reached the pinnacle of success for many years, not having read the book, I can’t say why the movie isn’t more interesting. But the jumping around is often confusing. Boys who would certainly be interested in the concept of time travel will be disappointed with the movie which is primarily a sad love story.
Though the movie is long, I found it repetitive. It is sweet and charming, but could have been shorter. There is some violence, some mild pre-sex scenes, a little bit of nudity from the back and no bad language. If you have a teen or ‘tween who read the book, undoubtedly they will want to see the movie. But for younger children, it might be confusing and too slow.
POST GRAD (Running time: 89 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Alexis Bledel, Zach Gilford, Carol Burnett, Michael Keaton
Post Grad starts off being an interesting movie that combines a new college grad's frustrating job search with her romantic indecision. Ryden is after a job in a big publishing firm. This has been her goal since before she started college. She had a plan. But the competition for the job is huge and she doesn't get it. Now she is scrambling to come up with a plan "B".
Her best friend, Adam (Gilford), is in love with her and wants to take the friendship to the next level, but Ryden (Bledel) resists. He has been accepted to Columbia Law School and has to decide whether to stay in California or seek new challenges in New York.
But somehow, the movie veered off center when it tried to show our heroine's family. The movie then focused intensely on the kooky family. The original story got diluted and the movie split into two movies: one about Ryden and one about the relationships between her family members. It felt like I was in my living room, watching my husband flip between two channels constantly so that we see two shows at the same time.
Ryden's story is interesting and relevant to teens as they face looming decisions about college and career. But comics extraordinaire like Michael Keaton as her dad and Carol Burnett as her grandmother unwittingly stole every scene they were in.
The movie bounced back and forth between Ryden's dilemmas and her family. It was disjointed but if you could deal with that, the movie was okay, even if some of it was silly. There was one sexual scene that didn't go very far. There is no violence and a little bad language. Post Grad is best for older teens who can relate to Ryden's challenges. If nothing else, see it for Carol Burnett.
BANDSLAM (Running time: 111 minutes)
Rated PG
Alyson Michalka, Vanessa Hudgens, Gaelen Connell, Lisa Kudrow
I was expecting another typical teen/mean teen movie and was pleasantly surprised by Bandslam.
The story starts out in Cleveland. Will (Connell) is a nerdy teen who is shunned by everyone in the school. He is picked on and treated badly. This is hard to understand because he isn't a bad person. Still, he hates school and escapes into music.
His mom (Kudrow) gets a new job and they move to New Jersey, where the movie really begins. The school in Lodi is a participant in a "bandslam", where teen bands compete to be the best. The Lodi school has had a runner-up band and the whole school is pumped about their band winning bandslam.
Will meets Sa5m (Hudgens) in English class. They get assigned to do a class project together about getting to really know each other. Then Will is spotted by Charlotte (Michalka), a senior who takes him under her wing. She has Will working in the school daycare center and getting involved in her music. Charlotte was the singer for the Lodi band, but after a falling out with its star, Ben, she quit.
Will encourages Charlotte and other former band members to start a band and he is recruited to be their manager because he knows so much about music. Sa5m becomes his friend. We watch their growing attraction as it unfolds slowly and naturally. This part of the movie is great because you see a boy who was disenfranchised from school and life, with his mother his only close contact, and come to life when given a second chance at a new school.
But Ben is jealous of Will. So he digs into Will's past and persecutes him for his father's mistakes, just like the school in Cleveland. Will's past finally gets explained, there is conflict and we don't know what's going to happen to the band or to the budding romance. I will stop here not to spoil the movie. I liked the characters. They were more real than most and not either all good or all evil. The messages were great. The plot twists keep the film moving quickly and the music was just fantastic! The original song: Phil's Song, is outstanding. Bandslam rocks.
The mom in the movie is a terrific mom - caring, smart, and savvy - not a doofus. What a pleasant change of pace. With little violence or bad language and no sex beyond an innocent kiss or two, Bandslam should be fine for kids 11 and up. Parents will enjoy it, too. Don't miss this one.
FAME (Running time: 107 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Kristy Flores, Asher Book, Paul Iacono, Paul McGill
This remake is still a story about the kids at a New York City high school for the performing arts, but the music is different, except for one song, "On My Own" from the original that appears here, too. The movie zeroes in on seven students who are trying to become successful in the performing arts. Highlighted in the movie are actors, musicians, a film maker, a dancer, a composer and a rap artist. I saw the original movie and it is tough not to make comparisons.
The music is changed to be more up-to-date. Like the original, this version has a great lunchroom scene of improvisational music and dancing. But the basic premise is changed some as the movie emphasizes hard work for achievement, not fame.
The kids are rebellious, highly original and amazingly talented. Each drama is different, pointing out the perils and rewards of following your talents. Parents are unsupportive, often hostile, ignorant and basically in the way of these kids.
While the 1980's movie had drama, it had much more music. This is a serious movie, a wonderful portrait of how hard these students work and the amazing competition they face to succeed. Although the music here is terrific, it didn't have me dancing in my seat, like the original does.
There is no violence, no sex, some alcohol, some bad language. Fame is a good movie to see with your child of 12 and older who can understand the drive these kids have.
THE BOYS ARE BACK (Running time: 100 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Clive Owen, Laura Fraser, Emma Booth
I'm not sure why this movie is PG-13 except that the mother dies in the beginning. The rest of the movie is a lovely story of an imperfect father who hasn't been around much for child rearing learning to cope alone with his young son and his teenage son by another marriage.
As sweet as this movie is, it is a story for adults, not for kids. The issues are all about how the father, Joe (Owen) handles his young son Artie, and how they both grieve for the lost mom while learning to get along with each other.
Then son Harry comes from England to join his father and half-brother in Australia. We see Joe go through another transition learning to care for this son he hasn't seen in eight or nine years. Joe manages all this while trying to hold down a demanding job as a sports journalist.
The Boys are Back is a sad story that ends happily. Still, it's mostly about the transition of the father and would probably not interest most teens. With no violence or sex and only a little bad language, it should be okay for parents and teens 12 and up. Bring Kleenex.
TYLER PERRY'S I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF (Running time: 113 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Taraji P. Henson, Adam Rodriguez, Tyler Perry, Mary J. Blige
I usually cover Tyler Perry movies, but this one is for adults only. The themes: child abandonment, child sexual abuse, infidelity and alcoholism are strictly for adults. While this is an excellent film with strong messages, teens should see Fame instead.
CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS (Running time: 81 minutes)
Rated PG
Animated with the voices of Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg
Finally, a children's movie! Or is it? Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is actually a prequel to the book of the same name. The movie is about how Chewandswallow got its reputation. So if you are expecting a movie just like the book, you may be disappointed. Still, the movie is delightful in many ways.
We meet Flint Lockwood (Hader), a nerdy guy who keeps inventing things that don't work. Flint's dad (Caan) is a fisherman who doesn't understand his scientist son. Here we have this recurring theme from young men writing children's movies. Doesn't anyone's father understand them?
The town of Swallow Falls grew up around the sardine trade. When that dries up, the town is desperate to survive. That's when Flint invents the machine that can turn water into food.
The delightful results are funny and charming. The kids in the theater loved the falling cheeseburgers and especially the ice cream snowfall.
Then the movie folds in some of the book. But added on is a plot about the town's Mayor and other characters that were not in the book. In the end, the plot reads like the plots of all today's movies created for kids but written by adults with issues. There is the father-son thing that gets resolved in the end, jealousy, a love interest and a silly monkey named Steve who has no purpose at all.
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs was enjoyed by the kids in the theater, even if they couldn't understand it all. There is some violence, no bad language and no sex. The movie should be fine for kids 8 and up. Parents and children will enjoy the superb animation and the clever humor. It's too bad the storyline is so typical. Stay for the credits, they are fun.
LOVE HAPPENS (Running time: 109 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Aaron Eckhardt, Jennifer Aniston, Dan Fogler
Hollywood strikes again! If you thought this movie is a romantic comedy, like the commercials lead you to believe, you're wrong. This is a three-hanky movie about grief, loss and death. That's why they couldn't tell you.
Burke (Eckhardt) seems to be a pop psychiatrist - Dr. Phil type who helps people en masse get over their grief over the loss of a loved one. Burke lost his wife in a car accident and supposedly has moved on and wants to help others. But he has a secret, which I won't reveal.
One especially moving character is Walter, a man who has lost his 12-year-old son and cannot get his life back on track. His wife left him, his business collapsed and he is hurting. The movie is a sweet story if you can get over being really ticked off about being misled. Two ladies in the ladies room after the movie were hopping mad.
While Love Happens is sweet, I prefer not to spend my Saturday afternoon steeped in grief. There is the relived violence of a car accident, no bad language and no sex. But this movie is not appropriate for teens, 'tweens or anyone who hasn't suffered from a recent loss.
THE INVENTION OF LYING (Running time: 99 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Louis C.K., Rob Lowe
Ricky Gervais is an original. He co-wrote the script for this funny and touching movie. It takes place in a world where people can't lie. That concept is explored with great hilarity. Our main man, Mark (Gervais) gets in a bind when he loses his job and doesn't have the rent money. He is at the bank when the idea of lying comes to him. Because nobody can lie, everyone will believe everyone else. When Mark wants to withdraw $800 in the bank, the teller gives it to him, assuming the computer that says he has only $300 in his account is mistaken!
In addition to laughs, the movie shows how hurtful always telling the absolute truth can be. Lying empowers Mark, pegged as a fatty and a loser by everyone he knows. He uses his ability to lie to make money to impress a woman he loves, who happens to be beautiful.
The movie gets more complicated when Mark tries to comfort his dying mother with tales of the afterlife. Word gets out to others and there is a big ruckus. The movie takes a gentle swipe at religion, along with other institutions.
There are many good messages in this highly unusual and entertaining movie. The Invention of Lying will make you laugh and cry. There is no violence, some bad language and discussion of masturbation. The concepts are adult here, so this is a great movie to see with your teens who will understand the sarcasm and the references. I loved it.
WHIP IT (Running time: 111 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Ellen Page, Marsha Gay Harden, Drew Barrymore, Daniel Stern
This is a superb mother/daughter coming-of-age movie. Bliss (Page) is a 17-year-old small-town Texas girl who is pushed into competing in beauty pageants by her mother, who was a contestant in her youth. But beauty pageants are not Bliss' arena. She is uncomfortable competing and can't seem to find a place where she belongs.
Then on a shopping trip to Austin with her mom, she sees roller derby women and is fascinated. She sneaks away to Austin with her girlfriend to watch the roller derby. She falls in love with the idea and dusts off her "Barbie" skates to try for a slot on the team "Hurl Scouts".
Bliss makes the team, then the conflict with her mom and home begins. She lies to her family to sneak out to practices and competitions. After getting knocked on her behind a number of times, she figures it out and becomes good at roller derby. This is where she belongs. But what about mom and dad?
There is conflict, communication, love and devotion in this family. The characters are three dimensional. The parents are complex.
There is roller derby violence, some bad language and sexual situations plus humor, drama and a happy ending. I loved Whip It for the good messages to kids: 1) be true to yourself and follow your dreams and 2) while your parents may be wrong about some things, they are not wrong about everything. Whip It is a "don't miss" for parents and kids 12 and up.
MORE THAN A GAME (Running time: 105 minutes)
Rated PG - Documentary
This is a documentary about NBA superstar, LeBron James, and how he and his four childhood buddies: Dru Joyce, Sian Cotton, Willie McGee and Romeo Travis got from Akron, Ohio to where they are today.
The movie starts when LeBron and friends were only 11 years old, playing in an old Salvation Army gym under the inexperienced guidance of Dru Joyce's Dad. These boys had talent and drive. In addition to hard work, the other key to their success lay in the close relationships they formed with each other. These boys all had difficult childhoods, one was torn from his parents and raised by siblings, some moved every year and had no friends. But they bonded and became inseparable, even on weekends. They were a family of brothers.
Mr. Joyce acted as a surrogate father to them. They all decided to go to catholic school because of an excellent coach there. After two years of leading this team on to victory after victory, the coach left for a college job and Joyce took over.
The movie chronicles their rise from 23rd seed to win the national high school basketball championship in their senior year. Included is real footage of the actual basketball games as well as interviews with the men today.
Today, two of these young men are playing pro basketball for a team in Germany, one is in college, one in graduate school, and LeBron James is playing in the NBA.
