The Family Movie Guide should be used along with the Motion Picture Association of America rating system for selecting movies suitable for children. Only films rated G, PG or PG-13 are included in this weekly listing, along with occasional R-rated films that may have entertainment or educational value for older children with parental guidance. Compiled by St. Petersburg Times film critic Steve Persall.
RECOMMENDED
Daddy Day Care C-
(PG) - Eddie Murphy sanitizes his humor as an unemployed father opening a day care center at home. However, the movie is filled with children doing things parents won't want their kids to try at home, such as climbing on curtains, belching bubbles after swallowing soap and exhibiting bad toilet habits. Mildly rude language, one sexual innuendo. For ages 10 and younger only.
Finding Nemo A
(G) - The newest Pixar animated film will be as thrilling for children and entertaining for adults as the studio's previous hits, Toy Story and its sequel and Monsters, Inc. The story of a father clownfish (voice by Albert Brooks) searching the seas for his lost son contains a few moments of peril that may briefly scare kids, but overall the movie is good, clean - and smart - fun.
The Lizzie McGuire Movie C
(PG) - The clumsy, vivacious and popular Disney Channel character gets a movie. Hilary Duff's fresh-faced appeal is carefully dedicated to being a positive role model. The rating results from "mild thematic elements" that won't bother children.
Rugrats Go Wild! B-
(PG) - Nickelodeon combines two of its most popular television franchises for a feature film: the precocious toddlers of Rugrats and the adventurous family from The Wild Thornberrys. Fans of the programs will expect the mildly crude "ick"-factor humor that earned the MPAA's rating.
Spellbound A
(G) - Nothing is objectionable, but plenty is inspirational, in this documentary account of the 1999 National Spelling Bee. A culturally and socially diverse mix of young students and their supportive parents presents a positive view of youths that Hollywood seldom addresses in feature films.
Whale Rider B
(PG-13) - Brief profanity and a momentary drug reference earned a PG-13 rating for this inspiring tale of a New Zealand girl buckingtribal tradition by studying to be chief of her Maori tribe. A rare art-house film that young viewers would enjoy and relate to.
RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS
From Justin to Kelly
(PG) - American Idol celebrities Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini parlay 15 minutes of fame into a full-length feature film. The plot - a beach party romance in Miami - is an excuse for the stars to sing. The MPAA rating is due to racing hormones, sensuality and brief profanity.
Holes A
(PG) - The Newbery Award-winning book inspires the comic adventures of juvenile delinquents at a detention camp forced by wicked guards (Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight) to dig for buried treasure. The film contains mild profanity and violence, plus mature themes of corrupt authority figures and the heroes' brushes with the law. Recommended for ages 10 and older.
Hulk B
(PG-13) - Hulk is a moodier Marvel Comics hero, and Ang Lee's approach to the psychodrama may disturb (or bore) young viewers. Otherwise, the MPAA rating is due to the green monster's science fiction violence, disturbing images of his transformation and brief partial nudity when his alter ego, Dr. Bruce Banner (Eric Bana), grows out of his clothes.
The Italian Job C+
(PG-13) - Moderate profanity, action violence (mostly car chases) and some sensuality provided by co-star Charlize Theron led to the PG-13 rating.
X2: X-Men United A-
(PG-13) - The original X-Men made comic book movies cool again. The sequel is everything it should be for Marvel Comics fans, with loads of sci-fi (and mostly bloodless) violence, a couple of rude words for humor's sake, some mildly scary images and a brief bit of sensual behavior. Rebecca Romijn-Stamos' skin-tight Mystique costume leaves little to the imagination. For ages 10 and older.
NOT RECOMMENDED
2 Fast 2 Furious B-
(PG-13) - The sequel to 2001's surprise box office hit has more of the elements that made parents worry before: dangerous street racing in souped-up cars that should be performed only by professional drivers on closed courses, criminal violence that includes gunplay, moderate profanity and some sensuality. One torture scene involves a bucket, a rat and a blow torch. Kids shouldn't try any of this at home.
Alex and Emma C+
(PG-13) - It took the MPAA longer than usual to determine a rating for Rob Reiner's romantic comedy. The result: PG-13 for sexual content (mostly a silhouetted tryst) and profanity. Judging from preview, the story of an author (Luke Wilson) and his stenographer (Kate Hudson) writing a novel while acting out its romance in two separate centuries doesn't seem to have much kid appeal, anyway.
Bruce Almighty A
(PG-13) - Jim Carrey's film about a self-centered man with powers on loan from God (Morgan Freeman) marks his return to crude comedy with numerous sexual references, moderate profanity (one f-word), a marijuana reference and a take on religion that may offend some parents.
Charlie's Angels 2: Full Throttle B
(PG-13) - The formula hasn't changed: Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu don provocative clothing and use sex appeal as a weapon. In fact, the formula has been intensified, with Demi Moore returning to screen in fine form and not a bit ashamed of it. Profanity is moderate, but sexual innuendo is keen. Don't forget the blast-'em-up action violence, either.
Hollywood Homicide C-
(PG-13) - Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett co-star as detectives chasing the mass murderers of a hip-hop music group. Plenty of violence on their agenda, plus profane tough talk and sexual situations, including a kinky scene with Ford and Lena Olin.
The In-Laws C+
(PG-13) - Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks are fathers of the bride and groom on a CIA mission to halt weapons trading. The rating results from sexual suggestiveness, moderate profanity, drug references and James Bond-style action violence.
Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd D+
(PG-13) - The prequel to 1994's Dumb and Dumber doesn't feature Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, but viewers can expect the same kind of toilet-level humor, sexually charged jokes and profanity that made the original film such a hit.
