The Family Movie Guide should be used along with the Motion Picture Association of America rating system for selecting movies suitable for children. Only films rated G, PG or PG-13 are included in this weekly listing, along with occasional R-rated films that may have entertainment or educational value for older children with parental guidance. Compiled by St. Petersburg Times film critic Steve Persall.
RECOMMENDED
Brother Bear C
(G) - Disney's new animated adventure is Lion King lite, a wilderness yarn about an American Indian (voice of Joaquin Phoenix) mystically transformed into his enemy, a bear. That paves the way for solid lessons in tolerance and understanding of others from different cultures. Other mature themes include the deaths of family members. A bit of crude humor doesn't prevent this from being good family entertainment.
Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat C
(PG) - Another gently simple children's book gets blown up to Hollywood proportions with Mike Myers (and a terrific makeup job) playing the mischievous home intruder. The filmmakers sneak a few double entendres into the mix plus some mildly crude humor that kids love these days.
Elf B
(PG) - A surprisingly sweet-tempered holiday season comedy starring Will Ferrell as a human raised by Santa's helpers. His quest to reconcile with his biological father (James Caan) is the only mature theme. A few naughty words are drowned out by the niceness. Mildly crude humor at times, but this is a fun time for the family.
Looney Tunes: Back in Action B
(PG) - Children will enjoy this blend of live actors (Brendan Fraser, Steve Martin, Jenna Elfman) and classic Warner Bros. cartoon favorites such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Yosemite Sam. Parents may like it even more for nostalgia purposes. As usual, some of the 'toon humor includes mild double entendres, but nothing vulgar. Some rude language.
Radio B
(PG) - Cuba Gooding Jr. stars in an inspiring fact-based tale of a mentally challenged man taken under the wing of a high school football coach (Ed Harris). Mild profanity and mature themes of acceptance don't prevent this from being fine family entertainment.
RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS
The Haunted Mansion B-
(PG) - Eddie Murphy stars in a scary comedy based on the popular Disney theme park attraction. A few mild innuendoes and profanities aren't much for parents to worry about, but some of the frightening sights of decomposed corpses and the like may be too intense for very young children. Recommended for ages 10 and older.
School of Rock C-
(PG-13) - Jack Black's raucous brand of comedy normally isn't kid stuff, but it gets toned down a bit for him to play a rock musician posing as a substitute teacher. Some crude humor and drug references fit his character's rock 'n' roll spirit but not the entertainment standards of some parents.
Timeline C
(PG-13) - Paul Walker (2 Fast, 2 Furious) plays an archaeology student traveling back in time to the Dark Ages to rescue his father. Brief profanity, but the rating is mostly due to intense battle sequences a la The Lord of the Rings that could be disturbing to small children. Recommended for ages 13 and older.
NOT RECOMMENDED
Master and Commander: The Far Side of World A
(PG-13) - Russell Crowe's seafaring adventure is one of the year's best films but not necessarily for children. Intensely violent battles during the Napoleonic era are quite bloody, as is a brain surgery on an injured sailor. Another scene depicts a young boy's arm being amputated. Brief profanity. Perhaps too talky in spots to hold young viewers' attention.
Runaway Jury B+
(PG-13) - John Grisham's tale of jury tampering is fine adult fare but not for children. The case involves a mass murder (dramatized with discretion), and the legal and moral issues at hand won't hold the attention of young viewers. Moderate profanity.
Scary Movie 3 B-
(PG-13) - The first two films in this franchise were rated R. A new director, David Zucker (Airplane!), pared things down to the PG-13 level, but there's still plenty of crude and sexual humor, drug references, profanity and comical violence to concern parents.