This inspirational story is amazing because it is true. Five young men who beat the odds to go on to success, still maintain their close friendship. The messages are wonderful in this film. More Than a Game is more than a movie, it's a "don't miss" theater experience for kids 10 and up.
SURROGATES (Running time: 89 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike
What would like be like if, beyond plastic surgery, you could have a surrogate, a robot, who looked great, never aged and was not easily killed? Would you do that?
Surrogates is a sci fi movie about just that idea. Everyone is home, lying on a chair with something connected to their brain through their eyeballs that projects the thoughts and voice of the person through the surrogate. So everywhere, in business, law enforcement, the local diner, everyone is a surrogate dealing with other surrogates. The real people are behind closed doors not directly interacting with anyone.
What if there were some people who objected to surrogacy and formed armed camps against the surrogates like Native American Reservations? This is the basic premise of the movie, Surrogates.
There is violence, some pre-sex scenes (if the sex is between surrogates, does it count?) and no bad language. As with most good sci fi movies, Surrogates makes you think. I found Surrogates to be fascinating. The idea that we could voluntarily replace ourselves and be totally removed from direct contact with other humans is creepy and interesting at the same time. I don't want to give away the ending, or the good messages included in this movie. Surrogates is best for kids 11 and up who won't get spooked. See it with your kids.
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (Running time: 94 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Max Records, Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini
I was wondering how Hollywood was going to make a movie out of one of my children's most beloved books. With hardly any words, much in the book is left to imagination and interpretation. The writers of the movie injected their own ideas where the book left off. So they made Max a child of divorce, gave the Wild Things names and personalities. They created a plot that wasn't in the book.
In the book, Max is just a boy behaving badly, a bit out of control. He is banished to his room without supper. In the movie, Max is behaving badly because his parents are divorced; he's lonely and is not getting any attention.
When reprimanded, Max runs away, jumps in a boat and sails to the land of the Wild Things. There he meets Carol, KW and others. There is already a rift between Carol and KW, who were friends. Max lies to the Wild Things because he is afraid they will eat him. He says he has powers so they make him their king.
Scenes come from the book mixed in with the little drama of the Wild Things with each other. Max plays, feels loved, jumps in big piles of Wild Things and has fun. At this point, the movie bogs down with the relationships of the Wild Things, who is in charge, whose feelings are hurt and so on.
They discover Max isn't a king, feel hurt, make up, and then Max realizes it's time to go home. The movie ends with his return to his mom and eating his supper, which was still hot.
The only violence is a dirt clump fight, which isn't very violent. The Wild Things can be scary to small children, under 8. There is no bad language and no sex. Where the Wild Things Are should be fine for kids 7 and up. I found it slow, boring and disappointing. I loved the original and thought the more complex plot to teach kids how to behave interfered with the charm of the book. Sue me; I guess I'm just old fashioned about this one.
COUPLES RETREAT (Running time: 89 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love
I expected to hate this movie, but found it sweet instead. The story involved four couples who are friends. One couple is having marriage and fertility problems and needs to go on a couples retreat. They can't afford it unless they bring the others and get a group rate.
So they all go. One couple (Vaughn) has kids, one couple is a divorced man and his 22 year old girlfriend, and the last couple is one that has been married since high school and is drifting apart.
The sometimes silly, sometimes serious antics that go on at the retreat save the marriages that were disintegrating and improve the marriage that is not. It's funny and sentimental at the same time. There is no violence, some bad language and lots of sexual talk and innuendo, but no sex scenes.
Couples Retreat is a movie about adults. It should be okay for teens, but would probably bore them as there are no teens in the movie.
CIRQUE DU FREAK, THE VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT (Running time: 108 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring John C. Reilly, Chris Massoglia, Josh Hutcherson, Ken Watanabe
This movie comes from a series of popular books for kids ages 9-12. The story is about a good boy who ends up in a world with vampires and freaks. Darren Shan (Massoglia) is a 16-year-old boy who gets good grades and is well-behaved. But his best friend, Steve (Hutcherson), is a troubled boy with a taste for the dark life.
Steve convinces Darren to go to a freak show, where they meet Crepsley (Reilly) a good vampire and other memorable freaks of nature, like the bearded lady. Darren makes the mistake of stealing Crepsley's deadly spider, which gets loose in school The spider bites Steve. To save his life, Darren makes a deal with Crepsley to become his assistant and a half-vampire. (What is a half-vampire? Is that like being a little bit pregnant?)
Darren has to leave the family that he loves to travel with the freak show. In the meantime, a war is bubbling up between the vampires, who don't kill people, just drink a little bit of their blood, and the vampanese, who kill people and drink all their blood. This conflict is not yet resolved, setting us up for a sequel.
This movie is often funny and scary at the same time. Cirque du Freak, The Vampire's Assistant is entertaining, with tons of great special effects, it's an enjoyable way to spend a Saturday afternoon for 'tweens and teens 11 and older. There is lots of violence, many scary images, no sex and no bad language. See it with the kids.
ASTROBOY (Running time: 94 minutes)
Rated: PG
Animated with the voices of: Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell, Nicolas Cage, Bill Nighy, Eugene Levy
Another anime book series makes it to the movies as Astroboy leaps onto the screen. The story begins in Metro City, a futuristic place floating just above Earth, which has been almost destroyed and is littered with broken robot parts. We meet Dr. Tenma (Cage) and his son, Toby (Highmore), a precocious 13-year-old. Dr. Tenma is a brilliant scientist who rarely has time for his curious son, who adores his dad.
During an experiment with "the Peace Keeper", a new robot created for the megolomanic president of Metro City, something goes wrong and Toby is killed. He's vaporized with nothing left but his hat.
In his grief over the loss of his son, Dr. Tenma creates a robot in Toby's likeness with Toby's memory. With high hopes that the robot can replace his son, Dr. Tenma is ultimately devastated when he realizes that the robot can never really be Toby. He rejects the robot boy, who is then attacked by "The Peace Keeper."
Toby goes to live on Earth, where he becomes Astroboy, using his amazing powers to help and protect. There is plenty of violence, mean characters and some scary huge robots. While the movie ends happily with Astroboy and Dr. Tenma coming back together, there is sadness, prejudice against robots and a negative environmental theme.
I liked Astroboy but it's not for little kids. It's best for kids 9 and up. If your child is still in a stroller, he or she is too young for this movie.
THIS IS IT (Running time: 121 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Michael Jackson
Setting aside any opinion of his personal life, one must admit that Michael Jackson was a magnificent entertainer. This movie, This Is It, is like sitting in the front row of one of the most exciting, alive concerts happening today for the price of a movie ticket.
Mr. Jackson performs all his big hits from the past, including "Beat It', "Thriller" and even a song he did when he was part of the Jackson Five. Brief interviews with some of the dancers and singers give the audience some backstage perspective. We see rehearsals and spectacular performances by Mr. Jackson, his dancers, singers and band members.
In addition to live performance, we get to see the making of the film that is used during the presentation of "Thriller." The movie is amazing with singers in ghoulish costumes, singing and even dancing dressed up as mummies.
The director tells the dancers that they are to become an extension of Michael, and they absolutely do. You see them copy his every move totally, completely in sync with him. And his moves, his choreography are uniquely his. The dancing was terrific. The singing was terrific.
The energy, dedication, attention to detail and special effects made this experience a bonanza of sight and sound. At the end, there was nothing maudlin, just his name, Michael Jackson, The King of Pop and a phrase about love at the bottom. I enjoyed this movie tremendously. Exciting. Fun, Dazzling. Amazing. This is a don't miss experience. There is no violence, no sex and no bad language. Take kids 10 or 11 and up so that they can see the magic that was Michael. He will be missed.
GOOD HAIR (Running time: 95 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Documentary with Chris Rock
In Good Hair, Chris Rock explores what black men and women do with their hair. He went to factories that manufacture products like hair "relaxer" to see what goes into the strong stuff used to make black hair straight.
Mr. Rock explored the whole world of black hair, from a competition for black hair stylists held in Atlanta, to hair imported from India and woven into black hair to create the look of long, straight, silky black hair.
He also explained how much money spent on black hair actually goes into the pockets of black businessmen and women. With the products, very little goes back into the community because most manufacturers have been bought by big conglomerates. But beauty salons and barber shops provide much work and success for black entrepreneurs.
Mr. Rock also talked about the detrimental effects of exposing adults and children to the almost toxic fumes and formulas of the hair relaxer products over time.
This documentary was interesting, funny, insightful and truthful. I found the movie fun while I learned what lengths people will go to have what they consider perfect hair. Good Hair
Has no violence, sexually suggestive discussions and some bad language. Good Hair is an interesting look into the culture of black hair design, styling and importance. You can take kids 11 and up if you think they will understand some of the more subtle issues being raised.
FANTASTIC MR. FOX (Running time: 93 minutes)
Rated PG
Animated with the voices of George Clooney, Meyl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray
This beautifully animated movie comes from a Roald Dahl children's book.
Mr. Fox gives up stealing chickens after he and Mrs. Fox narrowly escape a life-threatening trap put up by farmers. Mr. Fox lives a quiet life as a newspaper columnist until his wild side gets the better of him. He ropes a dumb but willing opossum into joining him as he robs each of three mean, dimwitted farmers.
Of course Mr. Fox outsmarts the farmers at every turn. Then they band together and set out to get him and his family. It becomes a country war above and underground as the foxes and their animal friends dig to get away. They finally become trapped. Just when it looks like curtains for the foxes and friends, Mr. Fox outsmarts everyone again.
In an attempt to compete with Pixar, The writers, director and producers of Fantastic Mr. Fox add some hip humor and use George Clooney and his smoothest, coolest, quietest delivery. It was so cool, that the kids in the sold-out audience didn't get the clever, subtle humor. Only the adults were laughing.
Still, the story is good. The art is among the most gorgeous I have ever seen on screen. The colors are both vivid and subtle. There is some violence, though no one gets killed. There is no sex and no bad language. Although they won't get everything, kids 7 and up might like Fantastic Mr. Fox for its stunning beauty and cute characters. It is a treat for adults, too.
THE BOX (Running time: 114 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella
Taken from a short story and "The Twilight Zone" The Box is a stupid, confusing movie.
It starts out with the premise from the short story "Button, Button". The story is about greed. Would you accept a million dollars if it meant that someone you didn't know would die? What is the person was a substitute driver for your child's school bus, and your child died when the driver died at the wheel?
That is supposed to be the idea here. What if your greed meant that someone you loved died? But then it became about a man who was struck by lightening, died and came back to life. Now he could do strange things. The lightening was controlling him. Or was it? People walked around like zombies with blood coming from their noses. Why? There are too many weird things going on with no explanation. I got lost in the convoluted plot and couldn't figure it out, even in the end.
This movie, The Box, couldn't decide if it was a thriller, sci fi film or horror film. Consequently, it was none of the above, just a mishmash of different styles that started out well but quickly became a movie looking for an ending.
There is violence, no sex and no bad language. It should be okay for 'tweens and up. But why waste your time on a movie with a plot that put itself in a box and couldn't get out?
PLANET 51 (Running time: 131 minutes)
Rated PG
Animated with the voices of Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, Gary Oldman, Justin Long
This lively animated film about life on another planet is mostly sweet, but too long. It comes with an animated short film, but 131 minutes is too long for most kids. Still, this is a cute movie most of the way through.
The basic story is about a U.S. astronaut who lands on a planet thought to be uninhabited and finds lots of green people living a combination space age/1950's lifestyle. The astronaut, Charles Baker (Johnson) is freaked out. The green people are freaked out, and they come after the intruder, convinced that he is there to steal their brains and wipe out their culture.
A young male named Lem ( Long) befriends Baker and ends up hiding him until they can find a way to get him back to his ship and on his way home. Of course there are complications. The military on this lovely, peaceful planet are ready to attack. While it may be a little frightening, the movie makes such idiots out of the military men that they are laughable.
While most of the humor is best for adults, Planet 51 is beautifully animated with cute characters that kids will like, including a robot that acts like a dog. There is some violence at the end, which is unnecessary but not over the top. There is much humor for adults, no sex and no bad language. Planet 51 is a good movie to take your kids age 7 and up to see over the Thanksgiving holiday. Even if they don't understand it, they will like the animation, if they can sit for 131 minutes. You will enjoy it, too.
