Movie Reviews and Ratings for Parents

While the movie industry produced nearly 12 times more R-rated films than G-rated films from 1989-2003, the average G-rated film produced 11 times greater profit than its R-rated counterpart." - Dick Rolfe, The Dove foundation's founder and chairman discussing their new profitability study.

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for brief strong language and some sexual references
Starring: Hugh Grant, Mandy Moore, Jennifer Coolidge, Willem Dafoe, Dennis Quaid, Chris Klein

Imagine a place where more people vote for the next pop music star than the next president. Not so difficult, is it? This is the premise of American Dreamz, a comedic satire that owes its premise to the immensely popular television phenomenon American Idol. Overall, American Dreamz is a movie that parents should be cautious to let their children, even their older ones, to see. ► more

MPAA RATING: PG for mild bullying and brief language
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland, James Belushi, Eddie Izzard, Janeane Garofalo, Greg Cipes

Disney's newest feature film, The Wild, is an enjoyable journey that is fun for families with children six and up. Combining elements of The Lion King and Madagascar, this movie follows the adventure of a group of animals who set out into "the wild" to find Samson's (Kiefer Sutherland) son, Ryan (Greg Cipes). ► more

Release Date: April 7, 2006

MPAA Rating: PG-13, for thematic material, language and some violence

Staring: Antonio Banderas, Alfre Woodard, Rob Brown

Genre: Drama

Recommended Age: 13+

Take the Lead, starring Antonio Banderas, is a wonderful movie that children ages 13 and up can enjoy with their parents. The film tells the story of a group of inner-city high school students who learn to ballroom dance. Although the film teaches the value of team work and perseverance through hard times, there is also some questionable content that parents should be made aware of. ► more

Release Date: April 7th, 2006

Starring: Rob Schneider, David Spade, Jon Heder, Jon Lovitz, Craig Kilborn

Genre: Comedy

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for crude and suggestive humor, and for language

Saturday Night Live alumni Rob Schneider, David Spade, Tim Meadows and Jon Lovitz re-unite to star in what is easily one of the most disgusting movies of the year and a poor choice for young viewers. The Benchwarmers could have been a funny, sweet tale of a group of awkward misfits coming together to try and defy stereotype and stand up for kids who are picked on for looking, thinking and acting a little differently than everyone else. Instead, The Benchwarmers is a puerile movie replete with vulgar language, bad behavior and scatological humor. ► more

MPAA RATING: PG for some mild language and innuendo
Voices of: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah
Genre: Animated comedy

Ice Age: The Meltdown is a hilarious and original film which children seven and older can enjoy with their parents. It continues the adventures of Diego (Denis Leary), Manny (Ray Romano), and Sid (John Leguizamo), three mammalian friends who audiences came to love in the original hit Ice Age.

Ice Age: The Meltdown is mostly family friendly, however some mild offensive content is included. There are many positive themes in this movie as well: Friends stick together no matter what and characters better themselves by learning to overcome their weaknesses and personal insecurities. ► more

MPAA RATING: PG for frightening images and brief mild language
Starring: Emma Roberts, Joanna �JoJo� Levesque, Sara Paxton, and Jake McDorman
Genre: Fantastical drama/comedy

Aquamarine is an engaging and heartfelt story about best friends, Hailey (Joanna Levesque) and Claire (Emma Roberts), who discover a mermaid in their resort pool following a fierce storm. Aquamarine (Sara Paxton) is the daughter of a powerful merman who has arranged a marriage for her. She cannot stand the merman her father has picked out for her and runs away from home, ending up washed up in the pool of a beachfront Florida resort. When she is discovered by Hailey and Claire, Aquamarine makes a deal with her father�she has three days to prove love exists while in human form, or she will forever be banished to the sea. Hailey and Claire agree to help with this quest in return for one wish.

