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Film

Family Movie Guide

By STEVE PERSALL
Published June 1, 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

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.

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

Just My Luck D-

(PG-13) - Lindsay Lohan is 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.

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.

X-Men: The Last Stand B+

(PG-13) - The Marvel Comics superheroes battle human wishing to "cure" them, in an allegory drawing comparisons to antigay activism. That vague, mature theme, a spate of action violence, a dash of profanity and one sensual scene make this suitable for teenagers, but 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 Break-Up

(PG-13) - Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn play disbanding lovers fighting a custody battle for the apartment they share. The comedy includes sexual content and humor, a well-publicized partially nude scene for Aniston and profanity.

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.

Water

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

[Last modified May 30, 2006, 12:57:47]