ShareThisA guide to movies from a family perspective:
"Crossover"
_ Rated: PG-13.
_ Suitable for: Tweens and older.
_ What you should know: This urban drama, starring Anthony Mackie, Wesley Jonathan and Wayne Brady, is set in Detroit against the world of underground streetball. One player is aiming for medical school, the other studying for his GED.
_ Language: Fairly tame, with a handful of mild expletives.
_ Sexual situations and nudity: Teenage couples are shown in their underwear, dancing in a sexy manner or kissing, and a woman announces she's unexpectedly pregnant.
_ Violence/scary situations: A couple of punches are thrown and a motor-vehicle accident depicted.
_ Drug and alcohol use: Underage characters drink beer.
"The Illusionist"
_ Rated: PG-13.
_ Suitable for: Mature tweens and up.
_ What you should know: Edward Norton plays a mysterious stage magician in Vienna at the turn of the 20th century. He attracts the attention of the chief inspector (Paul Giamatti), who does the bidding of the crown prince (Rufus Sewell). Jessica Biel from "7th Heaven" turns up as a woman with ties to Norton and Sewell.
_ Language: One gratuitous use of the f-word and a couple of milder words.
_ Sexual situations and nudity: A man and woman kiss passionately and obviously have sex, but the brief scene is shot and edited with discretion.
_ Violence/scary situations: Children and adults seem to return from the dead, leaving the illusionist's audience spellbound and frightened. A man slaps a woman, and there is mention of other abuse. A character is left bloodied, and a lifeless body shown. A suicide, by a shot to the head, is depicted, also.
_ Drug and alcohol use: Adults drink alcohol.
"How to Eat Fried Worms"
_ Rated: PG
_ Suitable for: Kindergarten age through age 12.
_ What you should know: Billy, the new kid in fifth grade, is immediately picked on by the school bully, and Billy takes a stand that results in a dare: He will eat 10 worms, and the bully gets to make the rules about how he will do it. Can Billy, who has a weak stomach, eat the worms _ one more revolting than the last _ and give the bully his comeuppance? The film delivers messages about empowerment and standing up for yourself, as well as friendship and standing up for others.
_ Language: A preschooler says "penis," but otherwise this is really tame stuff.
_ Sexual situations and nudity: None.
_ Violence/scary situations: There's a disturbing scene of a teen humiliating his younger brother, and a group of boys is nearly caught trespassing by a woman who is rumored to be a witch. But this is about gross-outs _ you will see worms being cooked in all sorts of ways, followed by chewing and swallowing. Don't worry: The closing credits make it clear that "no worms were harmed in the making of this movie," although real worms do make appearances throughout.
_ Drug and alcohol use: None.
"Invincible"
_ Rated: PG.
_ Suitable for: Children roughly 8 and up.
_ What you should know: Mark Wahlberg stars in the real-life story of Vince Papale, a 30-year-old teacher and part-time bartender who tried out for the Philadelphia Eagles.
_ Language: One or two of the mildest words.
_ Sexual situations and nudity: A couple passionately kiss and then disappear behind a door.
_ Violence/scary situations: A man expresses his anger and frustration by pounding holes in his apartment walls. A reference is made to Papale's mother having been sick for many years. Most of the violence or scary moments come on the football field, where the hits are fast and forceful.
_ Drug and alcohol use: Many scenes are set in a bar, and the beer and other booze flow freely.
