by Michael Foust | Aug 17, 2018
Keda is a timid, teenage boy living in a society where such qualities can get you killed. It is Europe, 18,000 B.C. – a time when you either hunt or die. Keda has a big heart, but his survival skills leave a lot to be desired.
He can’t start a fire. He can’t toss a spear. And when his father – the tribal leader – asks him to cut the throat of an injured bison, Keda refuses.
Still, his father believes his son can become a great warrior in a world ruled by buffalo, wolves and hyenas.
“Find your strength,” he tells him.
Perhaps Keda will discover his forte during the annual hunt for the “great beast,” which involves chasing hundreds of bison to a cliff and killing enough of them to survive the winter. Every male in the tribe, even the teenagers, are required to participate.
The hunt, though, ends in disaster. Keda’s clothing gets caught on the horn of a bison, which then tosses him off the cliff. Keda lands on a ledge, but the tribe – assuming he’s dead — abandons him.
Can Keda learn to survive the wild on his own?
The live-action movie Alpha (PG-13) opens this weekend, starring Kodi Smit-McPhee (X-Men: Apocalypse, The Road) in the lead role of Keda, who befriends an injured wolf (named Alpha) and battles the elements as he tries to make it back to his family.
It’s the type of animal-laden film that children – like mine – will want to watch, especially after viewing the trailer or spotting the movie poster. Indeed, the huge animals and beautiful landscapes are a highlight.
But this isn’t a Disney-type action film. For starters, it has subtitles, from beginning to end. It’s also slow-paced … very slow-paced. Finally, it shows quite a few animals being killed – something that might trouble sensitive children.
In summary, it’s a somewhat family-friendly film if you can stomach seeing animals killed. It will excite some children and bore others.
Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key: none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Minimal/moderate. With plenty of hunting and killing. Tribesmen chase buffalo off a cliff and kill others with a spear. An animal kills a child in the middle of the night (We don’t see it). Wolves attack a person. A rabbit is killed. Someone nearly drowns. A frozen dead person is discovered. Worms, bugs and raw meat are eaten. Parents might want to steer younger children away from this one.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
None.
Coarse Language
None.
Other Positive Elements
They may be primitive people, but Keda and his family show a strong love for one another. Keda also puts his life on the line for Alpha the wolf.
Other Stuff You Might Want To Know
The tribal people practice ancestral worship and discuss how the “spirits” lead them. They believe the stars at night are lights from their ancestors. We also hear discussion of people dying and going to the “other world.”
Life Lessons
At its core, Alpha is a movie about the will to survive and the many ways Keda learned to avoid death. But digging deeper, we see Keda teaching us about patience, determination, forgiveness and mercy. We also learn about familial love. Speaking of that …
Worldview
Have you ever wondered why so many movies spotlight the family? Even films not considered family-friendly – like Furious 7 and the Fate of the Furious – make the family a major theme. It’s as if Hollywood screenwriters and studio bosses were engrained by God to want a family. Of course, they are. We all are. Family was God’s first institution. No wonder it’s a recurring theme at the box office.
“I miss my parents so much,” Keda tells Alpha. And so Keda sets out to find his parents, even if it means he might freeze to death during the coming winter snow. For their part, Keda’s parents are struggling with the thought that their son likely is dead.
Sure, the tribesmen practice a false religion. But that doesn’t mean that God’s design – from the family to the stars to the animals — isn’t seen in Alpha.
What Works
The landscapes. The cinematography. Alpha is a beautiful film.
What Doesn’t
The pace. Let’s put it this way: If you wanted to make a slow-paced movie about a prehistoric boy getting lost and finding his way back home, then this is about as good as it gets. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Discussion Questions
- How far would you go to be reunited with your family?
- Name five positive character traits of Keda. Does he have a character trait you need to work on? What are his weaknesses?
- Keda and his people practice a false religion. What makes it a false religion?
- Is there anything Keda did that you’d struggle to accomplish in the wild? Could you eat worms? Bugs?
Entertainment rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Rated PG-13 for some intense peril.
by Michael Foust | Aug 10, 2018
“The Meg” opens this weekend, telling the story of a group of scientists who accidentally stumble upon a megalodon. But is it OK for tweens? And is it any good?
