Family Film Reviews

NEW THIS WEEK

-- A FUNNY AND INGENIOUSLY ANIMATED WESTERN SPOOF WITH CRITTERS INSTEAD OF HUMANS MAY BE MORE FOR KIDS 8 AND OLDER:

"RANGO" PG -- Kids 8 and older and their parents will get more than a few laughs out of "Rango," a hugely clever animated Western that looks like it's in by-gum 3-D, even though it isn't. A film-and-theater-loving pet chameleon (Johnny Depp) gets separated from his owners in a desert highway mishap. On the advice of a run-over armadillo, the chameleon wanders to a town called Dirt, populated by a wonderment of desert creatures. Using his acting skills, he dubs himself Rango and becomes the parched hamlet's new sheriff. He has fun playing the role until he discovers that the mayor, a wily turtle (Ned Beatty), may be part of a nefarious water-stealing plot that is killing the town. Then Rango must find the real courage to save Dirt and win over a girl lizard named Beans (Isla Fisher). "Rango" comes close to being continuously delightful -- full of visual humor to amuse kids and allusions to classic Westerns to tickle adults. But near the end there is a big battle that goes on too long and becomes a little too violent for under-8s and perhaps for between 8 and 10. But for about three-quarters of its length, "Rango" is a treat from director Gore Verbinski of "Pirates of the Caribbean" films (all PG-13s). There's also a big moral about not hoarding water -- unsubtle, but compelling.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The PG rating is tested a bit in the battle, when bad guys of an indeterminate species fly into the fray on huge bats. Creepy. The dialogue makes repeated use of the word "hell," along with at least one "damn." But mostly, the film bravely risks going over kids' heads in a good way -- with vocabulary that parents can explain to them.

-- THIS GIGGLY RIFF ON THE "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST" FAIRY TALE OFFERS SCANT EMOTIONAL PUNCH, BUT A DECENT MORAL:

"BEASTLY" PG-13 -- Teen audiences may have trouble taking this magical looks-aren't-everything saga totally seriously, but that doesn't mean they won't have fun watching it or get the message. "Beastly" is based on a novel for young people by Alex Flinn, and based by him on the centuries-old "Beauty and the Beast" tale. Kyle (hearthrob of the moment Alex Pettyfer) is a vain and mean-spirited prep-school hunk. His TV anchorman dad (Peter Krause) is the same -- all about looks and beating competitors. Then Kendra (Mary-Kate Olsen), a Goth-style witch in Kyle's high school, puts a spell on him. He becomes bald, tattooed and scarred -- though more artfully than spookily. If a girl tells Kyle she loves him within one year, he'll change back, says Kendra, but if not, not. Kyle's father hides his son in a secluded house with a housekeeper (Lisa Gay Hamilton) and a blind tutor (Neil Patrick Harris). Riding the streets at night on a motorcycle, a hooded Kyle rescues a nice girl from his old school, Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens), and her father, from street thugs. (We learn later that her dad is a drug addict.) Lindy saw the bad guys and is still in danger, so Kyle tells her father to deliver her to his house where she can be safely hidden. Kyle is already in love with Lindy, but she does not know who he is, and it takes her a while to see his good heart.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The script includes crude, sexualized and belittling epithets, though they're not technically profane. However, some mild profanity also turns up. Kyle and Lindy get one nearly passionate kiss, but no sexual situations. Nongraphic but lethal street violence takes place, and a subplot deals with Lindy's father's drug addiction.

A SCI-FI-TINGED ROMANCE THAT COULD DELIGHT TEENS WHO LIKE ENTERTAINMENT WITH BRAINS:

"THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU" PG-13 -- "The Adjustment Bureau" offers something different for teens who like their movies laced with intellect and wit, and not stuck in perpetual overdrive. The mix of science fiction, spirituality, romance and visual inventiveness should make this a pretty good date flick, too. Matt Damon plays gifted New York politician David Norris, who has a habit of hurting his chances by getting into bar fights or mouthing off. On the eve of a senatorial election that looks dire, he meets Elise (Emily Blunt), a charming dancer/choreographer who makes him not care about losing. But he doesn't know her name and loses her number. Then David learns something amazing -- he can't re-connect with Elise because he's not supposed to. Men who look like 1950s FBI agents but are "case officers who live a lot longer than humans" are following him. Their team leader (John Slattery) tells David that he and Elise cannot be together because it's not in the current Plan as written by an unseen Chairman. He's told that the lives of everyone on Earth are governed by the Plan. David tries to fight Fate, and one of the "case officers" (Anthony Mackie) decides to help.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A genuine PG-13 that's fine for most teens, "The Adjustment Bureau" includes nonsexual profanity and crude language; a nongraphic but slightly steamy -- and unmarried -- sexual situation with implied nudity; and nonviolent but harrowing chases. The film's concept of people's fate and a higher power that controls it could conflict with or offend some people's religious beliefs.

-- A CHRISTIAN-THEMED STORY OF FAMILY DYSFUNCTION AND FORGIVENESS:

"THE GRACE CARD" PG-13 -- This parable about grief, friendship and forgiveness could have been a strong, stand-alone drama that would have spoken to a wide audience. But the filmmakers wanted to give the film a Christian focus, which turns the drama into an occasional sermon and detracts from it artistically. Even so, this aspect may move teen audiences who come from that religious tradition. And the story has much in it that could affect other teens on sheer dramatic and moral grounds. "Mac" McDonald (Michael Joiner) is a bitter Memphis policeman, still grieving over the accidental death of his young son many years earlier. His wife and surviving teenage boy -- who has his own problems -- get nothing but angry words from Mac. His new partner, Sam (Michael Higgenbottom), moonlights as a preacher and has his own church, but he cannot get Mac to let go of his grief or anger. Racism on Mac's part also sours the partnership. A heavy-handed plot twist creates a crisis that forces Mac, with Sam's help, to open his heart to God and grace.

THE BOTTOM LINE: As it involves cops on an urban beat, the film does depict street violence and gunplay, as well as scenes of upsetting family arguments that nearly become violent. We see characters who are deeply depressed and self-destructive. Mac drinks a lot.

-- NICOLAS CAGE TEARS UP THE PLACE AS AN ESCAPEE FROM HELL IN A SAGA THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS AND STRICTLY FOR ADULT FANS OF THE GENRE:

"DRIVE ANGRY" R -- The blood, guts, sexuality and sheer bloody-mindedness of "Drive Angry" make this occult 3-D action thriller, which is not without humor and excitement, a very heavy-duty R, and not for under-17s. Nicolas Cage plays Milton, a convict who has already died and gone to hell. He escapes long enough to avenge the murder of his daughter by a satanic cult, and, he hopes, to rescue his infant granddaughter. The cult leader (Billy Burke) has abducted the baby and plans to kill her as a sacrifice. A hellish operative called The Accountant (William Fichtner), who has even more firepower than Milton, has come to bring the escapee back. Milton hooks up in a paternal way with a waitress, Piper (Amber Heard), who joins him on his quest, burning rubber in muscle car chases. (He hooks up sexually with someone else.) It takes a while for Piper to understand why Milton seems unkillable.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A heavy-duty R and not for under-17s, "Drive Angry" shows ultraviolence, mostly with massive guns, highly explicit sexual situations and much nudity -- all of this in 3-D, keep in mind. The story hinges on an infant in perpetual danger of a violent death -- being sacrificed by a satanic cult. The profanity is also very strong.

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-- OK FOR KIDS 6 AND OLDER:

