Family Movie Guide

By STEVE PERSALL, Times Film Critic

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 21, 2000

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. Films are categorized as "recommended for family viewing," "recommended for family viewing with reservations" and "not recommended for family viewing," with a description of content that led to that categorizing.

Recommended for family viewing

MY DOG SKIP (PG) -- One of those rare films that all members of the family can enjoy. Against the wishes of his father, a boy (Frankie Muniz, TV's Malcolm in the Middle) adopts a puppy that changes his life. No profanity, just a couple of crude insults. No sex, nudity or violence, although a graveyard crisis could be scary for young viewers. Three scenes involve violence toward animals, with generally positive results.

Recommended for family viewing, with reservations

LOVE AND BASKETBALL (PG-13) -- Teen audiences, especially athletes, can relate to this story of childhood friends (Omar Epps, Sanaa Lathan) who become star ballplayers and lovers. No violence, drug use, shady agents or other negative cliches of sports movies. Only a few moderate profanities. No nudity, but two scenes are mildly erotic. Recommended 0for ages 13 and over.

MISSION TO MARS (PG) - Leave it to Dressed to Kill director Brian DePalma to make a Disney family film that includes a couple of violent deaths, including a man ripped apart by a twister. No sex, and the profanity is mild, but the cheese factor of this derivative, overly sincere tale will leave all but the youngest ones uninterested.

RETURN TO ME (PG) -- Pleasant romantic comedy aimed at grown-ups, yet not too adult with its themes, should children tag along. No nudity, sex or violence and only a sprinkling of mild profanity. Minnie Driver may be appealing to younger viewers, but David Duchovny is no Freddie Prinze Jr. Mature themes include a wife's tragic death, a heart transplant and naughty insinuations that probably won't make anyone blush.

THE ROAD TO EL DORADO (PG) -- Animated adventure isn't as whimsical as younger audiences may demand. The accent is on action with some mild violence and some discussion of human sacrifices. An occult crisis near the end could briefly frighten small children. A couple of naughty words and flashes of rear, skinny-dipping nudity. No sex.

28 DAYS (PG-13) -- The perils of drug and alcohol abuse are not graphically depicted, and there's little violence or sex. Profanity is mostly limited to one use of the F-word. But watching paint dry would interest teenagers as much as watching Sandra Bullock dry out in this trite melodrama. The subject matter is far too adult for the younger set.

U-572 (PG-13) -- Inspired by true events, this World War II submarine adventure has enough action and stilted heroism to be an audience favorite. The film does contain an abundance of violence, smoothed over by the wartime setting and a shortage of gore. Machine-gun fire and depth charge explosions, mostly. No nudity or sex, and only a handful of profanities.

WHERE THE MONEY IS (PG-13) -- Paul Newman stars as an aging, incorrigible bank robber planning a heist with his nurse (Linda Fiorentino). No violence except drawn guns, which is unusual for a movie caper. No nudity, although two scenes contain (clothed) sexual heat for the sake of humor. Moderate profanity. Restless alert.

Not recommended for family viewing

KEEPING THE FAITH (PG-13) -- Ben Stiller and Edward Norton play a rabbi and a priest, respectively, with crushes on a childhood friend (Jenna Elfman). That premise opens the door for an abundance of religion-themed humor delivered with goodwill. Some viewers may still be offended, or prefer to have children approach such issues in another way. Mild profanity. No violence or nudity, but a few scenes of writhing, clothed lovers. Restless alert.

READY TO RUMBLE (PG-13) - Parents concerned about bad influences in pro wrestling will want children to avoid this rambunctious comedy. Most of your worst fears are confirmed by the profane, sexy and violent situations springing from two rabid fans (David Arquette, Scott Caan) supporting their favorite wrestling villain. The MPAA rating is stretched to include brief nudity, crude humor and wrestling mayhem.