Jonas Taylor is a middle-aged man who is enjoying the easy life in Thailand – a country where he doesn’t have to worry about underwater rescues or that huge, 70-foot man-eating megashark he saw years ago.
No one believed him then, but they do now. That’s because a trio of marine biologists who were on a research mission to the deepest depths of the ocean were attacked by a sea creature they had never seen. Even worse, their miniature sub was disabled, and they have only a few hours of oxygen left before they perish.
Taylor is being recruited to rescue the scientists and get them to the surface before they run out of oxygen – and before they’re attacked again by the mysterious monster. Can he do it?
The Meg (PG-13) opens this weekend, telling the story of a group of scientists who accidentally stumble upon a megalodon — a species of shark they thought went extinct years ago and is so big that it can kill a whale.
It stars Jason Statham (The Fate of the Furious) as Taylor; Bingbing Li (Transformers: Age of Extinction) as a female scientist named Suyin; and Rainn Wilson (The Office) as a billionaire named Morris.
According to the plot, megalodons have lived underwater for ages – 2 million if you believe the film – but were set free when scientists were searching for a section of the ocean that’s never been explored.
They then must find a way to stop the megalodon before it eats people and panics the population.
The Meg is one of those summer action movies that I wanted (and expected) to like, but didn’t. The plot is thin, slow and predictable, and the action lackluster. Perhaps we should blame Jaws, which set a high bar for every other shark movie that followed. I think a movie about a megalodon could have worked, but this one didn’t.
Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key: none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Moderate. The meg eats people – lots of people. But it remains non-gory, and we don’t see any limbs floating in the water. We also experience several tense dark underwater scenes with the megalodon.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Minimal. We hear a lame joke about “sex” and “insertion.” We see Taylor wearing only a towel and talking to Taylor, who likes him. We see people in swimsuits on the beach.
Coarse Language
Moderate. About 24 coarse words: h-ll (9), OMG (4), d—n (4), a—es 2, misuse of “Jesus” (1), s—t (1), b—ard (1), SOB 1, GD 1. We also wear the actual word “a-hole” once.
Other Positive Elements
The mother-daughter bond between Suyin and her elementary-aged girl is touching. They watch out for one another.
Other Stuff You Might Want To Know
Characters drink beer.
Life Lessons
The Meg provides lessons on self-sacrifice (Taylor and Suyin), redemption (Taylor), living life with regret (Taylor), and having the right perspective on your accomplishments and mistakes (Taylor). (See below.) We also hear a scientist say in the film, “We did what people always do – discover and destroy.” That alone is worth discussing.
Worldview
Years ago, Jonas Taylor had helped lead a botched rescue mission that resulted in several deaths. Yes, many people got out alive, but he only thinks about the men who didn’t make it. In fact, he says he thinks about it every day. Then he is given a chance to rescue the scientists. He also meets Suyin, who tells him, “It’s not about the people you lose. It’s about the people you save.” Taylor gains a new perspective on life while also taking advantage of his second chance.
The Apostle Paul told the church at Philippi that he forgets “what lies behind” and strains “forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13-14). That’s good advice for the Christian who is tempted to live life with regret. The Meg reminds us of that biblical lesson, even as we watch people run away from a scary, giant shark.
What Works
The filmmakers take their time showing us the shark; instead, we hears bumps on the submarine and see the consequences of the meg’s power. The beauty of the deep sea is enjoyable, too.
What Doesn’t
Any movie that seems like a “new and improved” Jaws is tough to enjoy. Jaws won three Academy Awards. Also, the characters in the movie take actions that are nothing short of stupid.
Discussion Questions
- Taylor is told, “It’s not about the people you lose. It’s about the people you save.” Does that logic apply to anything in your life, too?
- Biblically, what should we do when we’re living life with regret?
- Does God want us to look forward in life or look backwards? Or a little of both?
- Name a biblical story where someone was falsely accused.
Entertainment rating: 2 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Rated PG-13 for action/peril, bloody images and some language.
by Michael Foust | Aug 9, 2018
The movie ‘Dog Days’ opens this week, giving moviegoers a rare treat: a PG-rated romantic comedy. Still, that doesn’t mean the movie is OK for the whole family.
