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Family Film Reviews

Jane Horwitz

"The Dark Knight" (PG-13, 2 hrs., 22 min.)

Heath Ledger walks away with "The Dark Knight" as Batman's nemesis, The Joker. His performance demonstrates what a loss his passing will be to the art of film acting. Ledger's Joker is insane, evil, scary, funny, and even pathetic in his psychopathic lack of feeling. He is also the sort of character that could give younger kids nightmares. This is not a movie for teens younger than high-school age, let alone grade-schoolers. Directed and co-written by Christoher Nolan, based on comic book characters by Bob Kane, "The Dark Knight" oozes post-9/11 paranoia. The Joker describes himself as an agent of chaos, and his random acts of violence are pure terror. He even broadcasts a video in which he kills someone, a la actual hostage executions by groups such as al-Qaeda; the camera cuts away, but still.

It is bizarre that "The Dark Knight" is rated PG-13. While "Batman" films have always been grimmer than other comic book adaptations, this one avoids an R rating only by limiting the flow of blood during the graphic violence. The movie depicts hostage situations with children in danger, point-blank shootouts and assassinations. The Joker puts a pencil through someone's head. A character loses half his face in a fiery explosion and becomes the gruesome Two-Face. There is rare crude language.

Haunted by his role as a vigilante, Batman, aka Gotham City billionaire Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), decides to test the metal of the idealistic new district attorney, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), thinking he may be able to retire his Bat suit. Enter The Joker, who starts by robbing banks and is in league with the local mob. Bruce Wayne's former love, Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal), is now Dent's girlfriend. All their conflicting emotions provide fodder for The Joker to mess with.

"Mamma Mia!" (PG-13, 1 hr., 43 min.)

A buoyant starburst of energy, romance and eye candy, "Mamma Mia!" should lift teen and adult audiences (especially of the female persuasion) into a zone of dizzy good humor, even if younger people (as happened at a preview The Family Filmgoer attended) giggle when middle-aged characters burst into song. They got over it, eventually. Based on the hugely successful stage show built around hits of the 1970s (and early '80s) pop group ABBA, "Mamma Mia!" is, to quote another lyric of yore, simply irresistible. The movie is a very mild PG-13, but does include drinking, discussion of out-of-wedlock pregnancy and youthful promiscuity, mild sexual innuendo, rare semi-crude language, and one briefly bare behind.

Set on a gorgeous Greek Island, circa 1999, "Mamma Mia!" tells the story of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), a young woman about to be married, who invites to her wedding the three men she knows her mother had affairs with around the time she was conceived. Sophie's mother Donna (Meryl Streep, in a bubbly, revelatory star turn), who owns a struggling hotel on the island, has no idea how her daughter yearns to know who her father is. Nor do Donna's ex-lovers Bill (Stellan Skarsgard), Sam (Pierce Brosnan) and Harry (Colin Firth) know why they've been invited. The rest of the story is a blur of song, dance and discoveries amid great scenery. The tunes and harmonies of ABBA's Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (sometimes with Stig Anderson) are still catchy, perhaps even to teens. As Donna's old pals, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters have great fun, and Dominic Cooper is a dishy fiance for Sophie. Director Phyllida Lloyd, who also did the stage show, keeps "Mamma Mia!" fizzing on film.

Beyond the Ratings Game: Movie Reviews for various ages

-- OK FOR KIDS 6 AND OLDER:

"WALL-E" G -- This computer-animated robot romance from the geniuses at Pixar breaks enchanting new ground, artistically, comically and technically. While the movie is funny and exciting, the mild existential dread inherent in its central idea -- a trash-covered Earth abandoned by all but robots -- and the way the narrative slows in the middle could mean occasional fidgets or upset for tots. "WALL-E" is better for kids 6 and older. Slightly scary bits include roaring dust storms and fiery spaceship landings. WALL-E is a trash-compacting robot in Manhattan some 700 years hence. He's squat and grungy, with binocular "eyes," collects knickknacks, has a cockroach for a pal and watches an ancient tape of "Hello Dolly!" (G, 1969). One day he finds a living plant. A spaceship lands and offloads a sleek, white robot, EVE. WALL-E is smitten, but when he shows EVE his plant, she grabs it and the spaceship scoops her back up. WALL-E hitches a ride. They fly to a starship where humans now live. "WALL-E" is preceded by "Presto" (G), a hilarious animated short.

