I'd Let My Kid See That

Puss in Boots

2011-11-12T15:47:00.000-08:00

What a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon with my kids and a great note with which to return to the blog. An origin tale of revenge and ultimate redemption, it is a delightful mix of fairy tale, Western adventure, and heist films.

Antonio Banderas reprises his role of Puss from the Shrek films. Part cute kitten, part heart breaker, Puss is a player in all senses. His nemesis/love interest is voiced by Selma Hayek and Humpty Dumpty is played by Zach Galifianakis. Yes, I said Humpty Dumpty. Jack and Jill and a Beanstalk make appearances in the film. And if you are looking for any representation of the Puss in Boots we grew up with, good luck. But the film is clever, mostly age appropriate (a few innuendos but far more subtle than those in the Shrek series), and worth the $7 for a child ticket. All in all, I would say "Step Out".

Rating:

Overall:

Age Appropriateness (3 and Up):

Adult Enjoyment:

Nanny McPhee Returns on DVD

2010-12-21T18:08:00.000-08:00

A worthy successor to the first film, "Nanny McPhee Returns" brings our heroine (the AMAZING Emma Thompson), in all her frizzy-haired, buck-toothed glory forward in time into the Second World War. It is funny and sweet. In fact, both my mother and I cried more than once. My children loved the magic and it kept the interest of both including the three year old. For my full review, go here.

So I would rate this DVD a "Settle In".

Rating:

Overall:

Age Appropriateness (3 and Up):

Adult Enjoyment:

Cats and Dogs 2: The Revenge of Kitty Galore on DVD

2010-12-20T18:24:00.000-08:00

Despicable Me on DVD

2010-12-14T17:56:00.000-08:00

Shrek Forever After on DVD

2010-12-07T17:48:00.000-08:00

Shrek Forever After is nothing new -- think "Shrek" meets "A Wonderful Life" with a little bit of "Braveheart" thrown in. Yet it is sweetly played out. To see my full review, go here. Both of my children enjoyed it and so did my husband and I. Another nice surprise... unlike other Shrek episodes, there was no extended over-the-top inappropriate innuendo. I found it appropriate for both my three year-old and my six year-old.

Rating:
Overall:

Age Appropriateness (6 and Up):

Child attention Span:

Adult Enjoyment:

I definitely give this "Settle In"!

Toy Story 3 on DVD

2010-11-01T18:23:00.000-07:00

This is one of the rare cases wherein I, the parent, enjoyed the film more than my kiddos. To start, Pixar has done it again! These guys can't seem to hit a false note. To see my full review, go here.

I do think, however, that this is a more sophisticated storyline with some seriously scary moments, so I do recommend a parental (or older child) viewing before bringing the little ones in. But besides that, I loved the film and give it my highest DVD rating -- Stay Up.

Overall:

Age Appropriateness (School Age):

Under 5:

Child Attention Span:

Adult Enjoyment:

P.S. With the beauty of Pixar, I do think this film is worthy of a Blu-Ray purchase.

How to Train Your Dragon on DVD

2010-10-15T18:10:00.000-07:00

Both my son and I loved, Loved, LOVED this movie! We enjoyed it so much, he's getting it on Sunday for his birthday. It is a sweet story about differences and honoring who you are, mixed with excitement and adventure. And it teaches a great lesson. Who could ask for more? You can see the full review here.

This is a definite Stay Up!

I do not recommend this film for very young children as the dragons can be a little scary but it certainly is appropriate for school age.

Rating:
Overall:

Age Appropriateness (6 and Up):

Child attention Span:

Adut Enjoyment:

Marmaduke on DVD

2010-08-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

I did not care for this movie while it was in the theater. You can see my review here.

Rating:
Overall: >

Age Appropriateness (6 and Up):

Child attention Span:

Adult Enjoyment:

As my children did enjoy the film, despite their parents' pain, I will give this a "Press Play".

Nanny McPhee Returns

2010-08-28T14:55:00.000-07:00

Emma Thompson returns in all her frizzy-haired, buck-toothed, hairy-moled glory as the Nanny McPhee, the other magical nanny. She's no Mary Poppins with her frumpy appearance and scowl but just like her umbrella carrying predecessor, she holds the key to respectful children and family tranquility.

