Mr. Popper's Penguins

Directed by Mark Waters, Davis Entertainment, 2011. Starring Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, and Angela Lansbury.

Genre: Comedy, Family.

Question: Do you have kids? The summer can be that magical time where you are able to spend more special moments with them - swimming, taking vacations, and day trips around your town. Good quality time. The summer can also be filled with a dozen movies geared towards kids - some good - some not so good. Well, I just came back from one that surprised me and I am putting it in the "good" category: Mr. Popper's Penguins.

I asked again "Are you sure Mr. Popper's Penguins is in theater #20? Positive?" The teen-something popcorn producer nodded. I didn't believe him because when my children and I showed up at theater #20 it still said The Hangover Part II. We returned doubting we had the right theater. My kids looked at me; I shrugged my shoulders and we headed in.

We were the only ones in #20 and there were still five minutes to go until show time... five, four, three, two, one - two minutes past the show time... I keep hoping, praying this was not The Hangover Part II or I was about to be slapped with "Worst Mom of the Year Award". I was ready to dash as soon as I saw Mr. Bradley "Beautiful Blue Eyes" Cooper saying they "F*#@ed-up again!!" But my nerves soon calmed as 30 tweens loudly marched in all wearing the same shirt. Ah, day camp, I thought. We have the right theater. Whew!

But maybe they are in the wrong theater too? Then the lights dimmed, my blood pressure rose again. Music started to...Titanic...What!? There can't be a sequel to THAT?! I searched my memory - it sank, right? Then a shot of the ocean appears on-screen with the large ship heading straight towards us. She tossed necklace overboard, I know it. I saw it! Really, Hollywood - Titanic II Seriously?

...."AAAALLLLVVVVIIIINNN!!!!" My kids turn to me, "Oh, mom can we see that? Please!? Please?!" I think I was still in shock from potentially taking my kids to a rated R movie and the possibility of a Titanic sequel that I said yes to seeing Chipmunks 3... Regrettably.

Focus...Katy. Alright, that is how's my summer is turning out - how's yours?

I wasn’t expecting much from Mr. Poppers Penguins. It started out with a little boy talking to his father on a ham radio. His father was traveling the world on wondrous adventures but rarely home to spend time with his little boy. Fast forward 30 years and Mr. Popper Jr. (Jim Carrey) is a cold, ruthless business man, divorced and father of two children. That is all I am going to tell you because you soon know penguins show up to his apartment.

The first ten minutes or so were pretty predictable and my spidey-senses were telling me I was about to regret taking my kids to see this movie. Sure they will like it, but will I? I sat there for a few more minutes, patiently. Well, I am here to tell you Mr. Popper's Penguins was positively priceless and precious!

Really! When a movie references Apocalypse Now and The Hurt Locker in the first fifteen minutes, you've got a fan in me.

Now if you don't have children or grandchildren I still think you can skip this movie but if you do, take them. It tells a sweet family story that had me giggling during several scenes. Of course, my kids had scenes they giggled through as well -- toilet humor always does that for them. And I mean real toilet humor. Those weren't my favorite. I preferred some of the training scenes. If you have ever tried training a pet you will laugh too.

Also, have ever fretted over your children's well-being and you want to give them best parental advice that will take away their pain? Unfortunately, you are so out of touch with the way kids think, behave, communicate (via the damn texting device) - you actually make your children unhappy with your logical and sage comebacks. You might be the only adult laughing in entire theater...oh, wait, that was just me!

This film won't win any Academy Awards; however, the CGI penguins were hard to tell apart from the real ones. Jim Carrey's performance was close to many of his former fictional characters although with some restraint. I know he can act - The Truman Show, Man on the Moon and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind proved that. So, it wasn't a stretch to see him perform here but I did see some sweet moments between him, his kids and the penguins. Yes, I liked the penguins!!

What I enjoyed is this film was how they showcased the family dynamic and how realistic it is. I am not a child of divorce and I am married but with the divorce rate at over 50% it portrays something that many can related to. So, many kids will be able to understand it but don't be surprised when they ask you to get them a penguin for their birthday. Let me be the first one to warn you on that little tidbit. You are welcome!

My kids both gave it 8 out of 10.

My favorite thing: That the movie turned out to be a delight.

My least favorite thing: That I kept thinking Jim Carrey could really use a haircut.

Rating: PG
Length: 94 minutes

Review: 6 out of 10

Kung Fu Panda 2

Directed by Jennifer Yuh, Dreamworks Animation, 2011. Starring Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, and Gary Oldman.
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family.

Question: Do you ever blame your current circumstances on your past -- especially from your childhood? Well, Kung Fu Panda 2 teaches you that no matter where you came from or how bad your start was in this world, you can choose to have a good life today.

I am on vacation with my daughter, 9, and we went to our first Summer movie together yesterday:  Kung Fu Panda 2. The movie was not high on my radar because many sequels usually fall short. Well, I was pleasantly surprised at how delightful this one was.