With minimal offensive content, Aquamarine contains important lessons. It focuses on the importance of friendship and family, and the struggles that one must deal with when moving far away from home. It also treats the concept of teenage love quite responsibly as Aquamarine learns love doesn�t come in a matter of days and that the love of friends is very important. Overall, Aquamarine is a movie appropriate for children, aged nine and up. Girls especially will enjoy it. ► more

The Shaggy Dog, Disney�s latest remake from its library of classic family films, stars comedian Tim Allen in the title role. The film contains some mild rude humor, and therefore is recommended for viewers 10 and older. ► more

Starring: Kevin Kline, Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Emily Mortimer, Beyonc� Knowles

The 2006 remake of The Pink Panther missed being family-friendly due to several sexual innuendos, both visual and verbal, two murder scenes, and numerous scenes of slapstick violence against innocent bystanders. Starring Steve Martin, Beyonce Knowles, Jean Reno, and Kevin Kline, Panther follows the bumbling Inspector Clouseau as he tries to solve the murder of a soccer coach and theft of a valuable pink diamond. It is loosely based on the 1964 film of the same name, and the original theme of a completely ridiculous klutz accidentally solving a crime remains intact. ► more

Curious George is delightful and refreshingly funny with wonderful animation that pays tribute to the original art of the classic books by H.A. Rey (published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children in 1941).

George's adventures begin when Ted, the Man in the Yellow Hat (voiced by Will Ferrell), meets him in the jungles of Africa while on an expedition for an obscure monkey statue for the museum where Ted works. The excitement continues when the little primate stows away on Ted�s ship so that he can be with him. What a surprise Ted gets when he finds George in his apartment! ► more

MPAA Rating: PG for mild thematic elements, some rude humor, and brief language

Nanny McPhee is a whimsical family film which follows in the footsteps of Mary Poppins. Set in England, Cedric Brown (Colin Firth) is a widower with seven very naughty children. Just when things are looking bleak, Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) appears on the doorstep and gets straight to work. This film is full of positive values. The Brown children who ran wild in the beginning learn �to do exactly as they are told.� They learn to use their brains and hearts instead of making mischief, and support each other unconditionally. Overall, this magical film is appropriate for children seven and older. ► more

MPAA RATING: PG for mild action and some thematic elements
Genre: Animated family comedy/fairy tale

Hoodwinked is a crazy and creative take on the classic tale of "Little Red Riding Hood." Red (Anne Hathaway), as she is known around the forest, wants to explore the world. Instead, she is stuck delivering baked goods for her grandmother, the famous Granny Puckett (Glenn Close). One day, everything changes. A treacherous villain known only as the Goody Bandit is forcing all the local bakeries to close by stealing their most precious possessions�their recipes. ► more

Release Date: January 13, 2006

MPAA RATING: PG for racial issues including violence and epithets, and momentary language
Starring: Josh Lucas
Genre: Historical Sports Drama

Recommended Age: 11+

Glory Road is based upon the true story of the 1966 Texas Western Miners basketball team led by the inspirational Coach Don Haskins (Josh Lucas). Newly hired as the head coach of the Miners, he is given no recruiting budget and no hope. For years they have been a hopeless team, but that is about to change. Coach Haskins is determined to bring together the best group of basketball players out there.

Glory Road contains items that many viewers may find offensive. Racism is a huge issue, and it comes up time and again, however it is an accurate reflection of the South during the 1960s. With these warnings in mind, Glory Road is a positive film which inspires hope and courage in all. Coach Haskins was able to overcome an impossible barrier, and brought the first interracial Division 1 NCAA basketball team to glory. This wonderful and inspiring film is recommended for families with children eleven and older, however with some discussion about the themes younger ones may also enjoy it. ► more

Created by the Children's Television Workshop, The Electric Company is a wonderful show that teaches literacy skills to children in elementary school. Originally produced in the 1970s for children who had outgrown Sesame Street, it remains an entertaining and educational show that promotes the importance of reading in everyday life. ► more

Howl�s Moving Castle

Howl�s Moving Castle is a beautiful and moving journey through life and love set in an enchanted land, which can be enjoyed by viewers eight and older. Refreshingly void of offensive materials, this often humorous film interweaves messages such as the importance of friendship and love into an amazingly original story.