In this incarnation, it is at the heart of World War II and a mother (Maggie Gyllenhaal) has her hands full with her three children, the family farm, and a general store she shares with her batty employee (Maggie Smith). Her husband is away at war and her nephew and niece have been sent to join them to escape the bombings of London. Her very spoiled nephew and niece. The five children meet, instantly dislike each other and fighting ensues.

When they wreak havoc on her home and each other, her shop mistress fills twelve drawers with syrup, and her brother-in-law barrages her with bids to sell the farm, Nanny McPhee knocks on her door. And once again, with the magical tap of her cane, she teaches the children five valuable lessons including to stop fighting, to share, and to have faith.

This is a worthy successor to the first film. It is funny and sweet. In fact, both my mother and I cried more than once. My children loved the magic and it kept the interest of both including the three year old. So I would definitely rate this a "Step Out".

Rating:

Overall:

Age Appropriateness (3 and Up):

Adult Enjoyment:

Cats and Dogs 2: The Revenge of Kitty Galore

2010-08-05T19:05:00.000-07:00

Well the secret agents of the canine and feline world are at it again. This time with a new crew fighting the dastardly aspirations of a hairless cat named Kitty Galore (voiced by Bette Midler). Kitty Galore has her eye on revenge. Revenge against dogs and humans. It is this latter threat that drives the dogs and cats to join together to fight her scheme of world-wide domination. Her plot centers around a recording known as the "Call of the Wild". Should this horrific sound be heard by dogs, they will all turn mad and therefore be turned out by their owners. Abandoned by their designated best friends, Kitty plans to enslave the human race.

This film is a cute if slightly trite send-up of James Bond films, including a gorgeous opening title sequence. A mish-mash of classic spy films with a splash of other famous film moments, there are plenty of giggles if not many guffaws. Both children enjoyed the film and it maintained the attention of the 3 year old. There was no offensive language and little innuendo. All in all, it was a fun outing, though at today's prices, it is not a Must See at the theater. Therefore, as a fun film for adults and children, I give it a borderline "Step Out".

Rating:

Overall:

Age Appropriateness (6 and Up):

Adult Enjoyment: :

Despicable Me

2010-07-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

An old school Adams Family style villain. Adorable yellow minions. Three orphaned girls. A recipe for world domination. Mix them together and what do you get? One terrific film.

"Despicable Me" is one of those rare films that is both funny and sweet. It has humor for the adults without ever becoming inappropriate for children. I simply loved it.

The story centers around Gru (voiced brilliantly by Steve Carell) and his attempt to stay relevant in the super criminal world. He fixates on shrinking the moon and stealing it. He employs his group of minions to build a rocket to send him into space as he plots to steal a shrinking machine from a young, up and coming super villain. Vector, played by Jason Segal, is the young villain in an orange track suit with a sweet tooth. Upon discovering this weakness for cookies, he adopts three orphaned girls to get beyond Vector's extensive home defense system.

He brings the three precocious girls home to his lair. Now it is not too hard to figure out that the supervillain's heart is going to melt for these cutoes. And melt it does. So sweetly.

Both children enjoyed it. My mother enjoyed. I enjoyed it. In short, it was enjoyed by all.

It is a definite "Step Out". Go. Enjoy.

Overall:

Age Appropriateness (School Age): :

Under 5:

Child Attention Span: :

Adult Enjoyment: :

Percy Jackson on DVD

2010-07-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

For my full review, please go here for the theatrical release. Here's the overview for the DVD release:

Overall:

Age Appropriateness (Over 6):

Child Attention Span (Over 6):

Adult Enjoyment:

I gave it a "Step Out" (with a few noted reservations) and for DVD, I give it a "Settle In".

Toy Story 3

2010-07-01T09:36:00.001-07:00

This is one of the rare cases wherein I, the parent, enjoyed the film more than my kiddos. To start, Pixar has done it again! These guys can't seem to hit a false note. The film definitely lives up to the legacy of the previous two and absolutely worth a trip to the theater.

That said, it is scary for younger children. If I had it to do again, I would not take my three year old. Andy's (and our) favorite toys are endangered multiple times but more disturbing for my youngest, there is a very menacing teddy bear in the mix. Even my son (age six) seemed a little overwhelmed by this one. But in the end, he was fully in love with the film and ready to buy everything Toy Story 3 he could get his hands on (thanks a lot, Disney Pixar!)

