Family Movie Guide
By STEVE PERSALL
Published August 31, 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
Barnyard B
(PG) - More animated animals, this time causing a ruckus on a farm. The MPAA rating results from "mild peril and rude humor."
How to Eat Fried Worms B+
(PG) - Timid fifth-grader (Luke Benward) accepts a dare that will make him a hero. Based on the novel by Thomas Rockwell. Mild bullying and occasional crude humor.
Invincible B+
(PG) - Fact-based tale of a bartender (Mark Wahlberg) making the Philadelphia Eagles football roster. Gridiron violence and mild locker room profanity.
Material Girls
(PG) -Teen queens Hilary and Haylie Duff play spoiled heiresses to a cosmetics empire. The MPAA rating is for rude humor and mild profanity.
SUITABLE, WITH RESERVATIONS
World Trade Center A
(PG-13) - Oliver Stone's harrowing, uplifting version of events surrounding the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York. Moderate profanity under duress, disturbing images of injured victims and casualties, mature emotional themes. Recommended for ages 13 and older.
NOT SUITABLE
Accepted D+
(PG-13) - A college reject (Justin Long) creates a bogus college to fool his parents, attracting like-minded losers. The MPAA rating is for profanity, sexual material and drug content, not to mention making academic deceit seem cool and funny.
Crossover
(PG-13) - Talented basketball player (Wesley Jonathan) must choose between medical school and an NBA contract. The MPAA rating is due to profanity and sexual content.
The Illusionist
(PG-13) - Children may enjoy the occasional magic tricks, and teenagers love Jessica Alba. But a romance with murderous undertones set in 1900 Vienna isn't likely to hold their attention. The MPAA rating is due to sexual situations and brief violence.
Pulse
(PG-13) - College students are murdered by an evil wireless signal sent through cellular telephones and computers. The MPAA rating is the result of intense sequences of sci-fi terror, profanity, sensuality and thematic material.
Step Up C
(PG-13) - A juvenile delinquent (Channing Tatum) turns his life around with the help of a ballet dancer (Jenna Dewan). Mature themes of teen crime, plus sexual innuendo and brief violence, on the way to positive messages.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby B+
(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.