The Artist

Starring Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, and John Goodman
Rated PG-13 for a disturbing image and obscene gesture
Running time: 100 minutes

Since The Artist just took home the coveted Academy Award for Best Motion Picture for 2011, I decided to tell readers at Flixy Mom how I enjoyed the movie and my thoughts on the family movie aspect of the film as well.

The Artist is a black and white silent film that tells the story of silent film star, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), and his fall from grace with movie audiences during the transition from silent films to “talkies.” While younger, progressive actors and actresses, including love interest, Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), begin to steal the spotlight by speaking instead of hamming it up for the camera, George falls to the wayside, losing both his fame and his fortune.

If you think you’ve heard this storyline before, you’re not mistaken. This very theme was first depicted in A Star is Born (1939), starring Janet Gaynor and Fredrich March (a wonderful movie, by the way). We saw it again in A Star is Born (1954), starring Judy Garland and James Mason, and again in A Star is Born (1976), starring Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. I’m sure there are other variations on this theme floating around in the Hollywood archives, but suffice it to say, the story itself is not original. But, it was very original in its presentation: silent, black and white.

As a lover of the cinema, I was pretty confident, prior to purchasing my ticket for The Artist, that I would at least enjoy the film and be entertained. From the trailers, it looked to be a movie that I would describe as “cute.” And I was not disappointed. It was a delightfully told story with direction and cinematic effects that added to the theatrical experience. Both Dujardin and Bejo performed remarkably, making the audience love them, despite the fact that you never heard a peep from their lips. That, in my book, made them both very deserving of Oscars. I truly fell in love with their characters.

But, I will say, a whole host of people are not going to find this movie to be their cup of tea. First, it runs just a little too long. One audience member moaned about three fourths of the way through, “This is getting tedious,” and I did agree. The movie should have been about ten to fifteen minutes shorter in length – moments sometimes went on too long, way past the time when the audience “got the point.” Second, if you love dialogue, well, forget it. Ain’t none here. This is a visual experience through and through.

Is this movie family-friendly? Absolutely. And kids will love the dog – he steals the show. As for the “disturbing image and crude gesture,” I don’t remember either incident, and certainly wasn’t bothered or offended. I doubt many kids are going to enjoy the movie overall, however. Teenagers who have an affinity for the theater, movie history, etc. are likely to find The Artist entertaining, but that’s probably all. If there is any question about how bored your kids might become, you may want to wait for it to come out on Netflix.

For adults – I thoroughly enjoyed The Artist for its entertainment value. It was, in fact, a “cute” movie and I left with a smile on my face. If you enjoy a quieter, well-told tale without tons of action and powerful sound, I think you will as well. If your favorite movies are Die Hard and Die Hard with a Vengeance, don’t waste your time or money – this movie isn’t for you.



Reviewed by Karen Cantwell

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Starring: Michael Cain, Dwayne Johnson, Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens and Luis Guzmán
Rated PG for some adventure action, and brief mild language
Running time: 94 minutes


Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is available for viewing in both 3D and regular versions. Keep the different versions in mind because the action will be more intense in 3D.

This movie starts out with an old-fashioned cartoon short starring Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd. It’s titled ‘Daffy's Rhapsody’ and it is a special part of the Warner Brothers 75th anniversary so it may also end up in the DVD/BluRay release, as well. This short was built around a Mel Blanc recording from 1950 and they generated animation to make a new/old cartoon.

On to our feature.

Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) starts out with some breaking and entering in a satellite facility, running from the police on a moped and crash landing into someone’s backyard pool. He then proceeds to get all attitude-y when mildly chastised by his step-father. Teenagers, right. Now, while it is technically a sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth, we did not see that movie. There was apparently a little bit of backstory that explained Sean’s behavior but you get up to speed thanks to some handy expositional conversation between mom (Kristin Davis) and Hank (Dwayne Johnson), the new stepfather. Seems Sean hasn’t been able to count on the male figures in his life and so he’s underwhelmed by the efforts Hank has been making.

Hank helps Sean decode a message from his grandfather. See the men in Sean’s family are Vernians – individuals who think that the writings of Jules Verne are really fact disguised as fiction. And Grandpa has sent a message to Sean that he’s found it.