Nobody beats Pixar in animation. And they really create wonderful stories that live up to the visual beauty. This one is a poignant look at growing up and the choices we make -- what we take with us and what we leave behind. Trust me if you are a parent, you'll want to bring a tissue or two.

Overall, it is a definite, "Step Out" for school age kids and up. For the younger one, I'd say wait for the DVD.

Overall:

Age Appropriateness (School Age):

Under 5:

Child Attention Span:

Adult Enjoyment:

Marmaduke

2010-06-12T16:59:00.000-07:00

Way overdue but this film was not worthy of much attention. Basically, my kids enjoyed it but my husband and I were in pain! There are two story lines -- the family story (overworked/stressed Dad checks out of family life) and the dog story ("Some Kind of Wonderful" for dogs). Both stories are trite -- so much so that the good cast could not save it. Therefore, with no further ado...

Rating:
Overall: >

Age Appropriateness (6 and Up):

Child attention Span:

Adult Enjoyment:

This is a "Stay In". My kids enjoyed it so come DVD time, it may be worth your while but save the big bucks at a theater.

Shrek: The Final Chapter

2010-05-23T16:09:00.000-07:00

Having seen Shrek 1,2,3, and the Christmas special often enough to commit them all to memory, I was unsure whether any new territory could be covered by the latest and last installation. I am happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised. The story is nothing new -- think "Shrek" meets "A Wonderful Life" with a little bit of "Braveheart" thrown in. Yet it is sweetly played out. The story is made fresh by the "what would happen if I was never born" angle. It allowed old characters to be viewed anew, both by the audience and by Shrek. It is a lesson in appreciating the beauties of everyday life. (I'll admit it -- watching Shrek fall in love with Fiona all over again touched this old mom's soft spot!)

Both of my children enjoyed it and so did my husband and I. Another nice surprise... unlike other Shrek episodes, there was no extended over-the-top inappropriate innuendo. I found it appropriate for both my three year-old and my six year-old.

Rating:
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Age Appropriateness (6 and Up):

Child attention Span:

Adut Enjoyment:

I definitely give this "Step Out"!

Also, my great friend Kelly over at Kelly's Lucky You wrote a review, as well. Here's a link to hers. Go check her out...

http://kellysluckyyou.blogspot.com/2010/05/movie-review-shrek-forever-after.html

How to Train Your Dragon

2010-04-09T06:33:00.000-07:00

I loved, Loved, LOVED this movie! (How's that for a start?) This film is exacty what a parent wants when they take their kiddo to see a film. It was enjoyable for adults and children alike without being inappropriate. It was beautiful to look at and the story was FUN! More than fun, however, it had a great message. What more could a parent (or grandparent) ask for?

It is so good that I want to limit what I tell you because I want you to enjoy it for yourself. It is an exciting tale. It is a heart-warming story. It is about finding your place in the world and learning to see others as yourself. My favorite line was when the central character (Hiccup -- yes, Hiccup) says "I looked at him and I saw myself" when speaking of the dragon. Oh, so sweet. That's it. I'm not telling you any more except "Go see it!!!"

The film is probably too scary for very young chilren. I took my six year old and it was perfect. I might let my younger child watch it on DVD but I would not take her to see it in the theater. A couple of scenes had my son on my lap -- especially during the very dramatic climax at the end. The closest thing to double entendre were mild references to breasts and undies. Otherwise, nothing. It was so nice to not having anything to cringe at while watching with my son. So nice!

Rating:
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Age Appropriateness (6 and Up):

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Adut Enjoyment:

I definitely give this "Step Out"!

Check out my friend, Kelly at Kelly's Lucky You. She guest posted for me and she liked the film, as well. Here's her take...

http://kellysluckyyou.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-to-train-your-dragon.html

Where the Wild Things Are -- DVD

2010-04-06T15:43:00.000-07:00

I am very mixed on this film. Let me start with this. It is very well acted. Max Records is perfectly cast as "Max" and Catherine Keener is lovely as a well-intended if over-taxed single mother. The visuals are very impressive and I enjoyed the puppetry over CGI. But this is a dark film.

