Family Movie Guide
By STEVE PERSALL
Published March 23, 2006
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.
SUITABLE FOR FAMILIES
Aquamarine
(PG) - Adolescent girls discover a mermaid in a country club swimming pool and romance on dry land. Mild profanity and brief sensuality, but nothing offensive.
Curious George B-
(G) - The beloved children's book becomes an animated movie as sweet and squeaky clean as its inspiration.
Greece: Secrets of the Past B+
(Not rated, probably G) - Beautifully photographed IMAX documentary of Greek history and enduring cultural influences. Nothing objectionable except, possibly, for a flash of frontal nudity in ancient drawings of Olympic athletes.
The Shaggy Dog C-
(PG) - Nothing objectionable in this Disney remake starring Tim Allen, aside from the usual crude humor passing as family entertainment these days.
SUITABLE, WITH RESERVATIONS
Eight Below B
(PG) - Disney tones down the danger and natural instincts of sled dogs abandoned in Antarctica, making this fact-based story a reasonably tame outdoors adventure. Scenes of animal suffering may require parental explanation about trained canine actors, and an attack by a leopard seal is briefly frightening.
The Pink Panther B-
(PG) - Steve Martin again, this time remaking the Inspector Clouseau role that made Peter Sellers famous. Crude humor, mild profanity and several sexually suggestive jokes, if viewers can decipher them in Martin's comical French accent.
She's the Man
(PG-13) - Amanda Bynes (TV's What I Like About You) plays a girl posing as her brother, sparking a roundelay of romantic mistakes. Sexual humor and brief language.
NOT SUITABLE
Date Movie
(PG-13) - The MPAA rating results from "continuous crude and sexual humor, including language." Standards set by the filmmakers' previous Scary Movie spoofs aren't high, and usually not appropriate for children.
Failure to Launch D
(PG-13) - The sexual chemistry between Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew McConaughey is palpable, augmented by racy humor throughout the script. Terry Bradshaw's rear nudity and strong profanity make this adults-only material
Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector
(PG-13) - The Blue Collar Comedy Tour standout headlines his first movie, filled with crude, sexual humor and moderate profanity.
Stay Alive
(PG-13) - An online video game plunges teenagers into a gruesome confrontation with "The Blood Countess." Another movie with just enough horror violence, disturbing images, language, brief sexual and drug content trimmed to escape a less-profitable R rating.
Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion B-
(PG-13) - Sequel to 2005's Diary of a Mad Black Woman, with Perry in drag playing a feisty matriarch. The plot involves domestic violence and other mature themes played for laughs, plus sexual and drug references and profanity.