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Film

Family Movie Guide

By STEVE PERSALL
Published September 14, 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

Everyone's Hero

(G) - The late Christopher Reeve originated this animated film about a boy traveling cross-country to help his beloved New York Yankees win the World Series. Nothing offensive, and the central theme of perseverance is uplifting.

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) who makes the Philadelphia Eagles football roster. Gridiron violence and mild locker room profanity.

SUITABLE, WITH RESERVATIONS

Broken Bridges C

(PG-13) - Country music singer Toby Keith stars in a coming-home drama with mature themes of grief, unwed pregnancy, alcoholism and discreetly portrayed sexual abuse. The film was produced by Country Music Television, suggesting the homespun values resulting from those topics.

Gridiron Gang B+

(PG-13) - Fact-based tales of juvenile delinquents learning lessons from football behind bars. The story contains gang violence, profanity and mature themes but teenagers can draw inspiration from the way lives are changed through discipline.

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.

The Covenant

(PG-13) - More teenage horror, this time with photogenic descendants of witches using their supernatural powers to fight evil forces. The MPAA rating is the result of "intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images, sexual content, partial nudity and language." Doesn't that sound more like an R?

Crossover

(PG-13) - A talented basketball player (Wesley Jonathan) must choose between medical school and an NBA contract. Profanity and sexual content dictate the MPAA rating.

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 results from sexual situations and brief violence.

Step Up C

(PG-13) - A juvenile delinquent (Channing Tatum) turns his life around with the help of a ballet dancer (Jenna Dewan). 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 popular but we'll note that the film contains crude and sexual humor, moderate profanity, drug references and brief comedic violence.

The Wicker Man C

(PG-13) - A missing child investigation leads a policeman (Nicolas Cage) into a pagan cover-up. Disturbing images and themes, violence, profanity.

[Last modified September 13, 2006, 13:00:47]