No longer is Max a spirited boy sent to his room for the evening. His only real danger -- missing dinner. In the film, Max is a profoundly lonely and angry boy. His sadness is palpable. I cried. The precipitating event that starts his adventure in the land of the wild things results not in a child grounded in the safety of his bedroom but rather a young boy on the streets. He runs out into the night. Alone. This was devastating to watch as a mother.

Even the time with the Wild Things is not an easy, joyful rumpus. Instead it is an outward reflection of the dysfunction in Max's life. He sees how acting out in anger and frustration pushes away the very people (monsters) we need in our life.

The lessons are real and very profound but they are hard-earned. I cried at the end of the film almost as much as at the beginning. I hurt for Max. I hurt for his Mom. I hurt for the Monsters. In case you didn't catch the theme, I hurt.

Now all that said, my children watched this film before me with other family. They asked to watch it several times again. In fact, that is why I saw it. They seemed unfazed by the sadness. They liked the monsters. They liked it.

Honestly, I don't know how to rate this film. I think that it is a good film, if you know the film you are going to see. Do not expect to see a childhood classic coming to life. Expect to be taken on a deeply moving, dark experience. I think that this film would have been better for me had it not been based on one of my favorite childhood books, but it was. So I leave it to you to discover if you enjoy life "Where the Wild Things Are".

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Child Attention Span:

Adult Enjoyment:

I can't rate this a Press Play because I do believe that the adult themes may be upsetting to some children. I give it a marginal Settle In.

Alice in Wonderland (From Kelly's Lucky You)

2010-03-31T18:49:00.000-07:00

This is a guest post by Kelly at Kelly's Lucky You. Kelly loves movies and is known to go to two or three in one day! Her favorites are action films and romantic comedies. Daughter, Rosie, is four years old. Rosie still prefers animation, and it's suspected that the popcorn is her favorite part of going to the movies.

Tim Burton is a genius. Alice In Wonderland was a visual experience like no other. The last movie I saw before Alice was Avatar. Although Burton didn’t create another planet like Cameron did - he certainly created another world. The photography and use of color was amazing. Scenes like the chess-battle between the Red Queen and the White Queen were technically perfect. Where it fell short, for me, was in the compromises. It strayed a bit from the original story - but not enough to make it surprising. It was softened a bit from the usual Tim Burton creations, giving it more mass appeal, but also softening the creative genius. It had a bit of the Star Wars era animal creations but not enough to be a sci-fi lovers movie. It had a bit of the love story between The Mad Hatter and Alice but not enough for the chick-flick audience. I’m not convinced that Disney and Burton are a good combination.

The design - set design, costume design was spell-binding for me. I loved the different costumes for Alice - as she shrunk and grew, her costumes changed. The different sets in the Red Queen’s world and the White Queen’s world were innovative yet not too bizarre. I was distracted by Johnny Depp’s makeup and the occasional feminine mannerisms. He’s such a great actor, he doesn’t need bizarre makeup to convince us that he’s mad.

I didn’t take Rosie - she was frightened by the commercials for the movie. That was a wise decision, I don’t think she would have like it at all. The Dormouse spearing the eye of the Bandersnatch would have done her in. I’m not sure what age group was the target audience. Again, there were too many compromises. It was a mass appeal film that perhaps should have targeted a niche audience.

I was entertained - it passed my “watch test” - I didn’t check my watch - but it won’t make my top ten list. Maybe top twenty-five. If you only go to see a few movies this year, I would skip Alice In Wonderland. If you enjoy seeing many films, this is a visual/big screen movie and one to catch in the theater rather than DVD.

Did you see the movie? What did you think? What did you like? Not like? How would you rate it?

Rating:

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Age Appropriateness:

Child Attention Span:

(Under 3):

Adult Enjoyment:

Kelly also wrote a review of the new movie, "How To Train Your Dragon" , you can read about it at Kelly's Lucky You.

A big thanks to Kelly. I haven't seen this one yet and I am so happy that she was able to share her experience.

Alvin and the Chipmunks -- The Squeakquel; New on DVD

2010-03-30T19:06:00.000-07:00

I did not love this film but my son did. To see my full review, click here, otherwise you will find my cheat sheet below. I would call this a "Press Play".