2012 (Running time: 114 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring John Cusack, Amanda Peet
Wow, what a roller coaster ride this movie is! You are one step ahead of disaster in 2012 with the end of Earth as we know it. The Earth's crust shifts, causing volcanoes, fires, earthquakes and tidal waves. Everything and everyone will be wiped out, but what about our hero?
Our hero, Jackson (Cusack) is a divorced father of two, manages to save his wife, kids and their stepfather from earthquakes in California. The computer effects of our world crumbling, giant tears in the Earth's surface swallowing cars, trucks and trains are amazing.
In the meantime, we see that Washington anticipated this event and has had escape vehicles created in China. So now there are many people racing to escape to China before the Earth falls out from under them or they get crushed by falling skyscrapers.
I hardly had time to catch my breath during this realistic thriller. The first two hours flew by. Then, the movie slows to a crawl with a contrived crisis used to continue the suspense and get rid of unwanted characters. This last half hour is predictable and unnecessary.
There are many frightening images here, the stuff of nightmares. If you take kids, be prepared to answer questions about the possibility of this happening. With violence, no sex and no bad language, 2012 is still best for 'tweens and teens.
THE BLIND SIDE (Running time: 131 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Kathy Bates
What a fantastic, inspirational film this is. And to top it off, it's not about a dead person, it's not about an old man, it's about a young man who is playing rookie season football for the Baltimore Ravens. I just saw him contribute to an exciting overtime win for his team Sunday night!
This story is about Michael Oher, one of 13 children of a crack-addicted mother and absent father. Michael had been institutionalized, given up for hopelessly stupid and left to fend for himself on the streets of Memphis. One cold night, Leigh Anne Tuohy (Bullock) and her family saw him wandering around, looking for a warm place to sleep. They took him in and changed his life, while he changed theirs.
A local Christian high school took Michael in. With the love and support of this new family, Michael was able to bring his D average up to a C and play on the high school football team. He became the star of the team.
The family hired a tutor (Bates) to help him bring his average up so that he could get selected for scholarship to play college football. They all succeeded. What's' wonderful here is how the story is told and how each hurdle is jumped. There is some violence, no sex and a little bad language. But this heartwarming, true story should be fine for kids 10 or 11 and up who can understand the issues. This is a "don't miss" movie. You'll stand up and cheer for Michael Oher and his new family.
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON RISING (Running time: 130 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
Installment number two in the series from the popular books by Stephanie Meyer was disappointing compared to the first movie. Edward Cullen (Pattinson), the sexy vampire, and his family left the small Washington state town to keep his beloved, Bella (Stewart), safe.
Bella is miserable. She sleepwalks through her senior year in high school. Without Edward, she is numb. Edward's love and desire to protect her are so strong, that whenever she is in danger, he appears to save her. Bella engages in more risky behavior, just to bring Edward near her.
In the meantime, her friendship with Jacob, a Native American, grows. Through their closeness, she discovers that he is a werewolf. Now she has to choose between the vampire world and the werewolf world. Frankly I would prefer a gentle nerd to either of these guys.
Unfortunately, the movie was slow and downright silly in parts. We don't see Edward and Bella sharing activities together, just professing their undying love. Bella's desire to leave the human world and become a vampire is the ultimate teenage rebellion and way to leave home forever.
The computer effects are great and the wolves are truly frightening. The love triangle between Bella, Jacob and Edward is interesting because of their different worlds. Twilight: New Moon Rising is long. There is violence, no sex and no bad language. This dark movie is best for kids 12 and up who won't get nightmares or ideas about running off to join vampires.
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG (Running time: 95 minutes)
Rated G
Starring Anika Noni Rose, John Goodman, Bruno Campos
Wow! What a fabulous movie this is! This creation is the coming together of Pixar and Disney with the fantastic, original music of Randy Newman. It doesn't get any better than this for kids. And adults, too. Finally - along comes a terrific kid's movie for the holidays.
The story is the classic fairy tale with a modern twist: Tiana is a poor girl from a working African American family in New Orleans at the height of the Jazz Era. Her mother is a seamstress and her father works hard, saving toward his dream of opening his own restaurant. Tiana tags along with mom when she measures and delivers fabulous dresses to the rich girl and her father who live across town.
Tiana's father dies in the war, so Tiana works toward realizing daddy's dream of having his own restaurant. Meanwhile, a fabulous, irresponsible playboy prince comes to town for Mardi Gras and gets turned into a frog. She kisses him and also becomes a frog. Then they have a great journey trying to get back to being people again. Along this trip, they learn much about each other and themselves.
The animation colors are so vibrant they leap off the screen. The music will have you dancing in your seat. The only drawback is Shadow Man and the scary creatures around him. The lively colors and music lessen his sinister aspect. But the shadows can creep out younger children, especially those prone to nightmares.
Even with that and a plot that younger children may not understand, this is such a huge, colorful production that you don't want to miss it with your kids 6 and up. There is the threat of violence, no sex and no bad language. Do not miss this movie, because though it will still be good on DVD, you will miss the impact the big screen has on the colors and action. It is an amazing treat for the senses. I just loved it, could you guess?
OLD DOGS (Running time: 88 minutes)
Rated: PG
Starring Robin Williams, John Travolta, Kelly Preston
I was not expecting to like this movie, but I underestimated the charisma and chemistry of Robin Williams and John Travolta. And the story was better than expected, too. The story concerns two middle-aged bachelors who have been best friends and business partners for 30 years. They are just about to close the biggest sports promotion deal of their lives.
Out of the blue, Dan (Williams) discovers that he has two seven year old twins he knew nothing about. Neither Dan nor Charlie (Travolta) is good with kids, so when the kids get dumped in their laps for two weeks, it turns their lives upside down.
The guys get mistaken for grandparents, bested badly at extreme Frisbee, and stopped cold by a gorilla and some penguins at the zoo. The hijinks are funny and the attitude is warm and caring.
There is no violence, some sexual references, some bathroom humor and a little bad language. Old Dogs, a sweet movie, is probably best for 'tweens who love to laugh at adults messing up. See it with them, because you can have a few laughs in the theater, for a change.
ARMORED (Running time: 88 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Matt Dillon, Jean Reno, Laurence Fishburne, Columbus Short
I was not expecting to like Armored. Just another heist movie, it seemed to me. But there was a good twist here. The story is about a group of men working for an armored truck company. The men have become friends. They work hard toting huge sums of money for small pay.
One young man, Ty (Short) is a recent vet of the Iraq war. He takes care of his teenage brother, Jimmy, as both of their parents died within the past year. Ty is struggling to keep a rebellious brother in line and keep working to support them. But there isn't enough money.
One day talking about famous heists, they speculate that a famous heist where the robbers were never caught and the money never recovered was an inside job. Mike ( Dillon), the leader of the group, proposes a plan to rob $42 million, the next job they will be protecting. The bank is threatening to foreclose on Ty's house and children's services is threatening to take Jimmy away. Jimmy is all Ty has. He is pushed to the limit and reluctantly agrees to go along with the heist. But he makes them promise that no one will get hurt.
But the plan hits a snag and a plot twist turns the movie around. At this point, the action escalates and the movie goes into high gear. I don't want to reveal anything more.
The messages about doing the right thing are very strong here. This is a very moral movie although there is much violence and blood. There is no sex, but some bad language. The resourcefulness and intelligence of the military man is impressive. Armored should be okay for kids 13 and up who will not be upset by violence and bloodshed.
EVERYBODY'S FINE (Running time: 95 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Robert DeNiro, Kate Beckinsale, Drew Barrymore
Another bad movie advertising job. It appeared to be funny, however is anything but. This is a quiet movie about a man who spent his life supporting his family and gardening who didn't listen much to his kids. He relied on his wife for that.
He did encourage them and push them toward success. Now, eight months after his wife has died, he is expecting all the children to come home for a weekend visit. He takes great pains to prepare, only to be disappointed when all of them cancel. So he decides to find out what's up with them and makes surprise visits to all of them.
This is a movie about a father and his kids. They all lie to him about their lives because they feel he will not accept the truth. They think he has high expectations of them and they fall short. This is not a movie for kids. But it is a movie for parents; a real cautionary tale of how not to treat your kids when they are young. The movie makes it plain that what is sown in their youth will affect how they relate to you as adults.
There is some violence, no sex, some bad language. Everybody's Fine is an excellent movie, with a few small laughs and some tears. See it with your spouse. Then go home, hug your kids and listen to them.
AVATAR (Running time: 160 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, Zoe Saldana
This awesome adventure begins with American humans on a new planet called Pandora. The humans are scientists and ex-military people who have been hired by a big company to mine a certain mineral. Although it is imperative that they get this mineral, which is worth billions, why they need it is not explained.
The Na'Vi people, indigenous to Pandora, live right on top of the location for this mineral. How to drive them off? The scientists create avatars, beings with DNA of both humans and Na'Vi. They are able to place the minds of humans into the minds and bodies of the avatars. This is their way of sneaking into the Na'Vi community and learning their ways.
The scientists come to respect the "savage" ways of the Na'Vi people, while the military just get disgusted and impatient. They send in Jake Sully (Worthington) to become one with the Na'Vi and convince them to move. He falls in love with NeyTiri (Saldana), a female princess and warrior, during the process of acceptance.
The trials Jake goes through are breath-taking in glorious, vivid color and 3-D. There are many beautiful and scary creatures on Pandora. You never know what is going to pop out next.
While Jake is trying dipolomacy, the big, obnoxious general decides to plow ahead on his own and he starts a war with the Na'Vi. While the rest is fairly predictable, it is stunning to watch. This space folk tale is charming, engrossing and very well done.
There are scary creatures, violence, some bad language, a brief scene of implied sex. The biggest reason to recommend Avatar for kids 11 and up is that the movie is 160 minutes long! Otherwise, this adventure is a great way to pass a cold winter afternoon with your child.
INVICTUS Running time: 134 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon
Invictus is about Nelson Mandela (Freeman) taking over as president of South Africa and looking for a way to unite his black and white people. The country had been divided for so long, this was not an easy task. Mr. Mandela decided to use rugby, the South African rugby team specifically, to draw his people together.
Mr. Mandela saw that the blacks only supported the one black rugby player. The rest of the team was white. So he went out of his way to support the team, publicly. He reached out to the captain of the team (Damon), who quietly joined Mandela in spirit and lead the team to understanding and ultimately to victory. He showed up at games, met the players and so forth. This generated new interest in the black community and put his presence forward in a positive way in the white community.
Invictu shows how the difficult task of uniting a country can be accomplished piece by piece. The movie is moving, interesting, inspirational and long. There is no violence, no bad language and no sex. Invictus, the title is taken from a poem by William Henley, is a beautiful film that should be appropriate for children 11 and up who can understand the issues at stake. Don't miss this one. Even if you don't like sports, you'll love what this film stands for.
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKUEL (Running time: 88 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Jason Lee
The Chipmunks are back again. While I didn't love last year's chipmunk movie and I don't love this year's movie, both are harmless slapstick entertainment for younger kids.
In this version, the Chipmunks have put Dave in the hospital. Then they finish off an aunt. So they are left with a nerdy cousin to watch over the while they enroll in high school, which is pretty silly.
Their school needs money to keep their music program going. Alvin, Simon and Theodore decide to compete in a battle of the high school bands to win $25,000 for the music program.
But three female chipmunks, The Chippettes, come forward to compete for the school, too. The plot gets a little complicated, but our chipmunks prevail and lessons are learned. Alvin learns not to be so selfish. The Chippettes and Alvin, Simon and Theodore learn to sing together. The nephew learns to speak up about his crush on a girl working at the school. All ends well.
This cute movie has no violence, bad language or sex. It should be fine for kids 7 and up who understand some of the high school hijinks. I prefer the first Chipmunks movie, perhaps because it was funnier. Therefore I suggest that parents send the kids with grandma, grandpa or a babysitter. Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakuel is boring for adults.
DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS (Running time: 107 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Hugh Grant, Sam Elliott, Mary Steenburgen
Hugh Grant has become quite adept at comedy. He has all the funny lines in Did You Hear About the Morgans and he delivers them beautifully.
The Morgans are a couple who have been separated for several months and are on the verge of divorcing. They see a hit man who has just killed someone, so they have to leave town.
Meryl Morgan (Parker) and her husband Paul (Grant) are true New Yorkers. They get shipped out to a witness protection program in Wyoming, where they are fish out of water. They are living in a lovely cabin in the woods, totally isolated from everyone, with no phone, no Blackberry and too much of each other.