Tara is a cheerful single woman who is searching for purpose in life, and she’s not finding it in her daytime coffee shop job.
Perhaps volunteering at the local dog shelter will help. Of course, this means she’ll have to work alongside Garrett – the awkward guy who frequents the coffee shop and likes her – but that’s OK. She loves dogs. And besides, she’s got eyes for someone else, anyway.
Then something crazy happens. Tara and Garrett become friends. They discover they have common interests. And after they form a partnership to save the dog shelter from closing, a romance starts budding.
The film Dog Days opens this week, giving moviegoers something rarely seen at the box office: A PG-rated romantic comedy. Society’s love of canines serves as the story’s backdrop. 
“What is it about dogs that brings us so much joy?” someone asks at the beginning of the film.
The story then shows the many ways that dogs can impact people: by helping bring single people together, by providing companionship to a lonely elderly man, by helping a shy adopted child bond with her new parents and by forging a bond between two very different siblings. The movie does a solid job tying those various elements together and giving us a few good lessons, too.
It stars Vanessa Hudgens as Tara; Jon Bass as Garrett; Nina Dobrev as Elizabeth, a TV talk show host; and Tone Bell as Jimmy, a former NFL star.
The movie spotlights two romances — Tara and Garrett, and Elizabeth and Jimmy – that are sparked by their respective admiration of dogs.
Dog Days is one of the funniest (and cleanest) romantic comedies I’ve seen, even if it’s not fully kid-friendly (More on that in a moment.). The humor is original, the storyline entertaining, and the character development above-average for a movie with multiple angles. We need more romantic comedies like Dog Days.
Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key: none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
None.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Minimal. A dog chews on an owner’s bra. A band plays the song “I’m Too Sexy.” A pregnant woman jokes how a man put a baby inside of her. Girls discuss a man being “hot.” We hear a tame joke that mentions a “prostitute.” Two women discuss someone moving out. A woman discusses how she’s impressed with Jimmy’s “body.” Some of the characters, led by Tara, dress less than modestly. An angry woman tells another woman, “I almost didn’t recognize you with your clothes on.” A man takes a woman home to his place; they kiss twice on the couch but are interrupted each time by a dog; she leaves. The film’s final scenes include four kisses in public.
Coarse Language
Minimal/moderate. OMG (8), misuse of “God” (6), a—(3), h—l (2), d—n (1). Also: a joke about Shih Tzu dogs (2), a “screw it” (1) and a “jeez” (1).
Other Stuff You Might Want To Know
Characters make a joke about getting drunk. A veterinarian asks a man what made the dog sick; it was marijuana brownies.
Life Lessons
At its core, Dog Days is a movie about the joy that canines bring to our lives. It also touches on the death of a dog who was a long-time companion. We also see an elderly man and a teen boy form a friendship.
Worldview
Yes, people are more important than animals. Scripture is clear on that. But this doesn’t mean that animals – and in this case dogs – are unimportant. In fact, dogs are one of the many great blessings in life. Why else would God have created an animal that is so loyal and happy with people? Often, dogs seem filled with more joy than their human owners.
Still, we need to keep pets in perspective. They aren’t human, and they cannot take the place of children.
One of the most curious angles in Dog Days involves a dog therapist – a woman who hands out advice to depressed dogs and their owners for $300 a session. It’s played for laughs, but dog therapy is – believe it or not – a real thing in real life. I sure hope it’s not as pointless and silly as portrayed on the big screen.
What Works
The humor, which is void of the low-brow jokes found in most Hollywood comedies. From the perky meteorologist to the wise-cracking ex-football star, the movie is funny.
What Doesn’t
We often judge romantic comedies on a sliding scale, simply because the R-rated competition is filled with smut. Dog Days isn’t filled with smut, but it nevertheless falls short of being “fun for the whole family.” Mom and dad and perhaps the teen children can enjoy it, but many families will find some of the content too edgy for the smaller kids.
Discussion Questions
- Why are dogs so popular as pets? Name five ways they can benefit people.
- What makes dogs different from other pets?
- Why do children like dogs and animals so much? Why did the adopted girl open up after meeting the dog?