Hank is a great role model even if he makes sketchy choices in his attempt to bond with and win over his stepson. And it’s made clear that’s truly his goal. He’s not trying to impress his pretty, new wife. He really, really wants to be the Guy-Sean-Can-Count-On and the reason why becomes abundantly clear later on in the movie. With mom’s blessing, Sean and Hank set off to find the Mysterious Island of the title and, most importantly, Sean’s grandfather.

Along the way, our adventurers team up with a father-daughter tour duo (Vanessa Hudgens and Luis Guzman). The trip to Mysterious Island is downright scary. The four are in a dilapidated helicopter and face severe storms. Lightning strikes the helicopter and, of course, it’s going to crash. The crash are too long and too detailed in my opinion. They quickly cut to the characters safely regrouping on land but I know my 10 yo was shaken up by it a little.

The Mysterious Island looks forbidding and harsh until they find a way off the beach and are deposited into paradise. All the animals are mixed up – big is small and vice versa. There is a scary encounter with a giant lizard. She is very angry that the team has inadvertently been walking on her eggs. Grandpa (Michael Caine) appears in the nick of time to rescue the group.

Grandpa shows them around his island paradise. Thanks to Hank’s training in the Navy he realizes that the island is sinking. Since Mysterious Island is real, so must be Captain Nemo’s submarine which the book indicates is moored on the rocky coast on the far side of the island. They decide to go for the sub.

Giant bumblebees are charmingly designated transportation. Hungry birds chase the bees and it is frightening when Kailani is jolted off and falls from a great height. She is grabbed by Sean at the last moment and set safely on the ground but again for smaller children this may be too intense. Sean is also minorly injured when he takes a tumble off his bee after escaping the bird.

Hank and Grandpa tend to Sean’s dislocated ankle and while Kailani and Gabato search for wood, Hank reveals he was abandoned by his own dad when he was young. The next morning they realize the sinking is accelerating beyond and they must hasten their pace but Gabato is missing. Grandpa volunteers to stick with Kailani to go back searching for her dad and send Hank and Sean on to the coast to get the submarine.

Tense moments occur to both groups during the split up with Kailani, Grandpa, Gabato enduring seismic activity; and Hank and Sean encountering a giant electric eel and a rusted hatch keeping them from getting in the sub.

Once Kailani, Grandpa, Gabato are on the coast the scariest moments in the whole movie happen: on the cliff edge the island pitches and shakes violently and while they are on their knees holding on for their lives, it literally crumbles underneath them plunging them into the churning ocean.

As this is a PG movie, clearly everyone will survive but there are multiple occurrences that are exciting for older kids but really too intense for younger viewers.

My biggest problem with this movie is actually Kailani’s wardrobe. She’s presented as a smart and very capable girl yet she’s dressed in skimpy clothes. Her shorts are low rise and inappropriately short. They’re borderline when she’s just standing but once she starts moving, they cross the line to too revealing. As the mother of a tween girl, I am disappointment that movie makers weren’t more cognizant of their market. I have become all too aware of the challenges the fashion industry and media create for me and my daughter as I try to raise her to value herself for what’s on the inside and not what she looks like on the outside.

We enjoyed the film but with some caveats. I would recommend this movie for families with kids 10 years and older and use the issues presented to talk with your kids about what family means, how having adventures needs to be balanced with being responsible and if you have impressionable tween girls maybe talk about clothing choices and the pressure to look a certain way.

Reviewed by Aimee Hix

Kung Fu Panda 2 - Skidoosh!

Rated: PG for sequences of martial arts action and mild violence

Starring:  Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman

Run Time: 91 min

I really liked Kung Fu Panda so when Kung Fu Panda 2 was scheduled to come via Netflix, I was excited.  And, I wasn't the only one.  My kids and my adult brothers were eager to watch this flick, too.

The viewing of this movie was an entire event for my family.  We went to my brothers' house, made dinner and watched it all together.  Jack Black is a huge celebrity around here.  Not to mention the huge cast of well known actors/actresses who did voices for this.  Not only does the movie have voices from the likes of Dustin Hoffman (Shifu) and Angelina Jolie (Tigress), David Cross does the voice of Crane.  And, what kind of a kung fu movie doesn't feature kung fu artists?  Not this kind.  Jackie Chan (Monkey) and Jean-Claude Van Damme (Master Croc) are familiar kung fu related voices.

The story is a good one.  Po has become the Dragon Warrior and is a local celebrity.  Tigress, Monkey, Crane, Mantis and Viper have all become his friends.  They all work very well together as they keep the Valley of Peace safe from bandits and the like.  That is until they get news of the death of Master Thundering Rhino.  