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Age Appropriateness:

Child Attention Span:

(Under 3):

Adult Enjoyment:

Snow White on Blu-Ray

2010-03-22T15:52:00.000-07:00

I had not watched this Disney classic in some time. While some of the film is indelibly etched into my brain, I had forgotten much. This film is a classic in all senses. The music is lovely and I still adore the Dwarfs but the Queen is so evil. The film was a gift to my Princess-obsessed daughter. As we were watching the DVD, I became concerned that she would be frightened by the very dark nature of some of the scenes. She seemed unphased, however, be warned that there are some scary scenes.

All that said, I was stunned by the majesty of the digital restoration, especially for the Blu-Ray. I compared it to the old VHS tape we had and the difference was night and day. I absolutely recommend stepping up the DVD or better, the Blu-Ray disc.

I call this a Settle In -- stick around you might find that you too will be swept away by the film that was the first to gain the title Princess for Disney. It really is a masterpiece.

Rating:

Overall: >

Age Appropriateness:

Child Attention Span:

Adult Enjoyment:

The Princess and the Frog -- New on DVD

2010-03-16T08:10:00.000-07:00

I called this one a "Step Out!" at the theaters and I say, "Settle In" for the DVD. For the full review, go here.

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Planet 51 -- New on DVD

2010-03-12T08:59:00.000-08:00

What would happen if an all-American astronaut landed on a planet in the far reaches of the universe only to find that it is he that is "alien"? That is the question posed in the charming "Planet 51". A clever take on the 1950's paranoia films centering around alien invasion, the film is a reversal of the standard roles. Planet 51 is populated by little green men, women, boys, and girls in an alter-ego to 1950's suburbia. Think "Pleasantville" in green rather than black and white.

While the town is a white-picket heaven, they live in scientific ignorance and a comic-book driven paranoia of the unknown, the "different". Our central character, Lem (voiced by Justin Long) is a love-struck teen who has just gotten his dream job when he decides to help the monstrous invader -- Captain Charles Baker (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson expanding his family film resume) -- escape from the hyper-authoritarian clutches of General Grawl (Gary Oldman). This film plays on every cliche of the genre and how! It is an amusing look at how we have portrayed (and to some degree still do ) those things that frighten us and how we might be viewed in the other shoes. Also, there is a collection of "protesting" teens that provide a voice of reason as well as a humorous take on the long-haired hippies of the '60s.

There is little bit of innuendo including a joke about the naked astronaut and a misplaced antenna which my son did tune in on. Nonetheless, there was no foul language and both children enjoyed it.

I would say, "Settle In" and enjoy it with the kids.

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Adult Enjoyment:

Percy Jackson and the Olympians -- The Lightning Thief

2010-03-11T07:58:00.000-08:00

I must first warn readers of the book that the film is quite different. Major characters have been added and subtracted and the quest is pursued very differently. And for the parents out there, our central trio -- Percy, Annabeth, and Grover are older. They have all been fast-forwarded several years. This changes the story some but the dynamic more. Percy and Annabeth are no longer simply rivals/friends. Instead there is an immediate attraction between the two, a high school level attraction. And Grover is no longer a bushy haired nerd, but rather a hipster and something of a ladies man. He runs around spouting, "that's nasty" and hitting on every girl/goddess he sees. So there is a level of innuendo that is nonexistent in the books.

That said, I enjoyed the movie and my son thought it was terrific. While there were "danger times" which is what my son calls scary moments, nothing was too disturbing for him. I will say, however, that you should judge based on your own child's level of fear. There are several monsters, including a snake-headed Uma Thurman as Medusa. The film is fast-paced (at times to the detriment of the story) and overall a fun film I feel that I could recommend for school-aged children. It is definitely not appropriate for younger children or those who are uncomfortable with stories involving monstrous creatures. There is some fighting and (SPOILER ALERT) a parent's life is taken early on. Also, Percy's step-dad (played by the always great Joey Pantaliano) is abusive and unpleasant.

With those caveats, I give the film a "Step Out".

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Age Appropriateness (Over 6):

Child Attention Span (Over 6):

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The Tooth Fairy

2010-03-02T06:32:00.000-08:00

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has begun to make a name for himself as the go-to guy for family comedies. His naturally large physical presence (and history as an uber-masculine wrestler) easily set-ups sight gags wherein he is dressed in tutus, tiara and glitter. And of course, The Tooth Fairy does not miss such an opportunity.