The jokes about the city slickers not taking to country life are funny. There are serious moments where they discuss their relationship and what went wrong. There are also fertility problems, hurt feelings and distrust issues to be resolved.
The subplot involves the hit man ferreting them out so that he can kill them. Two great law-enforcers (Elliott and Steenburgen) in Wyoming are hired to protect them. The Morgans come closer together, then move apart then come closer again until they are able to reclaim some of the magic that brought them together in the first place.
While this may be more like a sitcom than a great movie, I found it very entertaining. The serious parts may be a turn-off for teens, but parents will understand. There is some violence, some bad language, some discussion about infidelity and sexual innuendo but no on-screen sex.
Did You Hear About the Morgans is fine to see with kids 12 and up. Tag along, it's funny.
SHERLOCK HOLMES (Running time: 134 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams
Sherlock Holmes (Downey, Jr.), that famous super sleuth, gets an update in this fast and clever movie. Both he and Dr. Watson (Law) are as good at fisticuffs as they are at mental maneuvers.
The movie begins with Dr. Watson preparing to move out and get married. He is so opposite of Holmes in some respects, fastidious, polite and neat. But their friendship remains. This is a 19th Century buddy film as well as an engaging mystery and slug-fest.
Just as interesting are the sets of old England, grimy streets, horses, ladies in fine dresses combined with pure evil bad guys, ingenious devices and plot twists.
I wasn't expecting to like this, even though I am a fan of Robert Downey, Jr, but I did. The movie is captivating, moves quickly, though it is long and provides some laughs, too. There is plenty of violence, no sex, not much bad language. See Sherlock Holmes with your child of 11 and up. Don't miss this one, its fun.
THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS (Running time: 1 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell
I know that this is a fantasy morality tale, but I found it confusing, violent and just plain weird. It takes place in the present time along the route of a one-wagon traveling carnival with people dressed from another century. I never got exactly what the act is, but if the patron goes through the mirror, they enter into the imagination of Dr. Parnassus, where they see unusual images and are enticed by good and evil.
While the special effects are terrific and the imagination segments are colorful, the plot about Dr. Parnassus and his dealings with the Devil is confusing. I spent a good deal of the movie trying to figure things out until I just gave up and enjoyed the pretty sets.
There is violence, hanging, a sensual scene, some bad language and many scary images. This is not a movie for kids, especially those under 13. It's a mixed bag.
TOP TEN MOVIES OF 2009
For kids 6-10:
1) The Princess and the Frog - This movie is not to be missed. An updated and rearranged fairy tale, the colors are spectacular, the music by Randy Newman is fantastic.
2) Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs- Another fun installment in this series.
3) Planet 51 - This is a fun animated space/sci fi adventure film.
4) Monsters vs. Aliens - This clever movie is very funny for kids and adults alike.
5) Hannah Montana - This movie directed at 'tweens, has great music and delightful characters that will appeal to younger children, too.
6) Ponyo - While the anime is different for American children, the marvelous colors, unusual animation and simple, modern fairy tale make it good for younger kids.
7) Race to Witch Mountain - This remake of an old Disney classic is wonderful.
8) Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian - This sequel concentrates on the characters in the Smithsonian - the real stars of the first and second movies.
9) Jonas Brothers/Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - Tie: The Jonas Brothers movie is loaded with fantastic music. "Cloudy", while not totally true to the book, filled with adult plot lines, also has great animation and goofy images.
10) Alvin & the Chipmunks/Aliens in the Attic - The Chipmunk movies are harmless fun with slapstick humor. "Aliens" had some of the funniest slapstick I have seen in the past few years. While there are some scary parts, they are short.
For 11+
1) 17 Again: This is a fun and funny movie about parents and kids.
2) Up: My personal favorite for the year. This outstanding animated movie reaches out to bridge the gap between old and young with the funniest dogs I've ever seen.
3) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Another outstanding installment in the Harry Potter series. This film has less violence than others, but is just as engrossing.
4) The Blindside/This is It : "The Blindside" is a moving account of the harrowing early life of Michael Oher, a pro football player on the Baltimore Ravens. "This Is It", Michael Jackson's swansong is an amazing film with fabulous music, dancing, production numbers and originality.
5) Hotel for Dogs/Whip It: "Hotel" has orphaned kids but many funny dog scenes. "Whip It" has issues about teens and parents.
6) Star Trek: This prequel is funny, inventive and exciting.
7) Bandslam: This is the year for good films about music and this movie is no exception.
8) Confessions of a Shopaholic: Isla Fisher plays a young woman who can't resist a bargain. The lessons about overspending and financial responsibility are almost as great as the clothes she buys.
9) Disney's A Christmas Carol: It was very well done, but too scary for young kids..
10) Fantastic Mr. Fox: The animation is awesome in this low key film with ironic humor and plot.
Best movies for all ages:
1) Princess and the Frog
2) This is It
3) Planet 51
4) Jonas Brothers
BOTTOM TEN MOVIES
The truly terrible: avoid at all costs:
1) Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
2) Valkyrie
3) All About Steve
4) The Box
5) Time Traveler
6) Push
Just stupid but harmless:
1) Dance Flick
2) I Pink Panther
3) Love You, Beth Cooper
4) Land of the Lost
Rated PG
Starring Amy Adams, Matthew Goode
Amy Adams, one of the cutest actresses in movies, produces another charming performance in this movie about an uptight, young career woman trying to make both ends of her life fit together neatly.
Anna (
Never fear – take-charge Anna has a solution for that. Her BF is in
Her well-planned trip gets derailed by bad weather with comic results. She has a series of funny mishaps with a handsome Irishman named Declan (Goode), who she hired to get her to
Do Anna and Declan fall in love? Of course. But the boyfriend shows up and proposes spontaneously. We didn’t except this wrinkle. Will Anna marry the cardiologist and find happiness in
CRAZY ON THE OUTSIDE (Running time: 96 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Jeanne Tripplehorn
I am a sucker for a Tim Allen movie. I have seen them all, the good and the bad. This time Mr. Allen is directing as well as acting in this quirky, funny film.
Fresh out of prison, where he served three years for film piracy, Tommy (Allen) moves in with his sister (Weaver) – a real nut job with a heart of gold. Tommy is intent on starting up his dad’s old house painting business. But the parole officer (Tripplehorn) has other ideas and Tommy ends up working in a fast food restaurant and painting in his spare time.
Tommy’s former partner in crime is still doing business illegally and wants Tommy to rejoin him. Tommy tries to stay on the straight and narrow but it is hard when there are temptations, prejudice against ex-cons and strict limitations on what he can do. But love with the right woman (not the ex girlfriend) helps him to make the right choices and move into a happy, safe life.
There are some implied sex scenes with his ex-girlfriend that are used mostly for laughs. There is no violence, some good physical comedy and some bad language. Sigourney Weaver is hilarious as the fibbing sister who makes up outrageous stories, like telling granny that Tommy went to
I enjoyed Crazy on the Outside because it is very funny, charming and has really good messages for kids about making good choices in life. See Crazy on the Outside with kids who are 11 or 12 and up as there are adult issues.
THE
Rated PG
Starring Jackie Chan, Amber Valetta
I love Jackie Chan. I could watch him do his stunts, walk up walls and defeat the bad guys with only a ladder as a weapon all day. This family action comedy is a fun way to spend a winter afternoon with your kids.
Bob Ho (Chan) is a spy from
While he is struggling to get into the routine of parenting with three hostile kids, there is a spy emergency and he and the children are pulled into intrigue. Bob has to tell them who he really is since they are all fleeing the bad guys.
There are many funny scenes with Bob trying to master cooking and getting the kids to school on time. Being a smart guy, he figures it out. Even the bad guys in this movie are funny. The stunts are signature Chan moves that can’t be beat. There is violence, but no blood, no bad language and no sex. The Spy Next Door is a highly entertaining movie, perfect to see with you kids ages 6 or 7 and up. Stick around for the credits, where Mr. Chan runs the best outtakes from the movie.
YOUNG
Rated: PG
Starring Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany
Why couldn’t they teach history like this in high school? I was so in love with the Victoria and Albert love story that I didn’t want the movie to end.
This historical film tracks the life of Queen
At eighteen,
There is palace intrigue, politics and much going on behind the scenes in
THE TOOTH FAIRY (Running time: 102 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Dwayne Johnson, Ashley Judd, Julie Andrews, Stephen Merchant, Billy Crystal
You can count on Dwayne Johnson to do a movie for kids that is funny and meaningful. This is his best one yet!
The story is about an older ice hockey player. He used to be a star, got injured and never really made it back. Now he is just a crunch man, sent in to block for other players. Derek (Johnson) gave up his dreams of hockey stardom and so insists on squashing the dreams of others, especially kids.
When he almost tells his girlfriend’s young daughter that there is no tooth fairy, the world of tooth fairies takes action. Derek is recruited to become a tooth fairy, against his will, until he learns to believe that dreams are good.
There are many hilarious bits where Mr. Johnson makes fun of himself. Silly situations, Billy Crystal, shrinking paste and amnesia dust produce lots of laughs. Mr. Johnson is so good at physical comedy and so warm with the children that you and your kids will enjoy this film.
In The Tooth Fairy even adult issues, like working toward success are made understandable for younger children. This is one of the best live action movies for kids. There is some hockey violence, no sex and no bad language. I loved The Tooth Fairy! It’s a “don’t miss” for kids six and up and their parents, too.
EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES (Running time: 106 minutes)
Rated: PG
Starring Brendan Fraser, Harrison Ford, Keri Russell
I don’t know when I’ve seen such an inspirational film based on a true story done so well. The emphasis in this film is on life, not on death. John Crowley (Fraser) and his wife (Russell) have two children with Pompe’s disease. The disease is genetic and expected life span is nine years. The kids were born without the gene that makes an enzyme that breaks down sugar in the cells.
The doctor needs 10 million dollars to take his research to clinical trial.
While the film is emotional, it also moves through the marriage of science and business that make up our drug companies. I was fascinated with the processes that drugs have to go through before they are FDA approved. The push-and-pull between the scientists and the bean counters who watch costs moved the film along rapidly.
Extraordinary Measures found a winning formula. It is best for ‘tweens and teens. See it with your kids. It ends happily, but also raises questions that can lead to lively discussions.
WHEN IN
Rated PG-13
Starring Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Anjelica Huston, Danny DeVito
I was disappointed with When in Rome. The story is about a beautiful young woman, Beth (
At her sister’s wedding in
So Beth is chased by four weirdos all over
When in Rome is a cute, harmless fluff about romance and love. The two main characters carry as much as they can through their considerable charm. Since there is no violence, bad language or sex, it should be fine for ‘tweens and teens 12 and up. But send them with Grandma.
AN EDUCATION (Running time: 95 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Peter Sarsgaard, Carey Mulligan, Alfred Molina
This excellent coming-of-age movie about a very bright, pretty sixteen-year-old in
Jenny (Mulligan) is tall, lovely and super smart. She is going to a private school and studying to get into
But Jenny is bored. So one very rainy day, when David (Sarsgaard) pulls up to give her a ride home, she consents. David is handsome and charming. He goes to her school concert. Then he invites her to a professional concert.
Of course, Jenny’s parents don’t want her to go with him, but he is very persuasive. He assures them than he is going with his Aunt Helen, which is a lie. Jenny is intrigued by David. He’s dashing, a bit of a daredevil who doesn’t play by society’s rules. She is bored with her circumscribed life and he looks like a way out.
Slowly David wins Jenny away from her parents, charming her and her folks every step of the way. He takes her to
I can’t say too much more without revealing the rest of the plot. Although it all ends up okay, Jenny goes through much heartache, as do her parents. While she blames them to some degree, we can see that when teens lie to their parents, they forfeit the protection parents can provide. The other side of that is when parents believe their children because it is more convenient to do so rather than question, they give up the role of protector.
This is an excellent movie for teens, 13 plus, as there is no violence but is some bad language and sexual situations. Parents, see it with your girls.
DEAR JOHN (Running time: 109 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried, Richard Jenkins
I wasn’t expecting much of this love drama, but was pleasantly surprised. Dear John is about a lonely, motherless soldier, John (Tatum), home on a two week leave who meets a beautiful girl, Savanna (Seyfried) on the beach. They quickly become inseparable during leave.