- Is it OK to mourn a pet’s death? Why or why not?
Entertainment rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
Rated PG for rude and suggestive content, and for language.
by Michael Foust | Aug 3, 2018
Christopher Robin is an overworked father who needs a vacation.
His day job as an “efficiency manager” at a luggage company is stressful enough, but now his boss – the owner’s son — is demanding that he cut costs by 20 percent. And with his report on the finances due in just a few days, he is forced to cancel a much-anticipated summer weekend getaway with his wife and daughter so he can crunch the numbers.
He’s working hard to give his family a better life, but his wife’s not buying it.
“We don’t care,” she tells him. “We want you.”
From her perspective, she hasn’t heard him laugh or seen him have fun in years.
“Remember me?” she asks, rhetorically. “I’m your wife.”
Christopher Robin seems destined for a life full of work and no play – not to mention a strained marriage – when the unthinkable happens: A stuffed bear from his childhood visits him. He believes he’s imagining things, but then the bear – named “Winnie” – leads him to the forest and unveils other stuffed animals from his youth. There’s a donkey named “Eeyore,” a tiger known as “Tigger,” a pig called “Piglet,” and a tiny Kangaroo known simply as “Roo.”
Christopher Robin believes he can get rid of them, but the characters are on a mission. They want to help him re-discover the joys of his childhood. Will it work?
Disney’s Christopher Robin (PG) opens in theaters this weekend, less than one year after a similar-sounding movie – Fox Searchlight’s Goodbye Christopher Robin – hit theaters. But while that earlier movie told the story of author A. A. Milne and his son, Christopher Robin, the newer film shows Christopher Robin all grown up with a family, trying to find his way in life.
It stars Ewan McGregor (Star Wars prequels) as Christopher Robin; Hayley Atwell (Captain America series) as his wife, Evelyn; and voice actor Jim Cummings (Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog) as Winnie the Pooh.
The move is entertaining and squeaky-clean, with the charming and innocent elements of Paddington and Paddington 2 and the life lessons for parents found in films like Storks. We all could learn a few things from Winnie the Pooh.
“Sometimes, the [best] thing to do is nothing,” Pooh says, urging Christopher Robin to stop filling his life with busy-ness and work.
Like the Paddington films, it features a mixture of live-action and computer-generated characters.
Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key: none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Minimal. Winnie and the other animals discuss Heffalumps and Woozles – supposed monsters in the forest – but we only hear them. Later, Christopher Robin proves they don’t exist. One dream-like scene shows Christopher Robin under water.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
None. We see Christopher Robin kiss his wife twice in public.
Coarse Language
None. The worst we hear is “what the devil” (twice) and “bum.”
Other Positive Elements
Winnie the Pooh and his friends don’t argue, don’t ridicule others, and don’t fight. It’s a refreshing difference from other modern-day children’s programs. Even when Christopher Robin says something that makes Pooh sad, the bear doesn’t retort. (The main character of the Paddington films has similar qualities.)
Life Lessons
If only every children’s movie was this positive. Children gets lessons on encouraging one another (which Pooh and his friends do) and putting others first, while parents get lessons on avoiding workaholism and rediscovering the simple joys of life – like family.
Worldview
Christopher Robin believed he was putting his family first. After all, he was working hard at the office, at nights and on weekends, to ensure they had food on the table and a roof over their heads. He even planned on sending his daughter to boarding school to prepare her for life.
But he failed to see what his daughter Madeline wanted and needed: him. She didn’t care that her father was climbing the corporate ladder. She only cared if he was going to be there to read to her, play with her and talk to her. She didn’t want to go to boarding school.
“I’m been a father of very little brain,” he says at one point, borrowing a line from Pooh.
His lesson is one that nearly all parents could learn. The family – and not work — was God’s first institution. When we get our priorities out of line, problems always follow.
What Works
The animation. The voices. The interaction between Christopher Robin and the characters. I was a big fan of Winnie the Pooh as a child. This is the big-screen Pooh that I imagined.
What Doesn’t
The movie isn’t as fast-paced as most children’s films – which is both good and bad, depending on your perspective. If you go, be patient.
Discussion Questions
- Why did Christopher Robin fail to understand the feelings of his wife and daughter? Do you think he felt trapped by his work? How could he have handled the situation better?
