In their Hollywood way, the makers of the big-screen “Leave it to Beaver” have tried to be respectful to the 1957-63 TV series. They’ve also tried to add an up-to-date sheen: June Cleaver tells oily Eddie Haskell to “cut the crap!” and Ward leers at his wife, saying, “June, you’re vacuuming in pearls again. You know what that does to me.”
Not as charming as the original show, its PG-rated plot about how far a kid will go to curry his dad’s favor is dumb but harmless slapstickcomedy.
Young kids will love sweet little Beaver, who “sucks up” to his dad to get a bike, while older youngsters should relate to Erik von Detten as smart, good-looking Wally, who loses his girl to a hood. There’s unnecessary fun made of obese Larry Mondello, but on the whole, this is happy retro family fare.
“Air Bud” (PG) — He’s got a serious nose for the ball — a cold, wet one, to be exact. Air Bud, the lighthearted story of a boy and his hoops-shooting dog, should be a hit with children and parents alike. The basketball scenes are loads of fun. And aside from a little canine mayhem and an unsavory rent-a-clown (played by Michael Jeter), there’s little here to set off parental alarms.
“Air Force One” (R) — Russian terrorists led by Gary Oldman hijack the plane of the U.S. president (Harrison Ford), who is on board with his wife, daughter and important staff members. Special effects set this thrilling, action-adventure movie apart from similar films, but language and violence earn it its rating.
“Batman and Robin” (PG-13) — Uma Thurman is a memorable villain, loaded with sexual innuendo as Poison Ivy. But Arnold Schwarzenegger is a distinctly disappointing Mr. Freeze. The violence is stylized, and the language cartoonish. Only the biggest Batflick fanatic will claim not to be frequently bored.
“Contact” (PG) — The story of an astronomer who hears signals from a life form in a distant star will intrigue young viewers fascinated with science and space exploration. But its deliberate pacing will derail some audiences.
“Cop Land” (R) Sylvester Stallone plays Freddy, a sheriff in a New Jersey suburb full of tough New York City cops who witnesses some unscrupulous behavior. He soon resorts to taking the law into his own hands.
“Dirty Dancing” (PG-13) — In this funny, touching musical/love story set in the Catskills in 1963, a bright, middle-class 17-year-old falls for a hunky dance instructor from the wrong side of the tracks. The rating is for language and a lot of sensual dancing.
“Event Horizon” (R) — In the year 2047, a rescue mission sets out to find a space vessel named Event Horizon that disappeared seven years earlier. When rescue crew members board the ship they find that the crew is dead and a strange presence inhabits the ship. Language, gruesome violence, scenes of sadistic torture and nudity make this film best for adults only.
“Face/Off” (R) — Because of co-stars Nicolas Cage and John Travolta, teens and younger kids may want to see it, but this movie definitely earns the adults-only rating. The action, violence, villain and everything else are over the top.
“Free Willy 3” (PG) — Kids get to see their own kind make good in this whale of a sequel. While the plot is a tad thin, the characters manage to express anger and frustration without profanity, and the violence is held to a bare minimum. The moral of the story is obvious from the start, and no one gets hurt in the end. Not even the whalers.
“George of the Jungle” (PG) — It’s not a comic masterpiece, but it’s a broad and funny live-action update of the animated television show. The movie could rival and maybe even surpass “Hercules” as the favorite kid flick of the summer. Parents will enjoy it too. The rating is for some mild expletives and bathroom humor.
“G.I. Jane” (R) — Navy Intelligence officer Lt. Jordan O’Neil (Demi Moore) is recruited by Sen. Lillian DeHaven (Anne Bancroft) as a test case to train for the Navy SEALs. This is by far one of the best movie depictions of a woman undergoing military training. Adult situations, dialogue and action make it for mature audiences only.
