This feature is intended to help parents learn about movies their children are seeing or might want to see.
What’s new:
“I’ll Do Anything” (PG-13) is a sweet tale of a father-daughter reunion after the wreckage of divorce. Newcomer Whittni Wright plays the precocious, smart-alecky daughter Jeannie, while Nick Nolte is Matt Hobbs, the father getting newly acquainted with fatherhood.
Much of the film centers on Jeannie’s disciplinary problems, as she evolves from a screaming, spoiled brat who manipulates her parents into a more loving, generous child. Along the way, her actor dad sees some acting potential, and before you know it, she’s got herself a juicy TV role.
The movie includes divorce, a mother imprisoned, a father out of work and the dirty business behind the scenes in Hollywood. Although children could easily relate to the 6-year-old Jeannie’s situation, much of the material may be over their heads, including several scenes of couples leaping into and out of bed.
The film is quite touching on the father-daughter front, but ultimately, older children would probably appreciate it more than the younger.
“Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” (PG-13)-Kids will enjoy Jim Carrey’s zany facial expressions and slapstick humor, but the language is not gentle, and there’s plenty of sexual innuendo and partial nudity.
On the eve of the Super Bowl, the Miami Dolphins discover that their dolphin mascot, Snowflake, has been kidnapped. They call in the only detective they know to find not only the dolphin but also their star quarterback, Dan Marino. Jim Carrey (from “In Living Color”) plays Ace, a conglomeration of Jerry Lewis personalities. The premise is weak and the plot is filled with “Home Alone” pranks and pratfalls.
It appears director Tom Shadyac was a little confused as to which audience he made this film for; on the one hand, the slapstick, simple premise and childlike characters are aimed at the younger crowd, but the adult dialogue, humor and sexual innuendos are strictly for adults. There’s an abundance of tongue-in-cheek comments that will fly over children’s heads, but there also are a lot of crass and vulgar lines kids won’t miss and might opt to memorize.
Also showing:
“The Air Up There” (PG)-This film, the tale of a white American basketball coach who goes to Africa to bring back a native superstar, tries to woo children while maintaining some measure of adult-level entertainment; it’s the Hollywood equivalent of a “young-adult” novel. But the story line exploits many disturbing stereotypes.
“Beethoven’s 2nd” (PG)-This sequel presents a lightly sketched “adult situation” involving teen-age drinking and-this being a movie about a St. Bernard, his sweetheart and their four puppies-a bit of humor devoted to such earthy matters as doggie droppings.
“The Beverly Hillbillies” (PG)-Movie of the long-running TV show has minor vulgarity and bathroom humor. But it also shows the negative results of snobbery and materialism.
“Blink” (R)-An intense thriller/romance starring Madeleine Stowe as a woman who was blinded in her childhood by an angry and disturbed mother. She undergoes eye surgery that restores her sight, but her vision is blurred and sometimes comes in flashbacks. Her brief glimpse at a murder suspect makes her a target of revenge and an obsession for the detective assigned to her case. An updated “Wait Until Dark” with sex scenes and a lot of crude remarks. There are several shots of nude murdered women, an abundance of bad language and a graphic eye-surgery shot.
“Cabin Boy” (PG)-Breathing new life into the cliche “You either get it or you don’t,” Chris Elliott’s farcical sea adventure operates on two levels. For adults, the jokes center on things like the boat’s name being “the Dirty Whore.” But the story and humor operate in an almost free-associative, cartoonish way, for which kids seem to have a natural sympathy.
“Cool Runnings” (PG)-Although it contains some mild language, this is a fine film for all ages. The story of the 1988 Jamaican Olympic bobsled team, the movie emphasizes hard work, team spirit and national pride. The bobsledding scenes are both exciting and funny.
“The Fugitive” (PG-13)-Based on the TV series, this thriller has moments of violence, including a brutal murder, some language and explicit surgery scenes. But a thread of compassion and justice runs through it.
“Geronimo: An American Legend” (PG-13)-The Apache warrior’s story is told from the viewpoint of the white soldiers sent to capture him. The film contains much historically accurate violence and some strong language. Older teen-agers should enjoy its sincere re-creation of history.
“Grumpy Old Men” (PG-13)-The movies’ odd couple, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, are reunited in a film that derives much humor from having the oldsters use salty language and talk about their sexual urges. Nevertheless, it focuses on senior citizens as individuals, an idea that kids sometimes ignore.
“Iron Will” (PG)-A cold, wintry feel-good tale for the entire family. Some of the scuffles may be a bit much for the smallest Barney fan, but the story about a brave boy and his loyal team of sled dogs has a wholesome plot in the Disney tradition.
“Mrs. Doubtfire” (PG-13)-Kids should respond to the film’s message: that you can have a loving family even if your parents are divorced. There is the irreverent humor of Robin Williams, and in this man-in-drag comedy, there are lots of gender jokes. But the overall mood is one of good will and cheer.
“My Life” (PG-13)-A moving story of a dying yuppie who investigates his values while making a video for his unborn son, this film contains mild language and adult situations. It deals with death, but not harshly.
“The Pelican Brief” (PG-13)-A law student and a reporter take on practically all the crooks in Washington, D.C. The film has some strong language and relatively subdued violence as well as intense situations.
“A Perfect World” (PG-13)-Kevin Costner plays an escaped convict, the product of an abused childhood, who bonds with the 8-year-old boy he has taken hostage. Eventually, the youngster learns to differentiate between the layers of right and wrong. Language and some violence, and a short scene suggests potential child molestation.
“Philadelphia” (PG-13)-Hollywood’s first mainstream movie about AIDS presents the gay lifestyle in a sympathetic light. All teens are aware of AIDS, and they should find this compassionate, at times simplistic, movie engaging. It also presents a warm portrait of family solidarity. The film contains scenes of open affection between men and mildly suggestive language.
“The Remains of the Day” (PG)-Intelligent, sensitive story of the unspoken love between a proper British butler and an independent-minded housekeeper could teach older, mature teens the value of articulating their feelings and the folly of blindly following a regimen. Younger kids will get restless.
“Robocop 3” (PG-13)-“R3” is a bloodless bloodbath. Rather than eliminate the violence, what this film has done is eliminate its consequences.
“Shadowlands” (PG)-This literary romance contains some mild language and deals with the impending death of a parent. Its role models-theologian/writer C.S. Lewis and poet Joy Gresham-are very positive, with an emphasis on the spiritual, and it may induce viewers to read the works of Lewis. Younger children may grow impatient with the dialogue-heavy movie.
“Schindler’s List” (R)-Young children, without a doubt, will be terrified by scenes of families torn apart during the Holocaust, and the depiction of genocide is unforgettable. The movie contains nudity, harsh language and intensely dramatic situations and historically accurate violence. But the Steven Spielberg film should be illuminating for older teens, to whom the word “Holocaust” may be just a term from a history book.
“Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit” (PG)-In this sequel, Whoopi Goldberg tries to turn unruly high schoolers into a slamming choir. Teenagers and adults will love the music. Expect moments of mild language from the rebelling students, but it’s a clean PG.
“The Three Musketeers” (PG)-This zesty retelling includes mild language, sexual innuendo and a large share of violence, some of it played for slapstick. The theme of friendship will appeal to young viewers, but tots may be frightened by scenes of imprisonment.
“Wayne’s World 2” (PG-13)-The satellite cable duo decide to put on a rock concert, Wayne attempts to thwart a wicked recording mogul and Garth gets involved with a temptress. Plenty of sexual innuendo, most of it innocent, as well as some language and nudity.