Savanna is helping build a house for people who lost their home and John joins her. She insists on meeting his father (Jenkins), who is autistic. She shares his interest in coins.
Together they have a special love. John goes back into the army and he and Savanna keep their love fire burning through letters. The movie paints a true and beautiful love between these two. Sex doesn’t happen until the second reel and even then, it’s shown tastefully.
Then, he receives a “Dear John” letter. He is heartbroken and so are we. The film moves fairly quickly through the next six years. He returns home when his father is dying. There are some wonderful father and son scenes. He meets Savanna again.
I must stop here or spoil the movie. I enjoyed this movie and the surprise plot twist that made everything make sense. This isn’t a typical movie. There is violence during army scenes, some bad language and one brief sexual scene. Dear John , basically a chick flick, should be fine for kids 13 and up. Go see this one with the kids. Bring grandma and a box of tissues.
NINE (Running time: 110 minutes)
Rated: PG-13
Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, Fergie
Nine is not a movie for kids. It is directed by Rob Marshall the same man who did
In the movie, Guido (Day-Lewis) is having a crisis. He can’t write. He’s feeling sick. He’s revisiting his past in his mind, speaking with incredibly sexy women from his past and present. He even has conversations with his dead mama (Loren). All of his yearnings and remembrances have to do with sex.
We meet actresses, a journalist, a prostitute who showed him and his friends some things about sex, his costumer, his priests from school and his mom. All of these figures interfere in his present life, keeping him from working. He keeps running away and these women pursue him and sing wonderful songs and do sexy dances in his mind and on the screen. He is obsessed.
He keeps behaving badly until his loses his current movie and his wife, who he loves. Nine is a magnificent eyeful of music, dance and angst. Caution: his current mistress (Cruz) tries to commit suicide. Does he grow up? In the end, I believe he does. While there is no violence, there is none stop sexuality in music, dance and costumes. There is some bad language, too. But this is a fabulous film for older teens, 16 and up and parents.
PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF (Running time: 120 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring
This adventure movie taken from the first of a series of popular books is terrific. The story involves a boy, Percy Jackson (Lerman), whose father was the Olympic God, Poseidon. Percy is a demigod and doesn’t know it.
Someone steals Zeus’ lightning bolt and war is threatened. Everyone assumes Percy has it. The Furies, and a huge Minotaur and others come after Percy because they think he stole the bolt. It doesn’t take this lively adventure long to get under way. While we are following the adventure, we are learning about mythology, the painless way.
Hades, brother of Zeus and Poseidon also thinks Percy has the bolt. So he has taken Percy’s mother. Percy will stop at nothing to get his mother back. Percy, his protector, and Annabeth, the best demigod fighter race to the rescue. The fearless threesome travel across the
The movie has fabulous mythic bad guys who are big scary monsters, sometimes breathing fire. Medusa gets beheaded. The monsters are too scary for younger children. This movie should be rated PG-13. The action is marvelous and the story will keep your kids guessing. This is a great adventure movie for boys and girls ages 10 and up who can handle the monsters. Go see it with them, its great fun.
VALENTINE’S
Rated: PG-13
Starring Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Jennifer Garner, Jamie Foxx, Julia Roberts, Emma Roberts, Bradley Cooper, Anne Hathaway, Topher Grace, Queen Latifah, Hector Elizondo, Shirley MacLaine
I was looking forward to seeing this movie and I was not disappointed. Garry Marshall, who did Pretty Woman and other sweet movies, kept the heart in this film
The movie is about how Valentine’s Day impacts the lives of a bunch of people of various ages living in
First we start with couples. Some get engaged, some break up, and some shuffle partners, some fight and make-up, some fight and don’t make up. The movie shows that love isn’t always easy or simple or predictable. The messages in this movie are terrific and some serious questions are raised. For example, if you know a friend is dating a married person and doesn’t know it, should you tell him or her? The movie raises questions that could make for some interesting discussions with your ‘tweens and teens.
The movie moved at a fast pace without confusing you about who was who. The characters were varied, interesting and believable. I laughed and cried. While there is no violence, there are occasional bad words and sexual situations, including infidelity. Valentine’s Day is a great movie to see with your ‘tweens 12 or 13 and up. Take your spouse, grandparents, too. The happy ending will keep you smiling throughout the day.
GHOST WRITER (Running time: 109 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Ewan MacGregor, Pierce Brosnan
This thriller looked good in the previews on television, but the reality was another story. Ghost Writer is about a British writer (MacGregor) who takes on the job of being the ghost writer for the biography of an ex-Prime Minister of
As they begin working, a scandal about the P.M. breaks and the news media are all over him and his entourage. The media and angry protestors have found his compound and are waiting outside. During all this commotion, strange things happen. Our ghost writer, who never has a name, finds some information that creates suspicions about his predecessor’s death and what exactly was going on in
The story is very confusing. It’s hard to figure out who is a good guy and who is not. It’s also hard to know what’s going on some of the time. There were a lot of unanswered questions and actions that didn’t make sense.
I was looking forward to settling down with popcorn and a good thriller, but was disappointed. There is some violence, bad language and a little sex. Ghost Writer should be fine to see with your teens, 14 and up who can understand the issues. You may have some lively discussions about the movie and figuring out what exactly happened.
CELINE DION: THROUGH THE EYES OF THE WORLD (Running time: 117 minutes)
Not Rated
Starring Celine Dion and her family, dancers and singers
This documentary film follows Celine Dion and company through her recent world tour. From
Then we go backstage and see how Ms. Dion creates a normal family life for her son, Rene Charles, while traveling. The film catches the family doing fun things, like playing golf, doing silly things that all parents do with their children and touring some of the interesting places they visit, like a concentration camp in
We also see Ms. Dion coping with illness on the road. She gets a viral infection in her chest, and then develops a problem with her voice. We actually get to see what the doctor sees when she looks into Ms. Dion’s throat! That was a bit much.
Although this movie is priced higher than regular movies, the film is mostly electrifying. Watching her perform, even when she is sick, is amazing. She is energetic, enthusiastic, sensitive to others and caring about her staff. I felt like I was part of her entourage and delighted to be there. She is a fabulous performer.
There is no violence, no bag language and no sex. French students will get some practice, though there are subtitles when necessary. This is a fine film for Celine Dion fans of all ages. Take the kids and enjoy! I loved this movie so much; I bought two Celine Dion CD’s when I got home.
Rated PG
Starring Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway
Tim Burton directed this version of Lewis Carroll’s bizarre fantasy tale, Alice In Wonderland.
Our favorite characters, the Cheshire Cat, The March Hare, and The Caterpillar are all here in glorious colors. There is some violence, but no blood, no bad language and no sex. Alice in Wonderland, a lively, entertaining story, should be fine for adults and kids who enjoy imaginative images and aren’t afraid of big dragons, say about nine years old and up?
ANGUS, THONGS AND PERFECT SNOGGING (On DVD)
Not Rated
Starring Georgia Groome, Aaron Johnson, Eleanor Tomlinson
The problem with most straight-to-DVD movies in the
The girls here are not perfect looking or skinny. They are real. The plot will keep your ‘tweens guessing and rooting for
OUR FAMILY WEDDING (Running time: 90 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring
Lucia (Ferrera) and Marcus (Gross) have decided to get married. He’s going off to join Doctors without Borders and she has dropped out of law school to go with him.
First they must return home to tell their families. Since Lucia is Hispanic and Marcus is African American, this is not going to be an easy task.
The comedy in this film comes from difficulties between the two families who are trying to blend their disparate cultures and lifestyles. As they say in the movie, “it’s your marriage and our wedding.”
The two fathers are the most stubborn members of the family, refusing to give each other the upper hand. They are not supportive of their children’s choices and block harmony at every turn. While some of this is funny, some of it is familiar to anyone who has tried to do this.
The lessons in this movie are for both parents and kids. Parents put up road blocks in kids’ lives when they choose to go in a different direction and buck parental plans. Kids need to be strong in their decisions and learn to stand up to their parents.
While this isn’t the most hilarious movie ever, it does have some very funny moments and much warmth between parents and children. Plus there is a happy ending. There is no violence, no bad language but there are some sexual references. Our Family Wedding should be fine for teens and ‘tweens 12 and up.
REMEMBER ME (Running time: 113 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Robert Pattinson, Chris Cooper, Pierce Brosnan, Emilie de Ravin
What every teenage girl has been waiting for, a love story with Robert Pattinson where he can actually sleep with the girl without killing her. Our vampire heartthrob, Pattinson, plays a James Dean type in this drama of rebellion and heartbreak.
The movie begins with the point blank murder of a woman in front of her 11-year-old daughter. Then it cuts to ten years later. We follow Tyler (Pattinson) who is attending college in NYC and working at a bookstore.
The acting and story were compelling, but if you’re looking for fun, this is not the film to see. There is violence, some bad language and some brief sexual scenes. It should be fine for teens 13 and up. Robert Pattinson fan club members will want to see
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID (Running time: 120 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Rachael Harris, Steve Zahn
Middle school is probably the worst time in the life of a child. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is about the difficult adjustment to middle school, especially if you are a small male. Taken from the best-selling book, this movie highlights all the real and imagined horrors of middle school bullies. This how-not-to-survive manual in diary form follows Greg (Gordon), who thinks he can be cool, and a winner in middle school and his best friend, Rowley (Capron), who is heavy, red-haired with freckles and very dorky.
The sarcastic running commentary by Greg keeps putting down his friend and showing an overblown opinion of himself. I found this very annoying. Rowley says that his mother told him just to be himself and he’ll do fine in middle school, while Greg is trying to create an image of himself that is false to be popular.
Some of the shenanigans in this movie are mean and some are funny. Rowley ends up being popular while Greg ends up being despised. It isn’t his falseness, but rather his totally selfish attitude and complete lack of loyalty to his friend that destroy his image. I found Greg to be a mean-spirited, disloyal egotist. Rowley was a much more interesting character to me. I kept wondering what he saw in Greg. Perhaps that is the point of the movie.
Of course in the end, Greg redeems himself and he and Rowley become friends again. The lessons here are good. Diary of a Wimpy Kid has some almost violence, no bad language and no sex. It should be fine for kids 10 and up, who nervously await their turn at middle school.
THE BOUNTY HUNTER (Running time: 110 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler
This romantic comedy includes some suspense and a little violence. The story is about a couple who were married for nine months and are now divorced. Milo (Butler) got kicked off the police force and has become a bounty hunter. Nicole (Aniston) is a newspaper reporter, working on a big story. She has been arrested and has to appear in court. But a hot lead comes in and she disappears to pursue it.
So her name goes out to bounty hunters who bring in bail jumpers, like Nicole. Milo is a gambler with a big debt to pay off. He needs this fee, so he goes after her. The movie is cute and clever following this former couple as Milo chases down Nicole.
Just as he has caught Nicole and is bringing her in, the bad guys she was pursuing for her story come on the scene and try to kill her. Now our couple is trying to get away from them and to figure out what they still mean to each other. This is the romance part of the movie.
Then Bounty Hunter goes back to suspense. The movie is very entertaining. I found the leads charming and funny. There is violence and a little bloodshed, sexual references and a little bad language, but nothing extreme. The Bounty Hunter is a fun chick flick best for ‘tweens and teens 12 and up, see it with the kids, its fun.
CLASH OF THE TITANS (3D) (Running time: 106 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes
I was not expecting to like this movie. I thought it was only about big scary monsters, but I was pleasantly surprised. The movie follows Greek mythology into a war between the gods and man. We meet Perseus (Worthington) when he is a baby, discovered by a fisherman who raises him as his own. Perseus is born a god, being fathered by Zeus (Neeson), but is raised as a man, making him a demi-god.
After Hades (Fiennes) kills his family, Perseus has nothing left to lose so he joins the battle of man with the gods on the side of man. They take a journey to find Medusa, get her head and kill the Crackin, a huge beast that will destroy Argos.
I found myself caught up in the story and characters. You can't help but love Perseus, an honorable fellow with the best of intentions and the powers of a god! The story has some strange characters and monsters, like giant scorpions. While the 3-D was not great, it did make the monsters pop out a little more at you. Even Medusa with her serpent's tail and hair of snakes was pretty frightening and forget the Crackin, with several serpentine tails and a giant head that seemed to be one big mouth with huge sharp teeth. Needless to say, this movie is not for young children or any children who are prone to nightmares. But for kids 11 and up who won't be scared, Clash of the Titans is an entertaining flick. There is loads of violence but no blood, no bad language (they didn't have the "f" word back then) and no sex. See it with the kids.