All the same adored characters are in this one: Po (Jack Black), Tigress (Angelina Joile), Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) and many more. There are even a few news ones, specifically Gary Oldman voicing the new villain: Shen. Also, you might want to check on the other new voices. I didn't recognize them until I saw the credits.

The story takes our fearless kung-fu warriors fighting and defending China against an evil Peacock who creates the world's first weapon but that is not what is at the heart of this story. Po discovers his real beginning within his own family history. Kung Fu Panda 2 displayed a solid approach to teach young and old viewers alike that the choices you make today shouldn't be based (or blamed) on the past especially if you haven't had the ideal start.

The animation was spectacular and more amazing than the first film. There are plenty of fight scenes albeit not too violent for the younger generations. Although, I will say the editing was a bit too quick for my taste (or my 40 year-old eyes) during those scenes. The movie has moments of humor scattered throughout the plot but it is not overly comical or childish. There is real heart and soul to the tale.

I was pleasantly surprised at what a good sequel Kung Fu Panda 2 was. So, there is no need to get a babysitter for your youngest. Enjoy a wonderful family movie this weekend.

My daughter gave it a 9 out of 10.

My favorite thing: The moral of the story.

My least favorite thing: The editing in the fighting scenes.

Rating: PG
Length: 90 minutes

Rating: 8 out of 10

The Last Song

Directed by Julie Anne Robinson, Touchstone Pictures, 2010. Starring Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth and Greg Kinnear.
Genre: Drama, Romance

Question: Are you a fan of Miley Cyrus? I will admit she hasn't been high up on my list of favorite actors. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact my children watched every Hannah Montana episode five times each. Drove me batty. But how many parents and kids actually enjoy the same things, at least while the kids are younger than 18? I know I had favorite actors when I was a kid that my parents never understood. It's the parent/child phenomenon called "I can't possibly like what they like!" But my husband and son were watching a movie so my daughter and I decided to watch a movie together -- a good chick-flick. We agreed on The Last Song.

Alright, I will admit I kind of liked this film. It sort brought me back to when I was a bratty 17 year-old thinking I knew everything. Didn't we all have that attitude at one point or another? And maybe it is preparing me for when my daughter reaches that phase.

Well, the story was a typical coming-of-age/summer romance but with a bit more maturity and depth. Also, I was sort of shocked to see a movie mainly about teenagers that was only rated PG. It was perfect for my daughter, 9, to watch a movie about first loves and there's nothing more than kissing. (I sound like an old fuddy-duddy, don't I? Sorry.) She did think there was way too much kissing in it though.

Nicholas Sparks wrote the movie specifically for Miley Cyrus, or at least that is what I remember when they were promoting it. That kind of made me not want to see it, but I simply adore Greg Kinnear and pushed my prejudices aside. Plus, I will admit Liam Hemsworth is a bit...intriguing...okay, okay...he's good-looking. Plus, there is something about the men in Nicholas Sparks' stories. They embody the ideal guy: gentle, sweet,  strong in character, good-looking and when you need it -- a good protector. Liam Hemsworth fit the role he was given in The Last Song well.

The author actually wrote the screenplay before he wrote the novel. I wonder how many times that happens?

The movie was on the slow side but it had a 'real' tone to it. Miley Cyrus' performance of portraying a pissed-off teenager who falls in love for the first time was acceptable. Anyone recall that time in their lives? It is scary, exhilarating, and sometimes too much to comprehend. But on top of that The Last Song takes a family dynamic that had some genuine feeling to it which gave it more than the typical summer romance storyline.

I can't believe I got sucked into this story but it happened. And Nicholas Sparks really should earn an honorary Oscar for making movies that make people cry. Geesh! Even my 9 year-old daughter cried. I only teared-up (really) but it did pull on those heartstrings. So, if you have a rainy afternoon coming up soon, put this one on your queue and grab the kids. This one is for the whole family.

My favorite thing: The house - I want a beach house like that.

My least favorite thing: That it made me cry (I mean tear up!) You are good Mr. Sparks!

Rating: PG
Length: 107 minutes

Random thought: I just looked up Nicholas Sparks' movies and I have seen 5 out of 6. Check out the Nicholas Spark's web page here and see if you seen any sort of pattern to the movie posters.

My daughter gave it a 9 out of 10.

Review: 5 out of 10

Tangled

Directed by Nathan Greno, Walt Disney Animation Studios, 2010/11. Starring Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy, and Ron Pearlman.

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Romance, Fantasy, Family, Musical

Question: How many of you dreamed about having really long hair when you were little girls? I certainly did but nothing like the hair in Tangled.

Tangled is the 50th animated feature for Walt Disney Studios, and I was pleasantly surprised by this film when I took my kids to see it. The tale was one I will admit I never read when I was little. So finding out why Rapunzel was in the tower in the first place and seeing she is rescued in the beginning of the story, I discovered The Brothers Grimm were pretty good storytellers.

But leave it to Disney to add songs to an already fun story. Some of the songs were pretty catchy and I believe “I See the Light” was up for an Oscar. But this film didn’t seem oversaturated with songs, which was refreshing.

