‘The Boys Are Back’
Rating: PG-13 for some sexual language and thematic elements
What it’s about: A widowed dad decides the best way to raise his son is by the ethos “Just Say Yes.”
The Kid Attractor Factor: Kids out of control while Dad grins and skips off to work
Good lessons/bad lessons: There’s a line between not wanting to inhibit your kids’ growth and simple absentee parenting.
Violence: A bit of the rough stuff in a bar
Language: Profanity, here and there
Sex: Flirtation between adults
Drugs: A bit of the other rough stuff in a bar, and some teen partying
Parents’ advisory: “Free range”
rmoore2@tribune.com
‘Amelia’
Rating: PG for some sensuality, language, thematic elements and smoking
What it’s about: The groundbreaking aviator finds fame, love, failure and despair during her adventurous life.
The Kid Attractor Factor: It’s like a book report brought to life, with action, humor and heartbreak.
Good lessons/bad lessons: If you let others tell you what you can’t do, you’ll never achieve anything.
Violence: A plane crash
Language: Pretty darn clean
Sex: Not as chaste as you might think, with romance in and out of marriage
Drugs: Cigarettes, booze
Parents’ advisory: A solid, entertaining history lesson that’s suitable for anyone 10 and older
‘Where the Wild Things Are’
Rating: PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language
What it’s about: A little boy invents his own imaginary forest world, which he visits in his wolf-suit PJs.
The Kid Attractor Factor: It’s one of the most beloved children’s books of recent history. And here, Wild Things come to life.
Good lessons/bad lessons: Tantrums, being selfish and caring only about yourself hurt the feelings of parents and Wild Things.
Violence: Mildly scary bits of monster mashing
Language: The H-word. Once
Sex: Not a hint of it
Drugs: Mom and her date have some wine.
Parents’ advisory: This slow-footed, downbeat adaptation doesn’t appear to be aimed at kids, rather at adults looking for deeper meaning in a favorite childhood book.
‘Astro Boy’
Rating: PG for some action and peril and brief mild language
What it’s about: A scientist creates an indestructible robot version of his son after the boy dies.
The Kid Attractor Factor: An animated boy with rockets for legs
Good lessons/bad lessons: All that garbage from our disposable culture is going to end up somewhere.
Violence: Quite a bit: A child is vaporized, and robot brawling is a plot element.
Language: Disney-clean
Sex: None, though Astro Boy does like his South Beach shorts
Drugs: None
Parents’ advisory: The pop culture references will be over the heads of the very young, but it’s harmless animated action fare.