WHY DID I GET MARRIED, TOO (Running time: 121 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Janet Jackson, Tyler Perry, Tasha Smith, Malik Yoba
Mr. Perry wrote, directed and produced this sequel to Why Did I Get Married. We revisit the revised couples; Sheila dumped Mike for Troy in the last movie, as they head to the Caribbean for their annual renewal of friendship and marriage.
Of course there are issues, mostly about infidelity, trust and jealousy. The obnoxious and excessive Angela becomes comic relief in this serious drama that shows how married people can hurt each other yet still love each other. Each couple has their own issues, but every couple was affected in this movie.
The ending is very dramatic with one couple going through a very angry divorce culminating in tragedy. This is not a movie for kids, but might teach some life lessons to teens.
I enjoyed Why Did I Get Married, Too. Mr. Perry creates engaging characters that you care about, uses humor and empathy. While the movie is long, just over two hours, I found myself eagerly to see more and totally engaged.
There is violence, especially a scene where a husband and wife have a horrific fight, smashing things and getting physical with each other. There is little bad language but there are some sexually suggestive scenes and discussions about sex and fidelity. See Why Did I Get Married, Too with your teens, 15 and up.
THE LAST SONG (Running time: 107minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Miley Cyrus, Greg Kinnear, Liam Hemsworth, Kelly Preston, Bobby Coleman
Taken from a Nicholas Sparks novel (He wrote "The Notebook" and "Dear John"), The Last Song is a lovely movie about family relationships, first love, and loss of a loved one. Ronnie (Cyrus) and her brother Jonah (Coleman) are sent to spend the summer with their father in a southern beach town. Ronnie shares musical talent for the piano with her father, but when her parents got a divorce and her father moved far away, she stopped playing.
Ronnie is still angry at him and doesn't want to be there. She resists his efforts to reconnect with her and stomps off to the beach where she meets a handsome, young beach volleyball player. They share a mutual interest in protecting sea turtle eggs from raccoons and he takes an interest in her. They fall in love.
Meanwhile, Jonah does reconnect with his father over a stained glass project for a church that had burned down. There is some mean girl behavior as Ronnie, a New York girl, does not fit into the southern lifestyle. Some misunderstandings also move the plot along. The Last Song is a sweet, moving story of love and loss. While Miss Cyrus is not the greatest actor on the screen today, she is okay in this role. There is a little violence, no bad language and no sexual situations. The Last Song should be best for 'tweens and teens age 11 and up. This is not Hannah Montana, so you can go, too, and enjoy it.
DATE NIGHT (Running time: 88 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Mark Wahlberg
I haven't laughed this much in a movie since It's Complicated debuted. The story is about a married couple who want to break out of their routine and renew their relationship by having a date night at a trendy restaurant in the city. When they can't get a table, they steal someone else's reservation. Little did they know that bad people are looking for the couple whose reservation they stole. Now the bad people think they are that couple and have an important flash drive in their possession. Soon our couple is on the run from the bad guys.
While the premise and the writing are good, Steve Carell and Tina Fey put it over the top with terrific comic acting. They are absolutely hilarious as the couple gets deeper and deeper into a morass of blackmail and corruption involving the police and the mayor.
There is violence, some questionable language and lots of sexual humor, plus sexual situations and scenes that take place in a "gentlemen's" type of club with pole dancing and scantily clad women. This setting just makes Mr. Carell and Ms. Fey's antics even funnier.
There a car chase which is one of the funniest I have ever seen. Though most of the humor is for adults, including humor about parenting and sex, Date Night should be fine for teens, 13 and up. This is a "don't miss" for parents who can easily relate to this couple.
IRON MAN 2 (Running time: 125 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johanson, Don Cheadle, Mickey Rourke
I loved Iron Man and Robert Downey, Jr. is one of my favorite actors. Iron Man 2, while not quite as good as the first, most sequels aren't, it is still an action-packed, tongue-in-cheek superhero extravaganza.
The movie takes a few shots at Senators and government contractors. The government thinks that the Iron Man suit should belong to the government, even though in the hands of Tony Stark it has created and maintained world peace. An unscrupulous government contractor is trying to get hold of one of the suits so that he can copy it and create an Iron Man army.
Meanwhile, back in Russia, the son of a former partner of Howard Stark, Tony's departed father, is also a genius and is after revenge over the raw deal his father got. Ivan (Rourke) creates a suit of sorts with giant electric arms. He attacks Tony at a racecar event in Monaco. Tony beats him as Iron Man and Ivan is jailed.
But our bad guy contactor springs him and puts him to work, creating Iron Men to compete with Tony's. The plots come together and you have a fabulous shootout between Tony's Iron Men and an army of iron robots.
There was not a dull moment in this movie. It is action-packed, with side issues, secret agents and Tony's struggle to stay alive while his energy source is killing him. There is violence, some bad language and a little sexual innuendo, but nothing to keep this movie out of the reach of kids 10 and up. I loved Iron Man 2, long live Tony Stark!
With the shortage of new movies for kids this week and Toy Story 3 scheduled to appear in theaters in June, Here are a few words about the first two Toy Story movies, which are available for rent on DVD. You might want to see them with your kids if you haven't already before you see the third in this series.
TOY STORY - This is the Pixar original, brilliant, first-ever, huge box-office success film in the computer animated world. Toy Story is absolutely brilliant. It's hilarious, poignant and a little scary in some places, like all Pixar movies. This movie is a top five favorite in the children's movie category for me because it is so intelligently written that it appeals to both adults and kids.
The humor cannot be beat and the theme, of a favorite toy getting supplanted by a new, wildly popular toy, is one kids and adults can relate to. The only drawback it the few scary scenes with the kid next door, Sid, who does strange things to toys, including blowing them up, and these mutant toys come to life, making this movie, like most Pixar movies, too scary for kids under age seven.
TOY STORY 2 – This also brilliant Pixar sequel introduces three new toy characters from the Wild West. While the newness wasn't there for this film, it was also well-written, funny and touching. This movie with no truly scary scenes is probably fine for kids as young as five or six.
These are two of the best movies for kids ever made.
Rated PG-13
Starring Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt
I wasn't expecting to like this and I was wrong. I loved it! Most Robin Hood movies begin where King John goes back on his word about the proclamation of equality, but this is a prequel and begins long before that happens.
We see Robin as a warrior for King Richard, along with Will Scarlett, Little John and Allan a Dale. They live out in the woods and take over every castle they come across. The year is 1199 and life is basic. There are few fancy costumes or even clean people in this movie. When King Richard is killed, the four friends take off, only to come upon the slain knights who were bringing the crown back to King John. Our band of merry men take over their identities and return to England.
Robin goes to Nottingham where he poses as the son of the local nobleman. The son, who is really dead, was married to Marian. So now Robin has to pretend to be her husband. Marian is no wimp and she keeps Robin at bay.
The plot involves the war between England and France and a double-dealer, named Godfrey. It gets a bit confusing at times, but once you've got it, the action ramps up and you get swept away with the creative military maneuvers, the loyalties and disloyalties and the tons of arrows flying everywhere. Robin Hood is a fast, lively action drama from the 12th Century that seems like history, but isn't. There is plenty of violence, some blood and gross arrow shots, no bad language and some sexually suggestive scenes. It will capture the minds of kids 12 and up who like adventure and parents, too. It's too long for younger children.
LETTERS FROM JULIET (Running time: 105 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Amanda Seyfried, Vanessa Redgrave, Gael Garcia, Bernal, Chris Egan
How delightful to have a romantic movie with no sex scenes! Sophie (Seyfried), a fact checker and aspiring writer is engaged to Victor (Bernal), a young man obsessed with opening his new Italian restaurant.
The lovers go to Italy for what is supposed to be a pre-honeymoon, whatever that is, but Victor is so wrapped up in his restaurant, he ignores Sophie. Sophie goes to the letters to Juliet wall in Verona and finds a letter sent 50 years earlier. She answers it and meets the older woman who wrote the letter, Claire (Redgrave) and her grandson, Charlie (Egan).
The grandson takes a big dislike to Sophie for instigating this wild goose chase to find Claire's first love. He and Sophie spar romantically for most of the movie, but true love wins out in this charmer.
I liked the messages about being faithful and love coming before the bedroom. The real star of the movie, is Italy. The scenes of Verona and Siena will have you booked on the next flight; they are magnificent. So if you missed Under the Tuscan Sun or fell in love with Italy when you saw it, do see Letters to Juliet. With no violence, no sex and no bad language, this sweet movie should be fine for romantics as young as 11, who can understand that older people fall in love, too.
SHREK FOREVER AFTER (Running time: 93 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonion Banderas
It's hard to believe this is the last Shrek movie. This series is wonderful and although this may not be the strongest entry in the series, it is still terrific and miles ahead of most children's movies.
The story fills us in about how Shrek and Fiona came to be, which is good for kids who didn't the first few Shrek movies. Now we see Shrek, the fierce ogre, as a family man, weighed down with family responsibilities, tending the kids, changing diapers, having no time to himself and no privacy. He is fed up with his life, so he makes a deal with Rumplestilskin to go back to being the ogre he was for just one day.
The deal is a bad one for Shrek as Rumplestilskin tricked him and takes over Far Far Away and plunders the town. Shrek realizes he had a wonderful life and now regrets making this bad deal, but he's stuck – or is he? Shrek must win back Fiona and break the curse on her and the spell on him to return to his life as it was.
The movie has good comedy and great messages about appreciating what you have in life. It's very entertaining and extremely well done. The 3-D doesn't add much except to the price of the movie. There is moderate violence but no blood. The big dragon and some other parts may be too scary for younger children. There is no bad language and no sex. This is not a movie for kids under five years old. Be sure to tag along with your kids six and up because you don't want to miss the last chapter of Shrek!
JUST WRIGHT (Running time: 111 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Queen Latifah, Common, Paula Patton
This is a lovely story about a girl and her cousin who grew up together. One is pretty and slim and the other, Leslie Wright (Latifah), is pretty and not slim. Leslie is sort of tomboyish and loves sports, especially the New Jersey Nets.
Both Leslie and her cousin are interested in Scott McKnight, an Nets Star player. The shallow, gold-digging cousin has decided that she wants to marry a sports hero and live the high life. She meets him at a party and he falls for her.
He gets injured and she runs out on him because he may not get a new contract. Leslie is a physical therapist who gets the job of her dreams, helping Scott comeback after his knee injury. They work together and fall in love as they have much in common and Leslie is a giving person. When he improves and it looks like he will get his contract back, the cousin reappears, attempting to move forward into marriage. Will Scott go back to the evil cousin or will he stick with Leslie?
PRINCE OF PERSIA (Running time 116 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina
This fast-paced adventure movie is based on a video game, not the first movie to come from that source. The story takes place in Sixth Century Persia where the king, who has two sons, finds a beggar orphan boy with moxie and decides to adopt him. Dastan, the former orphan, grows up in the palace with the other two sons, grateful for being adopted, happy with his brothers and not resentful that he will never succeed the king.
Dastan (Gyllenhaal) is a daredevil, always fighting and challenging others and winning. He goes along with his brothers and their uncle (Kingsley), the man who saved the king’s life when they were boys, to invade the sacred city of Alamut. Dastan says they shouldn’t, but the uncle advises the son who will be king next to do it. So the prince listens to the uncle and it turns out badly and the king is displeased.
While they have Alamut, they meet the beautiful and mysterious princess (Arterton) and the magic dagger, called “The Sands of Time” which is a gift from the Gods. The dagger allows the person holding it to turn back time. It is a powerful weapon, coveted by many.
Mayhem and murder take place in pursuit of the dagger. The king is killed and others follow. At each level the action increases, like a video game, which makes for a very thrilling movie with good special effects. The dagger changes the plot by rolling back time, so after something bad happens, it can be undone. This is clever, keeping you guessing and awake.
Prince of Persia is an exciting adventure with lots of violence, no bad language and no sex. It should be a fun way to share an afternoon with your child of 9 or more who can sit through the long movie and understand the complicated plot. I enjoyed it, too.
What could be better than laughing yourself silly with your children? Nothing short of a hot fudge sundae. So here are some comedies that have a special place in my heart. They are all available on netflix and at most video rental stores. Happy holiday!