However, the most surprising part for me was finding out that it was funny. I found myself chuckling, along with my kids, during many of the scenes. 

Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi both did a great job voicing and singing for their characters. But I really liked Levi’s character – Flynn Rider. A funny and enjoyable character, one I wasn’t expecting to like from the previews. However, Maximus, the horse, may have been the best character of them all.

The animation was spectacular. It may have been one of the best animations I have seen by Disney so far. Even if you aren’t into the story of Tangled, I recommend it just to see the animation.

My favorite part: How funny it was.


My least favorite part: Nothing comes to mind right now.


Did the previews ruin it by showing too much? No, not at all.


Rating: PG
Length: 100 minutes


Review: 8 out of 10

Hop

Directed by Tim Hill, Universal Pictures, 2011. Starring James Marsden, Russell Brand, Hugh Laurie, Hank Azaria and Kaley Cucoc.

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy.

Question: Have you been searching for a family movie that your kids will enjoy? Well, Hop is it.

Although my kids liked the movie, it didn't win me over. That isn't to say I thought Hop was a bad movie but the humor just didn't cross over to the adults - barring one joke that went way over my kids' heads because they didn't grow up in the 80's.

I will say that the animation was pretty spectacular. There were times when E.B., voiced by Russell Brand, was mixed into the live action sequences where I almost couldn't tell it was animation. The artists who created this part of the movie are computer animation geniuses.

"Mom, I give it a 10 out of 10. It was really funny" said my 11 year-old son right after we walked out of the theater. He really did enjoy it because I overheard him cracking up at almost every joke, punchline or silly attempt to evoke a smile. This one worked for him.

"I thought it was a bit boring in the beginning but enjoyed it after the bunny came to Hollywood" said my 9 year-old daughter. (I think she is in training to take over my job as reviewer when she becomes older.) "I give it a 5 out of 10 - maybe a 6 out of 10."

My son's favorite part: The drumming by E.B.

My daughter's favorite part: The Pink Berets.

As a mother, I would say it is safe to take your kids to see this movie. Just as an adult don't expect too much from Hop. Nonetheless, it didn't really bother me that it wasn't for my demographic. As a person who loves movies and enjoys many genres, I have a plethora of films to choose from throughout the year. Kids, however, have limited movies made specifically for them and if the filmmakers want to cater to children, I think it is a good thing.

Random thought: I think James Marsden is one of the most versatile actors we have today. Don't believe me? Well, here is a portion of his acting resume:  X-Men, X2, The Box, Hairspray, Enchanted, 27 Dresses, 10th & Wolf, The Notebook, and Disturbing Behavior. I think he has touched on every genre - not many can say that. Can't wait to see what he is in next.

Rating: PG
Length: 95 minutes

Review: 4 out of 10


COMING SOON: Welcome to the Rileys

Rango

Directed (and written) by Gore Verbinski, Industrial Light and Magic, 2011. Starring Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Ned Beatty and Bill Nighy.

Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Western.

Question: Do you ever get really excited to see a movie and then finally watch it and leave disappointed? Well, that is what happened with me with Rango.

I was so looking forward to seeing Rango especially after seeing how they decided to create this film with getting the actors to work together during some scenes instead of standing in a sound box talking to a microphone. But after the first fifteen minutes of enjoyment I soon realized I was slowly becoming bored with the story.

I tried hard to stay focused on the story but I did enjoy all of the movie references, which there are a lot. (FYI - I would love to know all of them). However, as I sat there I felt no likability to the main character: Rango and thought he really wasn't that interesting. There were too many joke set-ups and all the movie references were a bit distracting.

Now on the flip side, the animation was probably the best I have ever seen and I highly recommend that you see it in the theater - do not wait for this one on DVD.  Really, the animation was spectacular and I saw the 2D version.

One last thing: I saw this with 2 girls (1 adult/1 child) and 3 guys (2 adults/1 child) and on average, the girls didn't think it was great but the guys really liked it. My daughter, 9, thought it was a little boring and a bit violent while my son, 11, thought it was awesome.

I haven't read other reviews of this but I would be interested in seeing the average rating between the male and female reviewers. Just curious.

My favorite part: The animation - Stunning!

My least favorite part: The overall story - a bit boring.


Sequel possibility? I think so.

Did the previews show too much? Not really.

Rating: PG
Length: 107 minutes

Review: 5 out of 10

Rango Soundtrack and toys

The Young Victoria

Directed by Jean-Marc Villee, JK Films, 2009. Starring Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend and Paul Bettany.

Genre: Biography, History, Drama, Romance.

I am a sucker for films about royalty especially ones of historical significance. The Young Victoria was well made, beautifully acted but the story was a bit ho-hum. However, the set and costume designs are worth seeing in this film. Just take a look at how Victoria’s wardrobe coordinated with almost every set design – brilliant!

Review: 6 out of 10

Rating: PG
Length: 105 minutes