His character, Derek, is a minor league hockey player that is known not for his shooting skill but for his fierce tackles that have resulted in lost teeth of opposing players. This damage to teeth and his chosen moniker of "Tooth Fairy" have upset the fairy world. This is further aggravated by Derek's interactions with children. Whether an eager fan or the the young daughter of his love interest (Ashley Judd), he has no respect for dreams and belief. In fact, he sentenced to service as a real tooth fairy. This provides an opportunity for him to grow as an athlete, a friend, and a father figure.

The movie is a sweet tale of fighting for what you care for, taking chances, and dreaming big. It has several cute scenes wherein Derek learns to utilize his skills and the terrified homeowners he visits. But there are also very nice interactions between Derek and the family he is pursuing.

All of the adults in the group enjoyed the film and my six year old LOVED it. It was not at all interesting to my younger daughter and I think the minimum age of interest is probably 4 or 5. There wasn't anything inappropriate, however.

So all in all, I say Step Out.

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Returning from the Land of the Lost

2010-02-26T09:16:00.001-08:00

Hi guys! Sorry that I have been away so long. We lost a dear member of our family and it has taken me a while to work my way back here. I do have some reviews upcoming, however.

In theaters now:
The Tooth Fairy
Percy Jackson, The Lightning Thief

On DVD:
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Imagine That
Snow White (Classic on Blu-Ray)

So stay tuned folks, and I'll let you know whether it's worth your hard earned money and your hard won time with your kids. In other words, I'll let you know if I'd Let My Kid See That.

Land of the Lost

2010-01-24T11:01:00.000-08:00

I am not going to waste much energy on this film. As many of you know, "Land of the Lost" was a beloved (if corny) Sid & Marty Krofft TV show in the 1970s. I watched it religiously. So when I heard that they were making a film version of it, I was skeptical. But then I heard that the Kroffts were returning to produce it. So I got excited. But then I heard that it would star Will Ferrell and I got skeptical again. All that said, nothing could have prepared me for this film.

Knowing that it was a Will Ferrell vehicle, I expected a disgusting site gag (there is), crude jokes (there are), and a few inappropriate gestures (Boy! are there). But there is far more than I expected. The language is atrocious! And unnecessarily so. It's almost as if they saw the PG-13 marker as a challenge. And don't even get me started on the boob cup. Yes. You read that right. Boob cup.

Now I have nothing against Will Ferrell. I enjoy his raunchy humor in films like "Anchorman" and "Old School" and he was delightful in the family friendly "Elf". But why he felt compelled to take a classic show for children, which he professed to love, and make it something inappropriate for the very age-group that is was originally created for, I do not know. I wanted this to be something that I could share with my kids, instead it is something that wasted two hours of my time and has to be hidden from the kids.

Other than the boob cup, there is no nudity so this may be appropriate for older children. Just know that the profanity is varied and constant. They may very well enjoy it. But for my taste, I found it a lame attempt to piggy-back on a former success without putting any real heart into the new story. I would be lying if I said I never laughed but they were few and VERY far between.

So I give this DVD a "Skip It".

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Aliens in the Attic

2010-01-21T20:35:00.000-08:00

This live action family film takes place in a scenic Michigan town, in a ridiculously large and beautiful rental house. An extended family descends on the home for a week vacation. The first family consists of a father, a mother, a teen daughter dating an inappropriately older boyfriend, a teen boy who is purposely failing his classes, and a young daughter. They are shortly followed by an uncle, his older bully son, and his two younger twin sons. And of course, there is a Nana in the mix. Finally, the previously mentioned boyfriend crashes the party. There are the standard parent-child angsts relating to grades, divorce, boyfriends, and way too much screen time. The number of electronic devices carried on the four boys alone would put Radio Shack to shame.

Now the title pretty well sets the stage. The kids interrupt an invasion by four knee-high aliens. The chief weapon of the aliens is a dart like instrument that when shot in the back of the neck allows the person to be controlled as if in a video game. The trick is that it doesn't work on children so it is up to the kids (and the one soft-hearted alien they recruit to their side) to save the world. Through various creative means,the rag-tag group fight off the attacks. Weapons are made from household products and when the tech-savvy kids get a hold of one of the game style controllers for the humans, they are more than capable of holding their own against the invaders.