"GNOMEO & JULIET" G -- Kids 6 and older and their parents ought to bliss out on "Gnomeo & Juliet." Shakespeare's play takes a riotous turn among garden gnomes and gets a happy ending in this computer-animated 3-D treat, "drawn" with a droll mix of realism and colorful exaggeration and laced with old and new Elton John tunes. Human next-door neighbors Mr. Capulet and Miss Montague have feuded for years and the gnomes in their respective gardens reflect that. The young males even drag-race power mowers -- though of course, the gnomes only come to life when humans are not around. One night, Juliet (voice of Emily Blunt) creeps out of the red-themed Capulet garden, where she lives with her gnome family, to steal a flower. She encounters Gnomeo (James McAvoy), of the blue-toned Montague garden. It's love at first sight, but their romance wreaks gnomish havoc. Patrick Stewart is fun as the voice of Shakespeare (a statue come to life), trying to explain that the story is supposed to be a tragedy. The film abounds in clever allusions to Shakespeare's plays.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The script includes mildly grown-up gags, such as "I'm not illiterate -- my parents were married!" In general, the humor and sexual innuendo are mild and the G-rating justified, but the occasional property-and-gnome-shattering lawn-mower races could perhaps unsettle the youngest kids. Injured gnomes do get repaired and are OK. There is a subtle suicide reference to the play -- "took his own life."

-- OK FOR KIDS 8 AND OLDER:

"JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER" G -- Justin Bieber's fans 8 and older will love this backstage peek at his life. The 3-D "documentary"/marketing video traces Bieber's start as a talented toddler, crooning and playing drums on home videos, to his YouTube breakthrough, to the big 2010 North American tour that culminated in a sold-out Madison Square Garden concert. It portrays the Canadian-bred pop idol as a squeaky-clean, super-nice kid who wants desperately to be a star without losing what's left of his childhood -- he'll be 17 this month. His family, manager, vocal coach, security guy and others on his team seem genuinely fond of Bieber, and it is they who tell the story of his rise to fame. Bieber's mentor, Usher, makes cameo appearances, along with Miley Cyrus, Jaden Smith, Boys II Men, Ludacris and others. It's tough to know how much to believe of such a slick production, but Bieber is undoubtedly talented, and his fans as obsessed as 1960s Beatlemaniacs.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Someone makes a verbal reference to "making out" but in an innocent way. The language is truly G-rated, and we never see anyone drink anything other than water, soda or health drinks. Very mild sexual innuendo might be inferred from some onstage dance moves.

-- PG-13s:

"BIG MOMMAS: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON" -- Young actor/comedian Brandon T. Jackson joins forces with Martin Lawrence in this second sequel (following "Big Momma's House," PG-13, 2000; and "Big Momma's House 2," PG-13, 2006), but there's not enough of Jackson as a wannabe rap star, or of other young cast members performing pop songs, to automatically reel in teen audiences. Nor is the action or the comedy all that much. Still, some teens might be mildly amused. Atlanta-based FBI agent Malcolm (Martin Lawrence) is thrilled when his stepson Trent (Jackson) is accepted at Duke University. But Trent wants to skip college and do music. He follows Malcolm to a stake-out, hoping to convince him, and inadvertently witnesses a murder. Now the killers are after Trent, as well as a stolen flash drive that Malcolm learns is hidden somewhere in a performing arts school for girls. Malcolm goes undercover as Big Momma and gets hired as house mother. He disguises Trent as the hefty "Charmaine" and enrolls "her" as a student. Trent falls for music prodigy Haley (Jessica Lucas), which causes complications.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The PG-13 rating results mainly from the sexual innuendo and toilet humor that emerge when Trent tries to be "Charmaine" and not reveal that he is attracted to Haley or the other girls in the dorm. Similar innuendo also emerges when a security guard flirts with Big Momma. Scenes of violence and mayhem, which include a gun murder, nonlethal gunplay and fights, are understated. The language sticks to occasional low-grade profanity.

"UNKNOWN" -- High-schoolers who like spy sagas may happily buy into this espionage-and-assassination thriller, with its European setting, its middle-aged star and its nicotine-stained homage to Cold War cloak-and-dagger. The violence is awfully graphic for a PG-13, so it's not for middle-schoolers. Liam Neeson plays a biologist, Dr. Martin Harris, who flies to Berlin to deliver a speech at a science summit. As his wife Elizabeth (January Jones) checks into the hotel, he realizes he left his briefcase at the airport. He jumps into another cab and heads back, but the cab is in an accident. Martin awakens in a hospital days later, his memory shaken and his ID gone. When he returns to the hotel, his wife does not recognize him and claims her husband has never left her side (the "new" Martin is played by Aidan Quinn). Neeson's Martin questions his own sanity, then realizes he is under lethal threat. He gets help from a former East German secret policeman (Bruno Ganz), and the cab driver from the accident, Gina (Diane Kruger). The film grows preachy and ponderous near the end, but it is a pretty nifty thriller most of the time.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The murderous violence features a snapped neck, stabbings, bone-crushing attacks with tire irons, gunplay, a huge explosion, and dizzying car chases. The intensity approaches R territory. The film includes muted marital sexual innuendo, some drinking and smoking, and a couple of mild verbal epithets.