Shen (Gary Oldman), an evil but beautiful peacock, has created a weapon that will be the death of kung fu.

Will Po and his band of heroes be able to defeat this evil or will it be the death of kung fu?  It's worth the time you'll set aside to find out.

The animation is beautiful and the fight scenes are lots of fun.  Though this movie is rated PG it was just fine for my entire family.  Of course, the two-year-old isn't into movies yet, but the four-year-old sat still in her uncle's lap and the eleven-year-old loved the movie.

I have to admit, the end brought a tear to my eye.  Yes, I know... It's a cartoon!  I might have just been in one of those moods - the kids had been extra trying and my nerves were frazzled.  That's my excuse.

I recommend this movie for full family and extended family viewing.

 

Reviewed by JC Phelps

Big Fat Liar: Loved It! (It's the truth, I swear!)

Rated: PG for some language
Starring: Frankie Muniz, Paul Giamatti, Amanda Bynes
Running Time: 1 Hr. 28 Mins.


I don’t get out much. One would think I do, seeing as my kids are getting older (one is in sixth grade, the other a senior in high school), but, alas, with four different schedules, crazy work hours for myself and my husband, and general exhaustion as the weekend rolls around, more often than not, I find myself tucked in with a good movie on Friday or Saturday nights. I’m sure many of you can relate.

Consequently, I have chosen a DVD for my first movie review on Flixy Mom, a family favorite that is guaranteed to bring many laughs, Big Fat Liar.

Fourteen-year-old Jason Shepherd (Frankie Muniz) has always gamed the system, manipulating the truth to suit his best interests. On his way to hand in the paper that will keep him out of summer school (a fate worse than death for any high schooler), he is hit by a limo containing big-time Hollywood producer Marty Wolf (brilliantly played by Paul Giamatti), who offers him a ride to avoid a lawsuit.

Jason accidentally drops his backpack, leaving the paper on the floor of Wolf’s limousine. The producer steals Jason’s idea and turns it into his next big Hollywood production, never wanting anyone to know his greatest movie idea came from a fourteen-year-old.

With the help of his friend, Kaylee (Amanda Bynes), Jason travels to California intent on having Wolf admit he stole the paper to prove to his parents and teacher that this time, he is telling the truth.

After spying on Wolf for an entire day, the kids discover the producer is the biggest jerk in Hollywood, mistreating everyone around him and refusing to call Jason’s father to back up the high schooler’s story.

What happens next are some of the funniest moments in a pseudo-kid movie I have ever seen. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but suffice it to say, it is a great comedy.

There are no sexual situations and no language, other than one “you suck.” Just an hour and a half of fun for ages eight and up.

Reviewed by Karen Wojcik Berner

The Chipmunks Chipwrecked - Munk Up and Take The Kids!

Rated:  G
Starring:  Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney
Runtime:  87 minutes

The story was simple.  Dave takes the boys and the Chipettes on a luxury cruise for a family vacation.  Alvin acts up as he always does, inciting the famous "ALVIN!" cry from Dave.  Eventually, there are dire consequences when Alvin is swept overboard with Simon, Theodore and the Chipettes.  The bunch land on a deserted island and Dave eventually follows with the bad guy agent from the previous movie. 

This movie was one that I went to for my kids and not one I would have seen in the theater without them.  (I took my four-year-old and eleven-year-old)

However, having said that, I found myself giggling right along with the kids and giggling at the other kids in the theater when they gasped or giggled. 

The music was fun, but it was just the tiniest bit suggestive with the outfits and dance moves that the Chipettes showed off.  And only one other thing to caution parents about was it became a little bit scary near the end.  I heard a kid behind us say that he was scared and my four-year-old also said that a scene or two was scary - possibly prompted to say this after she heard the child a few rows behind us.  Parents with younger children might want to keep this in mind.

Even with the tension near the end, both of my daughters said they really enjoyed the movie and I will say that I didn't hate it either.  The scary parts really were just tense moments and the suggestive outfits/dance routines aren't even as bad as you can find in most commercials.

So, even if you don't feel like watching The Chipmunks, "Munk up," the kids will probably enjoy it and you might, too.