I did not necessarily expect to enjoy this film. My son has wanted to see it for months and tonight was family night so I conceded. But I found it amusing. The children are amiable and the adult cast is peppered with well-known faces (Kevin Nealon, Andy Richter, Tim Meadows, Doris Roberts). While the story is predictable, it is well executed and sweet.

My six year old loved it and it mostly kept the attention of my almost three year old. The "danger" elements as my son calls them were very kid-friendly and not frightening. He laughed quite a bit, especially at the game style antics of the adults under alien control.

The film is PG and it is for mild and slightly crude violence (there are a couple of crotch hits). The language, however, is not an issue at all. There is no cussing -- the genial crud and heck were the worst of it. I must say that was a nice surprise.

I would rate this DVD a "Settle In".

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Up

2010-01-03T15:58:00.000-08:00

If one needed proof that Pixar was the best at what they do -- "Up" would be an excellent place to start. It is one of the most visually stunning films I have ever seen. Pixar simply does 3-D animation better than anyone. But as advanced as they are technologically, that is only a small part of the film's brilliance. Pixar just does it right. They tell real stories with real heart. The characters are fully fleshed out and voiced beautifully. The audience cares about the characters and Pixar does not simply depend on celebrity voices to keep the audience interested.

"Up" is the heartwarming story of a widower, Carl (voiced magnificently by Ed Asner), who after losing his wife watches his neighborhood swallowed up by high-rise development. He is pressured by the developers to sell but he is resolute. The home means everything to him and in a touching and heart-breaking intro to the story, we know why. A lifetime of love and loss had blossomed there and he won't let go. In a moment of anger, however, he acts out violently, a mistake that changes everything. He will be sent to a retirement home and thus lose his precious home.

So he takes action and embarks on an adventure long-since promised and abandoned. He attaches thousands of helium balloons to his house and flies off toward South America. Unfortunately, (or fortunately as the story shows) he is not alone. Russell (Jordan Nagai), an over-eager scout has accidentally gone along for the ride in his misguided attempt to earn a badge for helping the elderly. They fly up, up and away, and then down, down, down -- frustratingly short of the waterfalls he fought so hard to reach. As they try to carry the home to his destination, they embark on an adventure involving talking dogs, a former hero, and a seemingly extinct bird. More than that, however, they learn about and from each other.

The message of this film is uplifting without ever being sappy. I cried all three times I saw the film (once in the theater and twice on DVD). Life's adventures don't just take place in the wild or someplace "out there". They take place everyday as we live our lives -- building a home, a family, working a job. The message is that life itself is the adventure and it is beautiful.

Now that I've told you how much I love I loved the film, you might be wondering about the kiddos. My son adored it at the theater and at home -- hardly moved. My daughter did okay at the theater (and she was just over 2!) and loves it on DVD. So I rank it high on that front.

It is rated PG due to "Some peril and action" but neither of my children expressed any fear at all.

So I would give this DVD a "Stay up" (no pun intended!) -- in other words, watch it if you don't have kids or a "Settle In" -- stay and watch it if you do.

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Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Squeakquel

2010-01-02T09:38:00.000-08:00

I saw the first Alvin and the Chipmunks film (2007) and while it was nothing thrilling, it was cute and not insanely annoying to the adults attending. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same of the second film. The plot set-up is heavily contrived to allow Zachary Levi (better known for and much better in the TV show "Chuck") to take over the heavy lifting for Jason Lee. A series of accidents happen hospitalizing both Lee's character "Dave" and the aunt he had put in charge during his hospitalization. This leaves the chipmunks in the charge of Levi's ultra slacker, Toby.

For reasons almost as equally contrived, and not at all explained, the chipmunks are going to school -- high school. This allows for high jinks with the snobby jock kids, a uber-Chipmunk fan of a principal, and Alvin to be split in his loyalties between his brothers and his new "friends" on the football team. Yes, you read correctly, Alvin plays for the high school football team.

The other story line involves Ian (David Cross), the former record producer of Alvin and the Chipmunks who has become the L.A. version of homeless -- living in luxury model apartments and doing business on the roof of his old office building. He has found his way "back" as he has discovered the female equivalent of Alvin and his brothers -- the Chipettes. The sisters are exact copies of each of the Chipmunks Alvin, Simon, and Theodore (body types, glasses, and all) wearing skirts. And of course, they sing. If you weren't already tired of Beyonce telling us that we should have put a ring on it, wait until you hear it voiced an octave higher on helium.

