ShareThisFriday, October 20, 2006
A guide to movies from a family perspective:
"Man of the Year"
_ Rated: PG-13.
_ Suitable for: Teens and above.
_ What you should know: The TV commercials for this Robin Williams movie, about a comedian running for president, are somewhat misleading. It's a comedy, but it also deals with a sinister attempt to silence a whistleblower about the results of the presidential election.
_ Language: One use of the f-word, with other milder curses. Williams makes wisecracks or double entendres dealing with sex, body parts (real and fake) and the like.
_ Sexual situations and nudity: None.
_ Violence/scary situations: Someone becomes short of breath and is hospitalized. A person is attacked and knocked out with an injection. Someone has a drug-induced breakdown. A man's face is banged against a car window, leaving his nose bloody. A frightening car accident lands a character in the hospital.
_ Drug and alcohol use: A joke about smoking marijuana is made, and adults consume wine, champagne and other alcoholic drinks. A cocktail of illegal drugs, including cocaine, is purposely injected into someone.
"Employee of the Month"
_ Rated: PG-13.
_ Suitable for: Teens and above.
_ What you should know: Dane Cook and Dax Shepard play competitive Super Club (think Costco) workers who vie for the attention of a new cashier (Jessica Simpson) who has a reputation of only dating "Employee of the Month" winners.
_ Language: One use of the f-word and other vulgar language sprinkled throughout.
_ Sexual situations and nudity: Couples kiss and crude references are made to sex.
_ Violence/scary situations: The violence is cartoonish, with people being hit with tennis balls or a baseball bat, running into each other, tumbling from a shelf and the like.
_ Drug and alcohol use: Adults drink wine or beer.
"The U.S. vs. John Lennon"
_ Rated: PG-13.
_ Suitable for: Teens and above.
_ What you should know: This excellent documentary provides an objective account of the government's attempt to deport Beatle John Lennon in 1971, on the grounds of his conviction for a minor drug offense in England _ but really for his increasingly threatening opposition to the Vietnam War.
_ Language: Scattered profanity, including several f-words.
_ Sexual situations and nudity: Sexually suggestive situations, but no nudity.
_ Violence/scary situations: There are film clips of the violent demonstration at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968.
_ Drug and alcohol use: Marijuana is used, and there is much discussion of drug use.
"The Guardian"
_ Rated: PG-13.
_ Suitable for: Tweens and older.
_ What you should know: Kevin Costner is a veteran Coast Guard rescue swimmer who is sent to teach the latest batch of candidates, including a brash trainee played by Ashton Kutcher.
_ Language: One f-word and a dozen other, milder four-letter words.
_ Sexual situations and nudity: A couple is shown kissing and in bed.
_ Violence/scary situations: Raucous barroom fights break out, but the scariest moments come in the water. The movie vividly dramatizes or makes reference to boat, helicopter and car accidents, some of which prove fiery and fatal.
_ Drug and alcohol use: Adults drink lots of beer, wine, bourbon and other alcohol.
"School for Scoundrels"
_ Rated: PG-13.
_ Suitable for: Teens and older.
_ What you should know: Jon Heder ("Napoleon Dynamite") is a meter reader with self-esteem problems who enrolls in a pricey class that promises to turn him into a winner. Billy Bob Thornton co-stars.
_ Language: One use of the f-word and about four-dozen curses or offensive words.
_ Sexual situations and nudity: Couples kiss. A chalkboard drawing of a nipple is used to make a point. A man is shown, discreetly, urinating in the woods. A tasteless joke about rape is made.
_ Violence/scary situations: Heder's character has panic attacks and passes out. Intentional hits on the tennis court lead to fisticuffs. Paintball guns are fired from close range. Story also involves slaps, falls, kicks, kidnapping, dangerous driving, shocks and a man's head being dunked in a toilet.
_ Drug and alcohol use: Adults consume alcohol and one overindulges and gets falling-down drunk.