-- BETTER FOR KIDS 8 AND OLDER:

"Meet Dave" PG -- (NEW) -- This science-fiction comedy geared to grade-schoolers is half-baked conceptually, but an amiable enough diversion. Eddie Murphy turns his physical comedy skills to playing a space alien. As part of a race of brainy humanlike creatures who are minute compared to the "primitive" people of Earth, he captains a spaceship designed to look like an Earthling, created in his own image. His mission is to use the humanoid ship to scope out Earth for energy sources and destruction. Captain and crew operate the arms, legs and mouth, etc. as the captain's avatar interacts with New Yorkers. "He" takes the name Dave Ming Chang and befriends a single mom (Elizabeth Banks) and her little boy (Austyn Lind Myers). Eventually, the goodness of people changes the captain's mind about Earth. The movie includes much toilet humor, mild sexual innuendo, mild gay jokes and some drinking.

"Journey to the Center of the Earth" PG -- When a prehistoric bug pops out at you in the digital 3-D version of "Journey to the Center of the Earth," you know it'll be fun, so try to see it in theaters offering that format. Yes, the movie is wildly simplistic and a little cheesy, but not a bad amusement park ride in 3-D. It might even spur some kids to read the Jules Verne sci-fi novel that inspired it. The language is tame -- one silly joke about a type of rock called "schist." Kids under 8 may be scared when the characters swoosh roller-coaster style through a mine shaft, or free-fall down a tunnel to the Earth's center, or are pursued by a dinosaur, giant piranhas and man-eating plants. Brendan Fraser plays geology professor Trevor Anderson, who, like his late brother Max, studies movements of the Earth's crust. He and his 13-year-old nephew (Josh Hutcherson) study Max's margin notes in a copy of Verne's novel, then head to Iceland. Trapped in a cave with their skeptical guide (Anita Briem), they fall into a realm near the Earth's core.

"Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" G -- Kit Kittredge may be kind, perky and enterprising -- a model 1930s tween -- but star Abigail Breslin never lets her become cloying. The movie is overearnest now and then, but more often atmospheric and fun. Girls 8 and older who love the "American Girl" dolls and novels set at different times in U.S. history will like it. (There's no reason why young boys couldn't enjoy it, either.) The script touches gently on the idea of people losing their homes and jobs in tough times. Kit befriends a teenage hobo (Max Thieriot) and the little orphan (Willow Smith) he travels with. Kit follows them around, writes a news story debunking anti-hobo prejudice and tries to get a cranky newspaper editor (Wallace Shawn) to print it. Meanwhile, her dad (Chris O'Donnell) loses his business and goes away to find work while her mom takes in boarders. When money disappears, Kit risks her safety to catch the thief. There are chases and threats from bad adults, but no one gets hurt.

-- PG-13s OF VARYING INTENSITY:

"The Dark Knight" (NEW) -- The late Heath Ledger walks away with "The Dark Knight" as Batman's nemesis, The Joker -- a villain he plays as insane, evil, scary, funny, and pathetic in his psychopathic lack of feeling. Some younger kids may have nightmares about this Joker. Not a movie for teens younger than high-school age, let alone grade-schoolers, "The Dark Knight" artfully oozes post-9/11 paranoia. The Joker is a terrorist with no ideology. He even broadcasts a video in which he kills someone in the manner of al-Qaeda. The camera cuts away, but still. Troubled by his role as a vigilante, Batman, aka Gotham City billionaire Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), decides to test the metal of the new district attorney, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart). Bruce Wayne's former love, Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal), is now Dent's girlfriend. The Joker toys with the three of them. It is bizarre that "The Dark Knight" is rated PG-13. It avoids an R rating only by limiting the blood flow during frequently graphic mayhem. The movie depicts hostage situations with children in danger, point-blank shootouts and assassinations. The Joker puts a pencil through someone's head, and a character loses half his face in a fiery explosion and becomes the gruesome Two-Face. There is rare crude language.

"Mamma Mia!" (NEW) -- A buoyant starburst of energy, romance and eye candy, "Mamma Mia!" should lift teen and adult audiences (especially of the female persuasion) into a zone of dizzy good humor. Adapted from the hugely successful stage show built around hits of the 1970s (and early '80s) pop group ABBA, "Mamma Mia!" is a very mild PG-13. Set on a gorgeous Greek Island, circa 1999, it tells the tale of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), a young woman about to be married, who invites to her wedding the three men she knows her mother had affairs with around the time she was conceived. Donna (Meryl Streep, in a bubbly star turn), who owns a struggling little hotel on the island, has no idea her daughter yearns to know who her father is. Nor do Donna's ex-lovers Bill (Stellan Skarsgard), Sam (Pierce Brosnan) and Harry (Colin Firth) know why they've been invited. The rest of the story is a blur of song, dance, discoveries and great scenery. The tunes are still catchy, perhaps even to teens. Christine Baranski and Julie Walters have wicked fun as Donna's old pals, and Dominic Cooper is a dishy fiance for Sophie. Director Phyllida Lloyd keeps "Mamma Mia!" fizzing on film. The rating reflects drinking, talk of out-of-wedlock pregnancy and youthful promiscuity, mild sexual innuendo, rare semi-crude language, and one briefly bare behind.