Now my six year old son loved it. He said to me emphatically that the film was "crazy, funny!" and he "loved it!". So if you have a six to eight year old boy, this may be the film for him. Besides the Jerry Lewis style pratfalls, there is the requisite collection of swirlies, wedgies, butt and fart jokes. Like I said, perfect for young boys.

My daughter was bored. The story did not hold her and she wandered the aisle almost non-stop, I must admit that this did not add to my enjoyment of the film.

It is rated PG and the word "sucks" was used.

Overall, I would give this a "Stay In" or in other words, wait for the DVD.

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The Princess and the Frog

2009-12-29T05:34:00.000-08:00

Wow! What a start to this blog. This film is a sumptuous ode to the Walt Disney hey-day. The Princess and the Frog is the tale of Tiana (voiced gloriously by Anika Noni Rose), an industrious young woman in Jazz-era New Orleans who dreams not of falling in love with her Prince Charming but of opening her own restaurant. She is tough-minded, goal-oriented and ready to knuckle down to make her "wishes" come true. In other words, she is no traditional damsel-in-distress waiting to be saved. Tiana waits on no one.

The prince/frog is Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos). He is the opposite of Tiana. Raised in luxury, but newly cut-off, Naveen is a lazy, spend-thrift who wants to party non-stop. He is dismissive of his servant and any attempt to curb his pleasure seeking lifestyle. It is this laissez-faire attitude that sets him up for the fate that befalls him. The story is peppered with classic Southern icons including a Southern Belle debutante, her father "Big Daddy" (voiced by an exuberant John Goodman), and a Cajun Firefly. Finally, the magic and the danger is provided by the classic Disney villain -- this time "Shadow Man", a voo-doo doctor who uses shadows to gather his ill-gotten goods. His plot to rule New Orleans includes turning Naveen into the titled frog.

Now the point of this blog is for the adults to enjoy the film, as well, so I am not going to spoil the story with a full synopsis. It is, however, a fun tale of learning to balance work and fun, following your heart at all cost, and learning what really matters.

The animation is hand-drawn and it is beautiful. It is a love song to old school Disney with homages to many classic films. There is an alligator that looks like it is straight out The Rescuers. The dancing shadows are reminiscent of Peter Pan. The bayou is full of colorful animal characters and led by Madame Odie (a magnificent Jennifer Lewis), the animals dance in a glorious scene that hearkens all the way back to Fantasia.

The music by Randy Newman is strong, as always, and holds up to the classic Walt Disney standard. "When I'm Human" reminded me of The Jungle Book and Ms. Rose's voice soars with "Almost There". The voice acting is first-rate and spattered with instantly recognizable voices including Oprah Winfrey and Terrence Howard.

All in all, this film was terrific. It kept my six year old son mesmerized and kept my two year old daughter interested more than half the time (a feat in itself). It was rated "G" and therefore, had no questionable language which thrilled me. I will say that my son did get scared at a couple of moments but nothing that kept him from watching (he simply moved on to my lap). My only warning is that (SPOILER ALERT) a love-able character, the Firefly, dies. It is handled with sensitivity, however, and my son was only momentarily distressed.

Finally, I loved the message. The Princess was a modern woman with dreams of her own and the where-with-all to reach them. Her best friend, seemingly a shallow ditzy blonde proves her depth and friendship as she offers to do what it takes to make her friend happy, and love triumphs over all.

So I call this one a "Step Out!"

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Hi There!

2009-11-08T06:30:00.000-08:00

So, I have always wanted to do this but found it a daunting task. I am newly into trying hard things , though, so I am going for it.

Obviously, I cannot blink my eyes (Jeannie-style) or twist my nose (Samantha-style) and have hundreds of reviews posted. I'm going to start with my immense canon of DVDS and try to catch every major release from here forward. If you have a film that you want me to preview, email me and let me know. I will do my best to see it ASAP.

As the blog grows, I hope that we develop a conversation on the movies we share with our children. What works. What doesn't. We might disagree. That's okay. Just so we're talking about what our kids see.