"I AM NUMBER FOUR" -- Lots of teens will scoff at the pseudo-seriousness and implausibility of this clunky movie -- even as a sci-fi saga. Yet they could find it entertaining enough as a weird hybrid of teen romance and supernatural hoo-ha. A handsome high-school loner, using the alias "John Smith" (Alex Pettyfer), is actually from outerspace, hiding from Voldemortish intergalactic conquerors called Mogadorians who destroyed his planet. They are coming after "John" and other survivors hiding on Earth. John and his guardian Henri (Timothy Olyphant) move a lot, change their names often, and try to blend in. Then John's warrior super powers start to manifest themselves and he finds it tough to keep them in check. At his latest high school, John falls for Sarah (Dianna Agron), and must take her into his confidence as the killers approach. The final battle involves both humans and extraterrestrials.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The movie includes occasional midrange profanity and mild sexual innuendo, but the key PG-13 ingredient is violence. The mayhem includes not only supernatural violence, with the killers forcing humans to swallow lethal blades and such (no blood), but fights, gunplay and a very unsettling haunted house, with fake severed heads and bodies. The characters include a classic high-school bully.

"JUST GO WITH IT" -- This kinda-sorta-sex-comedy is meant to warm the heart, but most of the time it is merely crude. It often sounds poorly ad-libbed rather than scripted. Adam Sandler plays Danny, a rich plastic surgeon who protects himself from heartbreak by wearing a fake wedding ring and pretending he's unhappily married. This attracts younger women who don't expect entanglements and can't hurt him. Then he falls for Palmer (Brooklyn Decker), a gorgeous schoolteacher who doubts his story. He convinces his office assistant, Katherine (Jennifer Aniston), a divorcee with two kids, to pose as his soon-to-be-ex. When Katherine accidentally mentions her children, they suddenly become hers and Danny's kids, who Palmer insists on meeting. This leads to a getting-to-know-you jaunt to Hawaii for nor reason at all.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The comedy features much toilet humor, implied toplessness, homophobic jokes and crude verbal and visual sexual innuendo of all kinds. Most disturbing, Katherine's young kids are forced to speak jaded, out-of-character adult sentiments for cheap laughs. The language, however, is relatively mild, except for a couple of S-words.

-- AN R:

"HALL PASS" R -- Teens 17 and older who don't mind -- and are mature enough to handle -- crude sexual humor may get a charge out of the intermittently funny, always lewd "Hall Pass," since it's about people their parents' age having sexual misadventures. Best-buddy milquetoasts Rick (Owen Wilson) and Fred (Jason Sudeikis) like to eyeball the ladies when they think their wives aren't looking. They're childlishly sex-obsessed. Fred even gets caught by police for masturbating in his parked car. First Rick's loving wife Maggie (Jenna Fischer) decides to give Rick a week off from marriage, no questions asked. Then Fred's wife Grace (Christina Applegate) does the same for him. But when the two men start hunting for women, they have no idea where to start or how not to act like dorks. They have sexual adventures of sorts, but it's their wives who eventually have their marriage vows tested.

THE BOTTOM LINE: In no way for teens under 17, the film contains male frontal nudity, a la "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (R, 2008), explicitly implied sexual situations (no nudity, but graphically pantomimed), and endlessly crude slang for sex acts and (mostly female) sex organs. There is also profanity, but nothing like the sexual slang. Characters get high on marijuana brownies and drink. The film's preachy pro-marriage ending seems slightly cynical after all that's gone before.