"Hellboy II: The Golden Army" -- The goblins, elves, ogres and monsters that populate this extraordinary-looking film often upstage Hellboy (Ron Perlman) and his team at the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. A blend of computer effects and gorgeous animatronic puppetry, the visuals are ravishing, but overlay a rather dreary narrative and heavy-footed action. Yet teens may like the film's look and Hellboy's tough-with-a-heart-of-gold persona. In this sequel (to "Hellboy," PG-13, 2004), again written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, based on Mike Mignola's graphic novels, the brick-red, horned superhero takes on evil Prince Nuada (Luke Goss) of a magical underworld realm. Hellboy, with his pyrokinetic love Liz (Selma Blair), the gilled "aquatic empath" Abe Sapien (Doug Jones) and the gaseous "protoplasmic mystic" Johann Krauss (voice of Seth MacFarlane) must stop him. The mayhem and monsters (even the little tooth fairies that burrow into humans and eat them) make the movie too intense for preteens. There are impalings, an implied beheading, and an infant in peril, as well as toilet humor, beer, cigars, mild profanity and sexual innuendo.

"Hancock" -- Will Smith plays a drunk, slovenly, rude, amnesiac superhero in "Hancock," a movie with a great premise but dismal follow-through. Even so, high-schoolers will like Smith's cool turn. John Hancock (Smith) catches bad guys and saves folks all over Los Angeles, but his flying is sloppy, his flat-footed landings tear up the streets and he wrecks stuff. He also sleeps on benches clutching a bottle of booze and grabs at women's derrieres. Then he rescues Ray (Jason Bateman), a public relations man who decides to rehabilitate Hancock. But Hancock senses an intense past connection with Ray's wife (Charlize Theron). This angle grows ever more implausible and derails the film. The movie is an iffy choice for middle-schoolers, as it is highly profane. It also contains gross-out humor, sexist and homophobic jokes, mild sexual innuendo, a bank robbery with terrified hostages wired with explosives, gun battles and perhaps fatal wounds.

"Get Smart" -- They've re-imagined the 1960s sitcom and yet retained its charms -- bad jokes, bad accents and a goofy blend of slapstick and spy shtick, executed in high deadpan. "Get Smart" will get laughs from teens who don't know the old show and adults who do. Steve Carell plays Maxwell Smart as a brighter bulb -- a bit of a geek, but gifted analyst at CONTROL, the agency set up to stop KAOS, a cabal bent on world domination. Max longs to be in the field like macho Agent 23 (Dwayne Johnson, formerly The Rock). After KAOS attacks CONTROL headquarters, the Chief (Alan Arkin) names Max Agent 86 and teams him with the highly competent and (to Max) distractingly pretty Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway). The film briefly uses Arab stereotypes and includes comic shootouts, fights, chases and other mild mayhem, rare profanity, toilet humor, fat jokes and sexual innuendo. There are rats, too.

-- AN R:

"Wanted" -- The visual effects in this sci-fi thriller (based on the comic books) are spectacular -- a train hanging off a trestle, a car plummeting into a gorge, for example. But the film works because the characters remain vivid through all the mayhem. James McAvoy plays anxiety-ridden office drone Wesley, who goes from wimp to hero. The gun-toting Fox (Angelina Jolie, in tattooed, dominant mode) shanghai's him into the Fraternity, a secret thousand-year-old club of assassins, led by Sloan (Morgan Freeman). They drill to achieve superhuman speed and shooting skills. Their targets are given to them in a mystical code. Wesley believes he's going after his father's killer. "Wanted" depicts blood-spattering shootings, beatings and target practice with animal and human corpses, yet it is all just surreal enough to be watchable. There is an explicit sexual situation, rear-view nudity, strong profanity and swarming rats. OK for 16 and older.

(c) 2008, Washington Post Writers Group.

This news arrived on: 07/17/2008

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