“Good Burger” (PG) — Teenage comedy duo Kenan and Kel must save their burger joint from going out of business when threatened by evil competitors across the street. As the obtuse Ed, Kel is the real draw for kids. He’s so dippy he’s hilarious. The rest of the action and the star-studded cameos by Sinbad and Shaquille O’Neal don’t amount to much.
“Hercules” (G) — Disney’s 35th big-screen ‘toon plays like a breeze after the pretentions of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and the self-conscious sincerity of “Pocahontas.” The movie plays fast and loose with Greek mythology, and the score lacks a song of evergreen appeal, but its popularity is assured.
“Jungle 2 Jungle” (PG) — Tim Allen stars in this remake of the recent French bomb “Little Indian, Big City,” but he displays none of the charm of his previous film work (“The Santa Clause” and “Toy Story”) or his hit TV series, “Home Improvement.” In “Jungle,” Allen brings the 13-year-old son he never knew he had from a South American jungle village to New York.
“Men in Black” (PG-13) — Young moviegoers, as well as older ones, should have a blast at this movie. The only disappointed viewers will be those who expect exhilarating outer-space scenes. The film contains comic-book-style violence, a few fleeting moments of gore and occasionally feisty language.
“Mrs. Brown” (PG-13) — This finely acted drama centering on Queen Victoria’s friendship with Scottish servant John Brown is a bit highbrow for young audiences. Judi Dench plays the queen and Billy Connolly plays the servant. The film contains brief nudity.
“My Best Friend’s Wedding” (PG-13) — Audiences of all ages and genders should enjoy at least parts of this comedy. Julia Roberts plays a mean-spirited writer trying to break up her friend’s wedding.
“Nothing to Lose” (R) — Tim Robbins is an advertising executive who discovers his wife (Kelly Preston) is having an affair with his boss, flees home, drives aimlessly through town, gets lost and is confronted by a fast-talking carjacker (Martin Lawrence). This begins a series of events that make this movie an unusual buddy/road-trip picture. Strong language, mild violence and some nudity.
“Picture Perfect” (PG-13) — Die-hard “Friends” fans will comprise the most appreciative audience for this often listless comedy about a career-driven woman (Jennifer Aniston) who invents a fiance. The film contains some language and mild sexual innuendo.
“The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli and Baloo” (PG) — This live-action “prequel” is supposed to be based on Rudyard Kipling’s magic tales, but it’s really a broad adventure-comedy about four guys trying to catch a boy raised by wild animals. Kids will enjoy monkeyshines and stunts. Brief language, mild violence and child-in-jeopardy scenes.
“Shall We Dance?” (PG) — This delicate Japanese romantic comedy has a little language but otherwise it’s all-family fare. A middle-aged accountant finds joy in ballroom dancing and a young woman rediscovers the joy of dance by teaching. Low-key, gentle film with some hilarious moments.
“A Simple Wish” (PG-13) — This splashy comedy wannabe falls into the “in-between” stages and never rises above the cracks. In trying to please grownups, it strives for a sophisticated satirical approach that’s not sharp enough for adults and will bore and bewilder young viewers.
“Steel” (PG-13) — Seen Spawn or Batman? The amply violent “Steel” feels diluted by comparison. Lovable goof Shaquille O’Neal plays military scientist John Henry, who adopts the alter ego of “Steel” when the new weaponry he creates falls into the wrong hands. Although Steel avoids vulgarity, it sends confusing messages about violence.
“The Swan Princess: Escape From Castle Mountain” (G) — Kids who liked the original Swan Princess (1994) might like to follow up on the characters, but the intricacies of Odette and Derek’s married life won’t thrill them. Newcomers to the series might want to opt for the video of the first one instead.
“Ulee’s Gold” (R) — Peter Fonda is a reclusive beekeeper struggling to make ends meet while taking care of his two granddaughters. He gets more than he bargained for when he finds the girls’ drug-addicted mother and brings her home to live with them. The sweet, simple story might be healing for those who have had family problems.
