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Film

Family Movie Guide

By STEVE PERSALL
Published June 8, 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.

Cars B+

(G) - Disney and Pixar animators turn their imagination loose on NASCAR culture, resulting in dazzling images and humor a notch below Over the Hedge. A few lightly crude jokes won't bother parents.

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

A Prairie Home Companion A

(PG-13) - A few naughty jokes from singing cowboys, and a handful of rude words won't offend. However, the old-fashioned music and values of Garrison Keillor's homespun radio show-turned-movie may not interest young viewers.

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 humans 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 Break-Up C-

(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 it 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.

[Last modified June 6, 2006, 12:49:32]