Madagascar

Much in the vein of Dreamwork's Shrek, Madagascar is an animated family comedy about an unlikely foursome of zoo friends.

Herbie Fully Loaded contains very little objectionable material. There is a little violence, but it always involves the cars. Trip sideswipes Herbie more than once (no one is injured), and whenever Herbie is angry or upset he wreaks minor havoc such as squirting someone with oil or hitting them with his hubcaps. There are also two romantic subplots, the first involving Maggie and Kevin, and the other with Herbie and a New Beetle. These attractions are innocent; there is only one short kiss in the movie, plus a warning from Maggie�s father for Herbie to not come home late from his date with the New Beetle. Also, in the beginning, Maggie lies to her father about racing Herbie. She tells him that Max, an imaginary person, borrowed Herbie and raced it, but he eventually finds out and she looses his trust. However, this is eventually resolved, giving the audience a positive message about the power of telling the truth. Overall the infringements are minor, making Herbie Fully Loaded appropriate for all children seven and up. ► more

Since their debut in the 1989 short film A Grand Day Out, Nick Park's lovable claymation characters have been welcomed by audiences of all ages in Europe and America. They make their major movie debut in Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. This is the first full-length movie starring the enterprising, if somewhat absent-minded Wallace and his wise and loyal dog, Gromit.

Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is a good-natured, funny story of two best-friends trying to fulfill their commitment to the townspeople while looking out for each other's well-being.

Questionable Content: The words �idiot� and �stupid� are used once.
Includes some intense scenes during the pursuit of the Were-Rabbit
Victor Quartermaine's bare buttocks are visible in a shadow when his pants are caught on a weathervane. ► more

A movie that is both rich in historical accuracy as well as enormous talent has proven, yet again, that The Walt Disney Company is a master storyteller. Unveiling a piece of America's sports history could have been a laborious task but Disney makes it interesting and fun. One does not need to understand the lingo of golf to fully enjoy this fine film.

With lush turn-of-the-century sets and a close eye paid to detail, along with a movingly beautiful soundtrack, the film guides us along smoothly and seamlessly. We feel not only the excitement of the match but the pain of being poor in a time when status was something that one was born into and guarded with fierceness to keep the unworthy out and a young man�s struggle to do what he loves the most and still keep peace with his father.

With only two swear words (damn and hell, each said only once) and a brief bar fight (seen in the background and only for a few seconds) the film has received a PG rating but is still suitable for families. There is no sex in the film in any form. ► more

Oliver Twist contains a wide array of actions and behaviors which could be found offensive. First of all, the word "damn" is used five times, generally in the context of "damn you" or "damn you all." Violence is a serious issue in several ways. The most minor being the pickpocket habits of Fagin and his group of boys. Several characters are beaten or attacked by others close to them. Several times a gun is present, and used to threaten Oliver into submission. Oliver is then shot in the arm by Bill for attempting to foil a break-in at his kind guardian Mr. Brownlows' house. This climaxes into Bill's death, an accidental hanging while trying to keep Oliver away from the police. Overall, Oliver Twist is appropriate for children twelve and older; if they can read the book, they can watch the movie. ► more

Corpse Bride - PG for some scary images and action, and brief mild language

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride is a beautiful yet macabre masterpiece which follows in the footsteps of The Nightmare Before Christmas. Filmed completely in stop-animation, with several musical numbers, it is the story of shy Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp) and his misadventures in love.

The Corpse Bride is exactly what the title says she is - a murdered woman buried in her wedding dress. Her injuries are not shown; however she is in a state of decomposition. There is a song about the Corpse Bride's life and death which is reenacted in shadows upon the wall. Nothing graphic is shown, however her death - murder - is explained.

