Which movies are fun for the whole family and which ones are treats just for you? Find out!
In theaters now:
The Help
Short Story:
Skeeter (Emma Stone) is a journalist living in Jackson, Miss., in the midst of the 1960s civil rights movement. Hoping to challenge societal rules and break down the color barrier, Skeeter enlists maids Aibileen (Viola Davis) and Minny (Octavia Spencer) to write a novel from the perspective of "the help." Keeping the maids' identities secret to protect their safety, the novel forces the citizens of Jackson to come face-to-face with their racial issues.
What They're Saying:
"(The Help) is, in some ways, crude and obvious, but it opens up a broad new swath of experience on the screen, and parts of it are so moving and well acted that any objections to what's second-rate seem to matter less as the movie goes on." -- New Yorker
"The Help brings a chick-flick sensibility to a serious subject, which is more daring than it might sound. It's also incredibly refreshing." -- Newsday
Good for Kids?
Rated PG-13, parents should be aware that this movie deals with some mature issues. Common Sense Media says the adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's best-selling novel "isn't likely to appeal to young kids but is a historically relevant drama that mature tweens and teens can see with their parents." Recommended for children ages 12 and above, the film deals with some heavy issues such as segregation, physical abuse and miscarriages. Click to read the full Common Sense review!
Glee: The 3D Concert Movie
Short Story:
Fox's hit show Glee heads to the big screen for an eye-popping 3-D concert experience showcasing live performances of the show's most popular songs, as well as behind-the-scenes coverage and fan interviews.
What They're Saying:
"The title promises a concert movie, in 3-D, based on the show Glee, and the film delivers precisely that, in a way that I believe is sure to overjoy fans of the show." -- MSN Movies
"Haters, head for the door. But Gleeks? Get your Glee on." -- Orlando Sentinel
Good for Kids?
This movie is perfect for Gleeks of any age! There is no need for parents to worry: According to Common Sense Media the PG-rated movie "is much tamer than the TV show" and leaves out "heavy/edgy material." With fan interviews, the movie stands by Glee's positive message to celebrate diversity and accept what makes everyone different. Click to read the full Common Sense review!
30 Minutes or Less
Short Story:
In this action-comedy, Nick (Jesse Eisenburg) is a pizza delivery boy with a rather boring life. But things get interesting when he is kidnapped by two idiot criminals (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson), strapped with a bomb and forced to rob a bank before the bomb goes "boom!" With time ticking away, he enlists the help of his best friend Chet (Aziz Ansari) -- and learns a few things about living life to the fullest.
What They're Saying:
"None of this crackles with the kind of breezy, madcap hilarity that it should; it's actually rather tortured and convoluted." -- Associated Press
"Moral of the story: If you occupy the demographic that this film is aimed at, Hollywood doesn't have a very high opinion of you." -- Chicago Sun-Times
Good for Kids?
This one has an R rating -- thanks to some nudity, sexual content and violence -- so leave the kiddies at home!
Final Destination 5
Short Story:
In the fifth installment of the Final Destination franchise, a man saves a group of coworkers when a suspension bridge collapses. But the groups soon finds out that no one can escape Death (yes, with a capital "D"). In a race against time, the group must frantically figure out a way to cheat death as he tries to find creative ways to kill them.
What They're Saying:
"To borrow from TV terminology, the series hasn't jumped the shark yet, but the strain of inventing bizarre deaths is beginning to show." -- Hollywood Reporter
"It almost kills me to say that Steven Quale's Final Destination 5 brings sanity to a single-minded, broken record of a franchise that has, until now at least, seemed predisposed against thoughtfulness." -- Slant Magazine
Good for Kids?
With a R rating, Common Sense Media tells parents to "expect another round of horrific gore, violence and death." So it's probably wise to leave the kids at home; only adults and teenagers with an interest in horror films should see this one. Click here to read the full Common Sense review!
In case you missed:
The Change-Up
Short Story:
As childhood pals Mitch (Ryan Reynolds) and Dave (Jason Bateman) have grown up, their lives have also grown in separate directions. Dave is now a workaholic lawyer and father of three, while Mitch is a single, semi-employed womanizer with no responsibilities. Of course, both covet the other guys' life and, after a drunken night out, they wake up to discover that they've myseriously swapped bodies. It's like Freaky Friday -- but with an R-rated twist!
What They're Saying:
"It has a low opinion of men, a lower opinion of women, and the lowest opinion of the intelligence of its audience." -- Chicago Sun-Times
"Has the moment finally arrived when we look back upon Freaky Friday as a model of comedic sophistication?" -- Time Out New York
Good for Kids?
Rated R for crude sexual content, drug use and nudity, this isn't one for the kiddies. But, if sophomoric raunchy jokes are in your wheelhouse, this is the perfect movie for a fun night out with some pals.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Short Story:
In this Planet of the Apes prequel set in present-day San Francisco, James Franco plays a scientist whose experiments with generic engineering lead to the development of a super-intelligent breed of apes. Of course, once their IQs are off the charts, the simians aren't too pleased to be locked up in a lab -- and an all-out war erupts pitting man vs. ape for world domination.
What They're Saying:
"Precisely the kind of summer diversion that the studios have such a hard time making now. It's good, canny-dumb fun."-- New York Times
"I kind of enjoyed Rise of the Planet of the Apes despite its evident silliness and the fact that nobody's likely to remember it three weeks from now." -- Salon.com
Good for kids?
Rated PG-13, this film is perfect for sci-fi junkies, but probably not for kids who'll be scared by the human-vs.-ape violence. Common Sense Media says to expect, "teen boys to express an interest, as well as hardcore Harry Potter devotees." That because teens may want to see Potter star Tom Felton -- who costars in Apes -- "play something other than Draco Malfoy." Click here for the full Common Sense review!
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/help-glee-movie-reviews/1-a-372352
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