MR. MAGOO
This is my all-time favorite children’s comedy of recent years. Leslie Nielsen stars as Mr. Magoo the nearsighted nutball with his faithful bulldog. Mr. Nielsen is an accomplished comedian and the writing and supporting cast are also terrific. Mr. Magoo and his nephew get involved with jewel thieves and the funniest opera scene this side of the Marx Brothers.
Mr. Magoo does aerobics with a chicken, the dog saves the jewel, the bad guys aren’t scary and the scene of Magoo masquerading as a South American bad guy with an inked on tattoo that starts to run in the pool had my family choking with laughter. Rent this DVD for a wonderful movie experience to share with your kids of any age, and grandparents, too.
MILO & OTIS
This movie was originally made in Asia and someone wrote a new script, using the hilarious Dudley Moore to record the voices of all the animals. The movie is about a kitten and puppy that meet on a farm and end up floating down a river to have an adventure. It’s funny, touching and delightful enough for kids as little as four all the way up to enjoy. We watched this one with our kids again and again and again. In fact, we ended up adopting a pug because we fell so in love with Otis!
MARMADUKE (Running time: 1 hr. 27 minutes)
Rated PG
With the voice of Owen Wilson, Kiefer Sutherland, Sam Elliott
Live actors include Lee Pace, Judy Greer, William H. Macy
I guess it's hard to be a dad today, trying to make a good living and taking care of your family, including a huge dog. So many movies for kids are about good ole dad forcing everyone to do something they don't want to do, like move to California in this instance, just so dad can make more money and the family can live better.
Dad (Pace) gets a job working for a "green" dog food company in sunny Orange County, California. Marmaduke, the big, clumsy Great Dane is the only one who is happy about relocating. When he goes to the dog run, he meets the local dogs and the subplot of dogs accepting dogs and who is top dog begins.
Both plots run simultaneously. So while Marmaduke is trying to get close to the prettiest dog, the Dad is trying to please his demanding boss. One of the promotional ideas he comes up with includes a dog surfing contest, which, I must admit, was pretty funny. The computer generated special effects add much laughter to this flick, although dogs are funny to begin with.
While much of this movie is silly from an adult perspective, it will be fun and entertaining for kids. Although younger children will not understand everything about the boss and job, they will understand the bullying dogs. There is no violence, no bad language and no sex, making Marmaduke fine for kids five and up who can sit for an hour and forty-five minutes.
KILLERS (Running time: 1 hr. 40 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Kathrine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Tom Selleck, Catherine O'Hara
While Killers will not win any Academy Awards, it was a funny film. Jen (Heigl), a beautiful but recently dumped young woman, takes a vacation with her parents (O'Hara, Selleck) to Nice in France and meets Spencer (Kutcher). They fall in love and get married. This is the romantic part.
We see that Spencer is a hit man for the government, but this is not revealed to either Jen or her parents. He gives it up to marry Jen and lead the normal life that he craves.
After three years of marital bliss, Spencer's old boss comes back and the action switches into high gear. There are plot twists and lots of funny stuff as a contract worth $20 million is put on Spencer's head. People are coming out of the woodwork to kill him as he confesses to Jen about his past and the two of them take it on the lam. This is the suspenseful part.
Catherine O'Hara plays Jen's mother who consumers huge amounts of alcohol and although alcoholism isn't funny, she is funny here.
Yes, this is a silly romantic comedy with shooting, explosions and killing, but it was very comical, too. There is violence, some bad language and some sexy situations. The cast is excellent and Ashton Kutcher is improving, in my estimation. If you're looking for a fun escape on a hot afternoon, Killers might be the best idea, even if you don't die laughing.
TOY STORY 3 (Running time: 102 minutes)
Rated G
With the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, Joan Cusack
It was a privilege to sit in the theater and watch Toy Story 3, rated G making it appropriate for younger children. Pixar strikes again! The story picks up where it left off, with Andy grown up and going to college. What's going to happen to his toys? At first they get directed to the attic, but they end up at a daycare center instead. The other toys at the center are controlled by an evil pink teddy bear. He sends Andy's toys to the toddler room where they are played with so roughly, they are almost broken.
Of course, Woody has a plan to free the toys and get them safely back to Andy's attic. The clever, crazy shenanigans that go on while Woody is busting out the toys, plus the hilarious silliness of a Spanish version of Buzz Lightyear dancing flamenco and the Ken doll with Barbie had me crying with laughter.
The toys get into jeopardy and are almost crushed, then almost melted at the dump. This part was a little upsetting, but not for long. The toys triumph, but then the movie gets poignant as Andy has to make a decision about the toys before he goes off to college. This part brought tears to my eyes. But the ending was just perfect.
There is so much going on, just like in the other versions, that I must see it again because I'm sure I missed many funny elements and bits, hidden in the film. If you only see one kids' movie this year, this should be it. Do not miss Toy Story 3, with little violence, no bad language and no sex it is perfect for kids six to 96.
JONAH HEX (Running time: 1 hr. 35 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, Megan Fox
I know this god-awful film was taken from a comic book – why didn't they just leave it there? I can't imagine why the producers of this film thought people would want to spend an hour and a half looking at a man with a badly disfigured face? Putting that aside, the plot is so ridiculous and the writing so bad and the acting so feeble, there is nothing redeemable about this movie.
Jonah is a Confederate soldier who disobeys Turnbull, his superior officer by not burning down a hospital during the Civil War. His best friend, Turnbull's son, pulls a gun on Jonah, so he has to kill him. Turnbull burns Jonah's wife and child alive in front of him and brands his face.
Jonah tries to get revenge, but Turnbull dies mysteriously in a fire. But, of course, Turnbull isn't really dead or we don't have a movie. So we have the tired, old "faked death" here, plus the hooker with a heart of gold, plus weapons of mass destruction in an era when that wasn't possible, plus a bad guy who calls himself a "terrorista". Must I go on?
It is all too painful. Stay away from this movie. It's not worth anything for anyone of any age; it's just a sheer waste of time and money.
GROWN-UPS (Running time: approx. 1 hr. 40 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider
It's hard to believe an Adam Sandler movie can actually be called Grown-Ups. I do admit that time is improving Mr. Sandler's movies as they become more about family and less about the wonders of the bathroom and bachelorhood.
This movie is about a group of five men who grew up together and played on a championship basketball team when they were kids. The men have kept in loose touch, but haven't seen each other much in thirty years. When their old coach dies, they reconnect at his funeral and plan a holiday weekend together in a lake house. Each guy is a different personality with different jokes associated with his family and his life. Some of the situations are funn and some are not.
What does come through are good old fashioned family values as the parents connect with their kids in simple pleasures, like skipping rocks, making telephones with tin cans and string and water rides, instead of the high tech-low involvement toys of today. Old rivalries with men in their town resurface and a re-match is scheduled. In the end, the old friends re-evaluate their lives and drop their masks to be honest with each other.
While some of the jokes are juvenile, and with this group that should be no surprise, it was still a funny and entertaining movie. I enjoyed it more than I expected to. There is no violence, but some sexual humor and bathroom humor. Grown-Ups should be fine for kids 10 and up, but especially for parents who yearn for a little time with their kids, doing the old-fashioned fun stuff they used to do when they were young.
KNIGHT AND DAY (Running time: approx. 1 hr. 40 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz
I was looking forward to this movie and what a disappointment it was. Tom Cruise, while excellent playing spies in action movies just fell flat in the romantic comedy department with Cameron Diaz. This movie, like Killers, is about a regular woman getting mixed up with a killer/secret agent. Here we have Roy (Cruise) bumping into June (Diaz) at the airport so he can slip something into her luggage and sneak it through security. On the flight, we find out that every passenger is someone sent to kill Roy. There is a very funny scene with June in the bathroom while Roy is killing everyone on the plane, including the pilots.
The movie is fast-paced with a plot that requires attention to know who the bad guys really are. I liked the plot, I liked the action and I liked Cameron Diaz as a cute, smart and spunky June. But Mr. Cruise's performance was dry, cold and unfunny. I was disappointed as I was expecting the sizzle he gave out in Jerry Maguire, but it wasn't there.
There is lots of violence, some great car chases, motorcycle chase, fight scenes, a little bad language and no sex. Killers is a better movie, funnier and sexier. But you won't be bored by the plot in Knight and Day.
THE TWILIGHT SAGA, ECLIPSE (Running time: approx. 124 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
The second movie in this series was disappointing, but this one is a big improvement, perhaps because it is more focused on the relationships rather than the fighting. Bella (Stewart) is still planning to become a vampire on her 18th birthday. Edward (Pattinson) is not happy about her choice but is beginning to see that she is determined.
Meanwhile her lifelong friend, Jacob, who is a werewolf, has fallen in love with Bella, too. The guys are competing for her affections. While Bella is committed to Edward, she also loves Jacob and he offers her one benefit that Edward can't compete with: she doesn't have to become one of the living dead to live with and love him. In my book that would be a big plus!
And Bella considers it.
What I liked so much about this movie is that there is no real sex. Bella tries to convince Edward to sleep with her, but he refuses. He comes from Victorian times or even farther back than that when men didn't defile the women they loved; they married them instead. There are several sweet, sexy kissing scenes with Edward and Jacob, the kind of scenes that are about love not sex, that should be in the dreams of teens and 'tweens.
Also good were the Native American stories about the beginnings of the wolfmen and the vampires. The wolves actually work together with the vampires to protect Bella and defeat the bad guys. That was a good twist.
The father and mother in this movie are not as extreme or obnoxious as in the past. They both seem like reasonable people. The scene where the father tries to talk to the daughter about sex is pretty funny.
There is a scene where one of the female vampire characters talks in veiled terms about a rape long ago and how she was "drac'd" and then got revenge on her rapists. There is plenty of violence, too. But that is standard with this series. With no bad language, there is a lot to like in The Twilight Saga, Eclipse - which should be fine for teens and 'tweens 12 and up. Parents might enjoy this one, too. By the way, the wolves are cute.
If you like the Dracula idea but don't want to get scared to death, try these two gems from the past that are available on DVD:
FUNNY HORROR FILMS, WITH NO NIGHTMARES
DRACULA, DEAD AND LOVING IT - How can you beat Mel Brooks and Leslie Nielsen for laughs? You can't, especially when they team up in this spoof, with Mel Brooks trying to drive a stake into Nielsen's heart. Bring tissues for tears of laughter.
LOVE AT FIRST BITE – This movie finds the handsome and debonair George Hamilton playing a very sexy and attractive Dracula who got kicked out of Transylvania. He ends up taking a bite out of the Big Apple and falling in love with Susan Saint James in this hilarious spoof.
THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE (Running time: approx. 121 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina
This adventure movie based on Merlin and his disciples is fast-paced and fun. Balthazar (Cage) is a sorcerer from ancient times in modern day New York. He recruits David (Baruchel) as his apprentice in his age-old battle with Horvath (Molina). The good vs. evil situation is the major plot while events in the nerdy physicist, David's, life are a secondary plot. David is brilliant but lacks confidence and is a bust with girls.
But he is the one Balthazar has been seeking for thousands of years. So he agrees to become Balthazar's apprentice and learns how to harness his power. There are many amusing scenes between sorcerer and apprentice that blend well with the adventure.
While this isn't as good as the National Treasure movies, it is made by the same team and is an entertaining movie, a pleasant way to spend an afternoon with your children on a rainy or hot summer day. There is violence but no blood, no bad language and no sex. The Sorcerer's Apprentice is probably best for 'tweens who can understand David's issues, but it should be fine for children 10 and up plus parents and grandparents.
INCEPTION (Running time: 148 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Levitt-Gordon, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page
This was the most complicated and fascinating movie I have seen in years. The plot is so tightly created that there isn't a gap, but you must be rested, wide awake when you see Inception or you won't be able to follow along.
First, suspend disbelief and assume that you can enter someone's dreams and learn their secrets that way. Then follow along with a team of corporate spies who invade dreams of company bigwigs and steal their ideas.
Then follow along the subplot about our main man, Dom Cobb (DiCaprio), who cannot return to the U.S. for some reason and who is obsessed with his wife, who is either dead or caught in a dream somewhere. Dom wants desperately to be able to return to the U.S. to see his two children. He decides to abandon his idea-snatching in favor of one more huge dream adventure involving planting an idea instead of stealing one.