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride is not a family movie, it is recommended for children twelve and older (unless you want to be up all night.) ► more

Valiant is a welcome alternative to the fluffier fare that is usually offered as children�s entertainment. While young children won�t pick up on many of the historical references interspersed throughout the film (such as one to Hitler�s vegetarianism) adults will, and it will make it all the more enjoyable. Children will find themselves identifying with plucky little Valiant and his quirky friends. Parents will appreciate that even though he proves that he is just as strong and brave as the biggest pigeon, Valiant still needs his mother and his friends, and what�s more, they need him.

This film is recommended for children 9 years and older for intense pursuit sequences and mild cartoon violence. ► more

In a world where professional basketball players are as likely to be in the news for their bad behavior off the court as for their performance on the court, one shining star stands apart. This is Yao Ming, the first Chinese athlete to play for the NBA. His story is captured in the new documentary, The Year of Yao. ► more

The Dukes of Hazzard Rated PG-13 for sexual content, crude and drug-related humor, language and comic action violence.

The Dukes of Hazzard�s title says it all: It�s a film hazard and should be avoided at all costs by family audiences. Foul language is used frequently. Sexual content is implied throughout the film, particularly with Daisy�s revealing outfits and flirtations. Violence is also an issue in this movie, with countless brawls and car chases. We recommend that The Dukes of Hazzard should be avoided by all ages and at all costs.

Sky High

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - PG for quirky situations, action, and mild language

Moments that may concern some parents involve the accidents that happen to four of the five children when they stubbornly ignore Willy Wonka's rules and advice. Though none of the children are actually harmed by the events, and later return to their normal selves, the incidents may be disturbing to some younger or more sensitive children. There are also scenes that depict one child doing karate against adults and knocking out each of her opponents (but there is no blood) as well as violent television and video games as seen on the TV of one of the children. Both scenes are brief but the audience is able to see clearly what the child is doing. In flash-backs, we see how the adult Wonka became the quirky, but nice, man that he is by finding out that his stern father moved (house and all) when little Willy threatened to run away from home - leaving him on his own at about 10 or 11. Language issues include a double entendre when Wonka tells Veruca "Don't touch that squirrel's nuts!" when she enters their work area to steal one for her own and Grandpa Joe begins to swear but Charlie's father covers Charlie's ears and all we see is Grandpa's mouth moving with no sound. Over all the film is pure fantasy fun that could be enjoyed by children seven and up. ► more

Mr. & Mrs. Smith First, this movie is violent in a way that even moves beyond the recent Star Wars release and some other PG-13 action flics. In those films, armies are typically battling one another -- usually under the premise of defending good over evil. Even Elektra, another movie that pushed the violence limits of PG-13, included person-to-person hostility -- often between males and females -- but not within the context of a married relationship.

Throughout the film, literally dozens -- perhaps hundreds -- of faceless people are shot, knifed, and killed with various implements of destruction. ► more

PTC Seal of Approval Winner

Madagascar Appropriate for children eight and up. There are a few instances of minor language, the most serious being "well, this sucks" by the penguins who discover Antarctica isn't all that it was made out to be. The word "hell" is spelled out once - Alex had created a giant "help" sign with palm trees but the "p" fell down and turned into an "l." "Shut up" is also used a few times, but there are no other instances of objectionable language. ► more

Cinderella Man While this film is not suitable for all family members , it is an accurate and honest account of a historic period in both American and sports history, as well as in the lives of those who struggled to survive what was called �the worst time in American history.� ► more

PTC Seal of Approval Winner
Kicking and Screaming Appropriate for children seven and up. Younger children may enjoy it, but the language and themes may be too mature for them. One moment in particular may unnerve younger or more sensitive children. Overall, this movie can be enjoyed by athletes and benchwarmers alike, and is fun for the whole family. ► more

Howl�s Moving Castle

Madagascar

The Dukes of Hazzard Rated PG-13 for sexual content, crude and drug-related humor, language and comic action violence.

Sky High

PTC Seal of Approval Winner