It’s been almost two months, but “George of the Jungle” (PG) keeps bringing in the audiences. One of the favorite kid flicks of the summer is showing staying power into the fall.
No one should expect a comic masterpiece. Of course, chances of that are slim. What audiences of all ages have the right to expect is a broad and funny live-action update of the animated television show. You will get that and more. The movie also has a sly wit, managing to comment wryly on its own action while delivering the expected slapstick yucks.
Brendan Fraser’s primitive if buff appearance is perfect for the title role, and his flair for physical comedy comes in handy. There’s also an elephant with an identity crisis: It thinks it’s a dog and keeps scratching for fleas.
Parents will enjoy it too. The rating is for some mild expletives and bathroom humor.
“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.
“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.
“Excess Baggage” (PG-13) — Alicia Silverstone plays a poor little rich girl who fakes her own abduction. But the troubled first film from her own First Kiss production company can’t decide if it wants to be a dark or a light comedy. Besides a listless script, there’s violence, booze-guzzling and sex-related talk. For die-hard Silverstone fans 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.
“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.
“Julian Po” (PG-13) — Young people won’t find much to enjoy in this weak effort at absurdity in a small town, but that’s not because it will go over their heads. Adults will dislike it for the same reasons: Christian Slater’s stiff acting and the director’s bumpkin stereotyping.
“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.
“Kull the Conqueror” (PG-13) — Kevin Sorbo has his first starring role on the big screen, but he’s best known for his TV series, “Hercules: The Legendary Journey.” Officially, the rating is for fantasy-action violence and sensuality. There’s profanity, fighting and sex. Its cartoonlike mayhem probably won’t faze older kids, but it’s much too violent for small fry. Adults will appreciate the sly humor.
“Leave it to Beaver” (PG) — Not as charming as the original TV show, this film focuses on how far a kid will go to curry his dad’s favor to get a new bicycle. Young kids will love sweet little Beaver, while older youngsters should relate to Wally. But there’s unnecessary fun made of obese Larry Mondello.
“Masterminds” (PG-13) — Whiz kid comes to the rescue when a security expert holds a school full of students hostage. It might be fun for some kids to watch a teenager outwit dopey grownups, but the movie is basically just another lame action exercise. The rating is for language and suggested endangerment of children.
“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.
“Money Talks” (R) — A con man gets caught in the act by a TV newsman and is sent to prison. When the bus transporting him blows up, he escapes, turning to the newsman for protection. Adult humor and situations.
“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.
“Operation Condor” (PG-13) — This is the fourth Jackie Chan movie imported from Hong Kong and Americanized, and it’s full of his trademark choreographed stunts. Aside from the violence, there’s brief nudity.
“Out to Sea” (PG-13) — Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau play dance instructors out to fleece rich women on a cruise ship. The pace is leisurely, the mood is pleasant, but there’s absolutely nothing new. Kids will be bored.
“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.
“The Sixth Man” (PG-13) — College basketball star Antoine Tyler (Kadeem Hardison) is about to realize his dream of making it to the NCAA championships when he dies of heart failure. Language, crude dialogue and jokes, adult issues about the grieving process, death.
“Spawn” (PG-13) — Todd McFarlane’s dark anti-hero steps up to the big screen for live-action adventure, building on successful comic books and animated TV incarnations. The movie is toned down to get the PG-13 rating, but it still has a lot of violence that may not be suitable for younger children.
“Speed 2: Cruise Control” (PG-13) — It’s hard to imagine this movie, which has some harsh language, making a splash with audiences of any age. It treads water for the first half, and when it finally gears into action mode, most of the danger shots are predictable.
“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.
“Trial and Error” (PG-13) — See Jeff Daniels vomit! See Michael Richards stumble! There’s nothing very offensive here, but there’s nothing very good about it either. There’s a nifty be-true-to-yourself moral to be had if you can last long enough.
“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.
