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Film

Family Movie Guide

By STEVE PERSALL
Published May 25, 2006

SUITABLE FOR FAMILIES

Akeelah and the Bee A

(PG) - Children will be inspired by the story of an inner-city girl (Keke Palmer) struggling to reach the National Spelling Bee finals. Brief rude language, and a lingering warm feeling.

Hoot B-

(PG) - A teenager (Logan Lerman) moves from Montana to Florida, where he protects a parliament of endangered owls. For that he faces mild bullying and hears crude language, earning the MPAA rating.

Ice Age: The Meltdown B

(PG) - The sequel to Ice Age (2002) contains mildly crude language and innuendo that shouldn't offend many parents.

Over the Hedge A-

(PG) - Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling and Steve Carell lend voices to animated wildlife foraging for food in suburbia. Briefly rude humor and mild peril.

SUITABLE, WITH RESERVATIONS

Goal! The Dream Begins C

(PG) - The story of an underprivileged Mexican-American immigrant becoming an international soccer star includes mild profanity, brief sexual situations and alcohol abuse.

Just My Luck D-

(PG-13) - Lindsay Lohan stars as a Manhattan princess spoiled by good fortune, whose luck and life are magically changed when she meets an unlucky man. The MPAA rating is due to comedic sexual references.

Poseidon C+

(PG-13) - This remake of the 1972 disaster flick classic The Poseidon Adventure contains extended sequences of intense disaster peril and a few profanities under pressure.

The Promise B-

(PG-13) - Nearly bloodless martial arts action and brief sensuality earned the MPAA rating. Teenagers who enjoyed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero may find the same pleasures in the subtitled drama.

RV C-

(PG) - Robin Williams plays a father dragging his family on a summer vacation in a recreational vehicle. Crude humor, sexual innuendo and profanity makes this questionable for small children.

Stick It C

(PG-13) - A gymnastics coach (Jeff Bridges) allows an athlete (Missy Peregrym) who fled the sport to return, causing friction with teammates. Crude and profane language, comparable to the cheerleader comedy Bring It On.

X-Men: The Last Stand B+

(PG-13) - The Marvel Comics superheroes battle human wishing to "cure" them, in an allegory drawing comparisons to anti-gay activism. That vague, mature theme, a spate of action violence, a dash of profanity and one sensual scene make this suitable for teenagers, not small children.

NOT SUITABLE

The Aryan Couple

(PG-13) - Wartime violence and disturbing images make this tale of Jewish aristocrats staying alive during the Holocaust questionable entertainment for children.

An American Haunting

(PG-13) - Donald Sutherland and Sissy Spacek co-star in an 18th century ghost story featuring the intense terror sequences modern filmmaking allows. Mature themes include incest and sexual abuse.

The Da Vinci Code C-

(PG-13) - The controversial adaptation of Dan Brown's novel includes violence, disturbing images, brief drug references and sexual content, but it's his central theme of revisionist religion that may make some parents wary, and ready to discuss with children if they attend.

Mission: Impossible III B+

(PG-13) - Tom Cruise's spy thriller continues the series' emphasis on intense action violence, plus a measure of profanity and sensuality.

The Sentinel B

(PG-13) - Political thrillers generally don't excite children, although Kiefer Sutherland's popularity on television's 24 may help. The presidential assassination conspiracy earned its rating with intense action violence, profanity and one scene of sensual behavior.

Water

(PG-13) - Children likely won't be interested by a subtitled film dealing with Hindu culture and its harsh treatment of widows.

[Last modified May 24, 2006, 09:44:17]