- For parents: Do you ever feel like Christopher Robin did? If so, how?
- For families: How does Disney’s Christopher Robin differ from other animated films?
- For children: What did you learn from Pooh and his friends about treating others? What are some ways you can encourage your friends?
Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Rated PG for some action.
by Michael Foust | Aug 1, 2018
Robin is a crime-fighting superhero “sidekick,” but he’s not content in his role. He wants to be like the real Justice League superheroes: Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. He wants to be famous. He wants a movie.
But to achieve that, he and his Teen Titans companions — Beast Boy, Starfire, Cyborg and Raven – must learn to be serious. They’ll also need an arch nemesis like the other superheroes have. You know, like Joker and Lex Luthor.
Thus, Robin and the others begin their search for a villain that just might boost their celebrity status and thrust them into the realm of well-known superheroes.
Will it work?
The animated film Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (PG) is now in theaters, telling the story of the teenage superhero team that battles crime like no one else. It stars Scott Menville (Teen Titans TV series) as the voice of Robin, Greg Cipes (Fast and Furious) as Beast Boy, Hynden Walch (Groundhog Day) as Starfire, Tara Strong (My Little Pony: The Movie) as Raven, Khary Payton (Teen Titans Go TV series) as Cyborg and Will Arnett (The Lego Movie) as the villain Slade.
The movie is based on the Cartoon Network television series and follows Robin as he searches for his role in the world and tries to escape the shadow of Batman. The movie has several solid life lessons and plenty of humor to keep the parents laughing, but is marred by flatulence jokes, diarrhea humor and potty jokes. It might be a record for a popular animated film.
Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key: Minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Minor. With Looney Tunes-type animated violence. A giant villain destroys a city. Characters shoot laser guns. Police shoot real guns. A nightmare scene show Batman tossing a toddler Robin off a tall structure. A vehicle runs over an animal playing a musical instrument. Characters kick and punch other characters. Stuff explodes. In a flashback scene, Batman’s parents are killed. (We don’t see it.)
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
None. One or two characters show midriffs. The film’s final scene shows Robin addressing the audience and saying, “Ask your parents where babies come from.”
Coarse Language
None. But we do hear “pooped” (7), “fart” (5), “booty” (3), “oh my gosh” (2), “butt” (1), “fool” (1) and “losers” (1).
Other Positive Elements
The Teen Titans might joke a lot, but they truly care for one another – and they want to team up to defeat evil.
Other Stuff You Might Want To Know
An inflatable villain is shot with a dart in the rear; flatulence jokes ensue. The Teen Titans accidentally use the bathroom in a movie prop toilet; poop jokes ensue. (See the pattern?) Robin’s rear end is the subject of two scenes. (He shakes it a lot in the movies of his dreams.) We see a baby Superman shake his naked read end while dancing. One of the film’s final scenes involves a joke about diarrhea. A villain who looks like Deadpool is told, “Look into the camera and say something inappropriate.” (He doesn’t.) One superhero performs magic, opening portals to other places and dimensions.
Life Lessons
Despite the low-brow silliness, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies has a few good messages. Encourage your friends. Learn to be comfortable with who you are. Don’t try to be someone else. Be content. Don’t chase fame.
Worldview
Our world worships the “famous” among us. We get their autographs. We take their pictures. We spend hard-earned cash to watch them on the big screen. But if you dig a little deeper into this worldview, you’ll discover something very fast: Famous people aren’t content with their lives, either. (Read the tabloids at your local grocery store for proof.)
Scripture commands us: “ Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5).
Robin learns a valuable lesson about fame – a lesson that nearly costs him his friends.
What Works
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies is truly funny at times. Sadly, though …
What Doesn’t
The flatulence/potty jokes litter the film. A 10-year-old boy could have written those. Kids deserve better from Hollywood.
Discussion Questions
- Why is fame so alluring? Why do we want to be famous? Have you ever had a brush with somebody famous?
- What is the secret to being content? What does Scripture say? What are some examples from your life of not being content?
- What can we learn from the movie about encouraging others? How can you encourage a friend who is down?
Entertainment rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Rated PG for action and rude humor.
