Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Film

Family Movie Guide

By STEVE PERSALL
Published August 3, 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

The Ant Bully B-

(PG) - A mean child (voice of Zach Tyler) is shrunk to the size of an insect, then gets what he deserves for treating bugs cruelly. Rude humor punctuates the animated comedy's positive lessons.

Barnyard

(PG) - More animated animals, this time causing a ruckus on a farm. The MPAA rating results from "mild peril and rude humor."

Cars B+

(G) - Disney and Pixar animators turn their imaginations loose on NASCAR culture, resulting in dazzling images and humor a notch below Over the Hedge. A few lightly crude jokes.

SUITABLE, WITH RESERVATIONS

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest A-

(PG-13) - Scary sea creatures and intense action sequences could induce nightmares in some children. Johnny Depp's portrayal of Capt. Jack Sparrow has sobered a bit, but there's still plenty of rum abuse.

Monster House B-

(PG) - Beware of this animated film's scary images and sounds, which could cause nightmares. Crude humor and mild violence are typical of the PG rating.

Superman Returns B-

(PG-13) - Just try keeping children away from this one. The Man of Steel still espouses positive values, even in the midst of the action violence that earned the MPAA rating. A few mature themes pass faster than a speeding bullet.

NOT SUITABLE

Click A-

(PG-13) - Adam Sandler's supernatural comedy contains the crude humor, profanity, sexually charged jokes and drug references that made him a star.

The Devil Wears Prada B

(PG-13) - A stylish comedy of ill manners isn't likely to keep children entertained. The film's frequent profanity, brief sensuality and mature, backbiting themes are suitable only for adults.

John Tucker Must Die

(PG-13) - High school girls get revenge on the campus playboy (Jesse Metcalfe) who cheated on them. No violence as the title suggests, but sexual content and profanity that parents may not wish their children to see and hear.

Lady in the Water C-

(PG-13) - M. Night Shyamalan's movie is touted as a "bedtime story," but the frightening images and monster-riddled plot may keep children awake all night.

Little Man F

(PG-13) - A new adoptive father (Shawn Wayans) mistakes an extremely short criminal (Marlon Wayans) for his son. Pervasive crude and sexual humor, profanity and drug references.

My Super Ex-Girlfriend C+

A jealous superhero (Uma Thurman) torments her former lover (Luke Wilson) and his new companion (Anna Faris). The MPAA rating is the result of sexual content, crude humor, profanity and brief nudity.

Scoop C+

(PG-13) - Woody Allen's humor typically doesn't appeal to children. But those who try Scoop will find sexual content and profanity in his tale of a journalism student (Scarlett Johansson) investigating a cold-case murder.

Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby

(PG-13) - Will Ferrell is very popular among children and teenagers, so any caution to parents about his new comedy is probably meaningless. Just to be safe, we'll note that the film contains crude and sexual humor, moderate profanity, drug references and brief violence played for laughs.

You, Me and Dupree C

(PG-13) - Owen Wilson goes from wedding crasher to marriage intruder in a comedy that features sexual content, brief nudity, crude humor, profanity and a drug reference, enough to make parents wary of taking along children.

[Last modified August 2, 2006, 09:28:32]