Family

Family viewing guide

By Steve Persall
Published June 21, 2007

Suitable for families

Evan Almighty B

(PG) - The sequel to Bruce Almighty stars Steve Carell as a politician recruited by God (Morgan Freeman) to build an ark. Nice morals, unless parents have conflicting faith issues. Brief crude humor.

Nancy Drew B+

(PG) - The teen sleuth gets updated to modern high school life in Hollywood, with restrained language and themes, plus mild violence.

Shrek the Third C

(PG) - The jolly green ogre returns with more mildly crude jokes, suggestive humor that parents will understand, and cartoon action.

Surf's Up A-

(PG) - Penguins are hot properties these days, making this smartly conceived fake documentary one of the summer's best surprises. A few crude gags shouldn't worry parents.

Suitable for families, with reservations

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer C

(PG) - Marvel Comics' superheroes return with action violence, mild sexual innuendo and briefly crude language. Still the tamest of all comic book screen adaptations.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End D

(PG-13) - Capt. Jack Sparrow completes his voyage through mean seas and ghostly foes, adding a few more nightmare inspirations for small children. Intense action sequences and fairly graphic violence add to the thrills.

Spider-Man 3 A-

(PG-13) - Intense action sequences shouldn't faze children reared on video games. A few scary images with Spidey's nemeses Venom and the Sandman could be nightmare material. Brief mature themes include a terminally ill child and conflicted morality.

Not suitable

1408 C+

(PG-13) - Stephen King's imagination is no place for impressionable children to play. This supernatural thriller contains disturbing violence and terror, scary images and profanity.

DOA: Dead or Alive

(PG-13) - Based on a violent video game, this movie earned its MPAA rating for "pervasive martial arts and action violence, some sexuality and nudity." Not exactly kids' stuff.

Ocean's Thirteen C-

(PG-13) - George Clooney leads his neo-Rat Pack into another Las Vegas caper. A few profanities and brief sensuality aren't likely problems for parents; glamorizing amoral behavior may be.

Waitress A-

(PG-13) - Strong mature themes include the reluctant pregnancy of a cheery waitress (Keri Russell), abuse from her husband, a steamy affair with her doctor, and sexual situations among her co-workers. Moderate profanity.

[Last modified June 20, 2007, 19:15:44]