He assembles a team and we are taken on a roller coaster ride of epic proportions both into multiple dreams and through half a dozen levels and then trying to get out of all the levels without dying. This is a thrill ride to beat all thrill rides. I will admit that I didn't always know what was happening, but then if I had been there with a 'tween or teen, I probably could have been brought up to speed by him or her.
There is violence but little blood, explosions, guns, no bad language and no sex. Inception is an exciting, extremely well-plotted movie that will have you discussing it the next day. This highly original film without the usual clichés is a treat to share with your children age 11 and up. Have a cup of coffee before you go so you don't miss anything.
CATS AND DOGS, THE REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE (Running time: approx. 82 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Chris O’Donnell, Jack McBrayer and voices of Bette Midler, Alec Baldwin
I’m not a fan of dogs that pretend to be people, but I’m also not a nine year old child. This is a sequel to the popular Cats and Dogs movie. This time Kitty Galore has invented a device that will put out a sound that will drive dogs crazy and then cats will rule the world. The dogs realize that they must work together with the cats to bring down Kitty Galore.
A German shepherd that got dropped from the police force for not following orders is our main dog character. His handler (O’Donnell) wants to keep him, but the dog underground recruits the shepherd right out from under the police kennel.
The movie opens with violence as a crazy man takes over a fast food restaurant and is holding hostages. The place blows up but no one gets hurt.
The movie is pretty silly, but harmless. There is some violence, no bad language and no sex. It should be entertaining for kids six and up who might not get everything that’s going on but will enjoy the talking animals. Special bonus: a brand new Wiley Coyote/Road Runner cartoon that appeared before the movie – it was hilarious! Also, don’t leave before you see the credits. There are wonderful, funny shots of real dogs and cats playing together.
DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS (Running time: 110 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Stephanie Szostak
This movie is taken from a French movie with the same basic premise, a dinner, thrown by the boss where everyone is supposed to bring some idiot who makes an ass of himself while everyone laughs at him. While that idea may not be great, this movie has some very funny moments.
The movie starts off like a screwball comedy of the 1930’s. Tim (Rudd) wants to win Julie (Szostak) by moving up in his company. So he comes up with a brilliant idea and gets invited to the inner circle. However, his first assignment is to come to this dinner and find a schmuck to bring along for everyone’s amusement. When he tells Julie, she is appalled and assumes he won’t go. Now he is torn, to climb the corporate ladder and be successful enough to win Julie, he has to humiliate some poor soul, but if he does that, then Julie may walk out on him for being such an uncaring person.
Barry (Carell) is the schmuck who comes into Tim’s life and proceeds to turn Tim’s life upside down. Steve Carell is hilarious in this role. There is all sorts of schtick here, most of it funny but some of it stupid. This comedy of misunderstandings and double entendres is still funny, even if the sexual humor sometimes goes overboard.
There is a serious point about how wrong it is to laugh at others, but mostly Dinner for Schmucks plays for laughs. There is some violence, some bad language and lots of sexual humor, making the movie best for teens 15 and up. I liked Dinner for Schmucks, but it may be too raunchy for more sensitive viewers.
STEP UP 3D (Running time: 107 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Adam G. Stevani, Rick Malambri, Sarni Vinson, Allison Stoner
I love dance movies and this one is the best in the Step Up series. The story centers around two main young men, Luke(Malambri) and Moose(Stevani). Luke, a handsome hip hop dancer runs an old loft building left to him by his parents. He has constructed a huge studio for rehearsals and a place where kids who are dancing on the streets can crash safely.
Along comes Moose, a freshman at New York University. He gets sidetracked from an orientation tour and dances with break and hip hop dancers. Moose is an electrical engineering genius who loves to dance.
Luke recruits Moose saying he is BFAB – born from a boombox. So Moose joins The Pirates, Luke’s dance troupe and also attends engineering school at NYC.
Luke meets Natalie a beautiful dancer at a local club. They become friends. Then the plot goes back to typical Step Up stuff with the loft threatened by the bank and The Pirates having to win the big contest to keep it. But there are several twists along the way that make this more interesting than the others, including Moose’s relationship with his long time female friend and Luke’s talent for film-making.
I like the fact that the movie uses many real street dancers in the dance contests. These young men and women are extremely talented. It is a pleasure to meet them and watch them dance. There is no bad language, no violence and no sex. I loved Step Up 3D. It should be fine for kids 10 and up and parents, too. Don’t miss this lively tuneful expression of dance out of the box.
THE OTHER GUYS (Running time: 1 hr. 40 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Keaton, Dwayne Johnson, Samuel Jackson
Keep trying, Will Ferrell, you get closer to a good movie every time. This disjointed, hard to follow, densely plotted movie was fun in parts. When the two big hero cops (Johnson, Jackson) die, Detective Terry Hoitz (Wahlberg) decides that he and his nerdy partner, Gamble (Ferrell) need to get into the action.
There are many funny, isolated parts as the two mismatched cops track down white collar crime, do lots of shooting and have amazing car chases. This spoof of cop movies is most funny when Mr. Ferrell is playing his mild mannered, Clark Kentish character. When it comes to funny understatement, Mr. Ferrell is king. The Terry Hoitz character spends most of the movie acting mad, which is annoying. The Other Guys bogs down in the middle, but it picks up toward the end.
There are very funny bits sprinkled through the movie along with fantastic explosions, car chases and stunts. There is plenty of violence although no one bleeds, bad language and sexual innuendo. The Other Guys, while a step in the right direction, is best for Will Ferrell fans, ‘tweens and teens from 12 and up. The credits have some incredible financial statistics that go along with the plot that had me riveted, so don’t rush out of the theater.
DESPICABLE ME (Running time: approx. 1 hr. 35 minutes)
Rated PG
Animated with the voices of: Steve Carell, Russell Brand
I expected this animated movie to be funny from the previews, but I never expected anything this funny or this exceptional.
The movie tells the story of Gru (Carell), a wannabe villain who can’t seem to do pull off anything super bad. For example, he steals the Statue of Liberty, but a small version from
When his arch enemy steals one of the pyramids, Gru decides that he will do him one better and steal the Moon. Gru has to go through lots of machinations to get the loan from the bank to build the rocket to take him to the Moon.
First he has to steal the shrink ray gun, so he can shrink the Moon. His arch enemy has the gun and is going to try to beat Gru to stealing the Moon. Enter three little orphan girls selling cookies. Gru’s enemy lets them in his fortress because he wants to buy cookies. Gru decides he needs these little girls to gain entrance to steal the ray gun.
So Gru adopts the three little girls. This is where the movie takes off and the comedy increases with Gru making a fool of himself constantly. But also the little yellow guys are doing crazy things, making everyone laugh.
The story is really a sweet one as the girls end up reforming Gru, who decides that they are more important than stealing the Moon. The messages are great and the movie is oh so funny. Despicable Me is a “don’t miss” movie. Finally we have an animated movie that can rival Pixar for being the best. It’s about time.
THE LAST AIRBENDER (Running time: 1 hr. 43 minutes)
Rated PG
Starring Noah Ringer, Nicola Peltz
M. Night Shyamalan, shame on you! I actually could not make it to the end of this movie. I walked out -- the first time I have ever done that. First, we don’t know if the movie is happening now or 100 years ago. The writing is bad, the acting is terrible, the story is boring and the effects are lackluster.
The nonsense takes place in some frozen place, like
I expect more from M. Night Shyamalan, who has made some excellent, original, engrossing movies, but this isn’t one of them. Don’t waste your time or money on this garbage, because it will probably just put you to sleep. Take a nap at home, it free.
RAMONA AND BEEZUS (Running time: approx. 104 minutes)
Rated G
Starring Joey King. Gomez, John Corbett, Bridget Moynahan, Josh Duhamel, Ginnifer Goodwin
How delightful to have a “G” rated movie that is interesting and funny for both children and adults. This movie, taken from the popular Beverly Cleary books, has Ramona, a nine-year-old girl who always seems to mess things up, as the central character. Ramona has a big sister, baby sister, mom and dad. The movie takes you through her dad’s job loss, moving away from friends, her beloved aunt moving to Alaska, being laughed at by her classmates, her difficulties in school with her teacher and the death of her cat.
What I liked about the movie is that everything isn’t peachy-keen all the time. The family encounters difficulties but they pull together and manage to get by. Also, no adult is depicted as a complete idiot, a refreshing change of pace in today’s children’s movies.
I can’t think of a better movie to take a child to on a hot or rainy summer day. There is no violence, bad language or sex. Ramona and Beezus should be fine for children age six and up. Parents, this one is worth tagging along with your kids, don’t miss it!
SALT (Running time: 99 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber
This thriller had me guessing all the way to the end. Evelyn Salt (Jolie) is a CIA operative captured by the North Koreans. Her husband makes enough noise to get the U.S. government to trade for her two years later. She has been tortured, but Evelyn is tough, she survived.
Back in CIA headquarters, a Russian defector is brought in. He tells a tale of a Russian who took children and brought them up to behave like Americans but to be Russian spies. These children were trained to infiltrate the United States in order to create chaos and bring the country down. He says that Evelyn Salt is one of these spies.
So Evelyn is detained. Meanwhile, she is worried about her beloved husband, a German national. Evelyn gets away and goes home, only to find that her husband has been taken. She goes on the run, giving our CIA folks the slip in truly ingenious ways. There are some spectacular chase scenes with her jumping down on a moving truck and then from truck to truck.
In fact, the movie becomes one long chase, keeping you breathless and trying to figure out who is a good guy and who is a bad guy. Everything is not as it appears, but I can’t say more without ruining the movie.
Salt is tightly plotted, exciting and full of surprises. Ms. Jolie usually picks good movies to act in and this is no exception. There is plenty of violence, some water torture, some bad language and no sex. This is the best thriller to come along in a long time. See it with your child of 11 and over as a fun way to pass a summer evening.
TAKERS (Running time: approx. 107 minutes)
Rated PG-13
Starring Matt Dillon, Idris Elba, Paul Walker, Hayden Christiansen, T.I.
Takers is about a group of meticulous bank robbers who leave nothing to chance when planning a robbery. They get in, grab the money and get out without leaving evidence behind or killing anyone. Then they lay low, not pulling another job for a year, watching their investments of their ill-gotten gains grow in offshore bank accounts.
But one member of their team got sent to prison and is finally getting out. He made connections with Russian mobsters. When he is released he goes back to this high class gang of thieves with a plan for a special robbery that has the biggest take ever. If they weren't so greedy, they wouldn't have taken the job and they wouldn't have gotten in trouble.
But they do take the job. While they are arranging the heist, a dogged detective (Dillon) is working hard to crack the case, putting together small bits and pieces until he finally gets something to nibble on.
Our careful criminals are an interesting bunch with very different styles: one gets engaged while another has a rendezvous with two women in a swimming pool, one takes care of his crack head older sister. They are stylish, interesting characters.
Our bad guys are attractive and likeable, impeccably dressed, driving fancy sports cars and hanging out with hot women. Still, crime doesn't pay, even in this well-plotted, exciting movie full of chaotic chases, blazing bullets and shattered glass. There is a lot of violence and gunplay at the end, reminiscent of Bonnie and Clyde but on speed, little bad language, one or two sexually suggestive scenes, but mostly it's about the guys and the thefts. This fast-paced look into the world of intelligent thieves should be fine for children 11 and up. Parents will enjoy the quality of this film and the ending, which is sudden and surprising.
THE LAST EXORCISM (Running time: 87 minutes)
Rated PG-13 Starring Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell, Iris Bahr, Louis Herthum
This is a strange horror movie that is scary by suggestion for most of the movie until the end, when it is more graphic. A religiously fanatic farmer contacts a phony preacher to do an exorcism on his daughter. The phony preacher has been taking money for fake exorcisms for some time and is bothered by it. So he hires a team to film this, his last exorcism, to show how phony is really is.
The movie is shot with a hand-held camera, like The Blair Witch Project, sometimes making me a little dizzy.
After the preacher goes through his fake routine, he declares her cured, but strange things keep happening. The preacher gets a conscience and stays to make sure the girl is okay. Things keep getting weirder and weirder until he realizes that this case is for real.
I can't tell much more. The movie is scary, with lots of blood, no bad language and a few sexual references. The Last Exorcism is not a movie for sensitive children or anyone prone to nightmares. It should be okay for kids 13 and up who want to get scared out of their minds. That is not a way I would choose to spend my Saturday evening.