Reviewed by JC Phelps

Big Miracle - Will Make You Cry

Rated PG for language
107 minutes
Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Ted Danson, Kristin Bell

My 13 year-old daughter and I ventured into frigid temperatures today to see the newly-released Big Miracle, which is based on the inspiring true story of three whales trapped beneath a dangerous stretch of rapidly forming ice. After watching what these humans went through to save the struggling, gentle giants-of-the sea, I felt a little guilty complaining about our meager forty-degree weather.

Truthfully, despite the A-list cast, my expectations were low. Generally, these "based on true events" movies can be hit or miss, and from the trailers, I pretty much figured that this one would be just "eh."

Nope. This was a winner in my book. My daughter's too. She loved this movie.

First, there are the whales, Fred, Wilma and their baby, Bam Bam. From the minute you meet them, you fall in love. As for the human actors, John Krasinski, as the small-time news reporter Adam Carlson, is as lovable as always. And Drew Barrymore plays the Green Peace whale activist, Rachel Kramer, with just the right amount of chutzpah and vulnerability to make her believable as well as likable. Are they Academy Award winning performances? Of course not. Nor is this a Best Film-contender. But it's a very enjoyable movie, well worth the time and money - especially for family viewing.

That said, the target child audience for this movie, in my opinion would be mid-elementary school through high school. A four-year old boy in the theater said he thought the movie was "scary." Due to the environmental issues, the politics involved in the story line will probably also bore a younger audience, causing them to lose interest. For older kids, however, I personally think it's a great lesson in history. Also parents, not to throw you a plot spoiler, but if you have very sensitive children, one of the whales doesn't survive, and it's a very sad moment.

Despite the sorrow over this loss, Big Miracle is a premium, formula, feel-good movie that shows the good side of humanity, and tells us that miracles are possible if people work hard enough together to make them happen.

The rating is PG for language, but honestly, I think that amounted to maybe two instances of "hell" and a "bastard." I barely noticed them, and if I hadn't been making note of language for this review, I would have missed them altogether.

If you're looking for art, go see The Artist, but if you're looking for a good family movie, I highly recommend Big Miracle.

Reviewed by Karen Cantwell

Puss in Boots - Mixed Reactions

Rated PG for some adventure and mild rude humor
90 minutes
Starring Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis

Remember the $1 movie theaters? I do. I thought they were extinct, but the Arlington Cinema ‘n Drafthouse has $1 Monday Movie Nights. We saw the 4 o’clock show, Puss in Boots. The price was right, our schedule was free, so off to South Arlington we went.

We ordered a juice box, a bottle of water from the friendly waitress, and sat back in our comfy executive office chairs to enjoy the Shrek spin-off. The movie started right away, no previews, no annoying reminder to turn off your cell phone. I had to sharpen my hearing due to the lack of surround stereo sound that I’m used (spoiled) to in a real movie theater. But, again, the price was right, so I wasn’t going to complain. Well, maybe a little complaining went on, internally.

Puss (Antonio Banderas), teams up with Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) and Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis), his childhood buddy from the orphanage, to steal the magic beans from Jack (Billy Bob Thornton) and Jill (Amy Sedaris) that will take them up the beanstalk to find the golden eggs. Puss and Humpty have a history in that Humpty betrayed Puss, and vice versa. Humpty turns out to be a very bad egg.

As the movie progressed, I watched for my daughter’s reactions. Maybe it was the late afternoon hour, maybe she needed a snack? I worried that she wasn’t enjoying herself with the lack of quality sound, and Antonio’s sometimes hard-to-decipher accent. She hid under her coat when a loud monster stomped through the jungle at the top of the beanstalk. This monster was revealed to be Mother Goose, so not so scary as it turned out. There was violence (of the cartoon variety, but still) and quite a few shady characters, but overall the adventure was very action-packed, and well, Puss is quite loveable.

Before I could even ask her opinion when the show ended, she said, “I love that movie!” There was a funny dance-fight between Puss and Kitty that made an impression. And, all this week, my daughter played with her Kitty Softpaws Happy Meal character, so at least the toy was getting some well-deserved playtime.

Maybe my expectations were too high, but I thought the script (jokes) could be better. Obviously, I am a minority in this opinion because Puss in Boots is nominated for Best Animated Feature in the 84th Academy Awards.

I think I would give the movie another look when it comes out on DVD. But, I’m glad I didn’t plunk down the extra cash to see it in 3D.

Reviewed by Beth Balberchak