Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days

Rating: 5 out of 5 buckets

Release Date: August 3, 2012

MPAA Rating: PG

Best Age Group: 7+

Sexual Content: Mild

Violent Content: Mild

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

Drugs and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Summertime is finally here, and Greg Heffley is ready. His summer plan is to play video games and eat junk food all day and everyday; however his parents have a different plan. They want him to play outside, join the Wilderness Scouts, and the young reader's book club. Since Greg's original plan didn't work, he comes up with another idea to avoid his parent's quest. Greg decides to accompany his best friend, Rowley, and hang out at Rowley's country club pool everyday; however in order to do that, Greg lies to his parents and tells them he's working at the pool. Now the adventure begins as Greg and Rowley start their summer escapades; some good, some bad. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is the third adaptation of the best-selling Diary of a Wimpy Kid graphic novels. 

While Greg often thinks his parents are too old fashioned, Greg's parents (Susan and Frank) are truly caring loving parents, only wanting the best for their children.
There are some great father-son moments. Greg's father (Frank) tries to connect more with his son. They bond over a comic strip, they both dislike. When Frank finds out about Greg's lie, they have a heartfelt talk. Frank quotes his grandpa; "The man who never made a mistake has never made anything. The trick is to learn from your mistakes." This could spark a good parent-child discussion.
When Rowley breaks a promise to his parents, he's sad when his parents are disappointed in him.
Greg lies several times to his parents, he and Rodrick sneak into the country club several times, and order smoothies, not knowing that they were charged to Rowley's dad. Another good parent-child discussion of what NOT to do.
There is a lot of potty humor; boogers, peeing in the pool and dirty diapers are some examples.
Rodrick fakes a drowning while trying to get a cute lifeguard's attention. Not a good thing for kids to see.
Sexual Content: Mild
• Teenage girls are shown in their bikinis.
• Greg finds a pair of girl's shorts with the word "Princess" embroidered on the back. He wears the shorts because he lost his bathing suit in the pool while attempting to dive off the high dive.

Violent Content: Mild
• While playing tennis, Rowley gets forcefully hit in the crotch and Greg gets hit all over. Greg also falls over the net and crashes to the ground.
• One character runs over Rodrick's toe with a car tire.
• Greg causes a camp leader to trip, fall and set his tent on fire.
• Rodrick accidentally ruins a girls 16th birthday party; he smashes into an ice sculpture, and destroys her chocolate fountain.
• While camping, a boy tells a scary story; this may scare young kids.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild
• Name calling; words such as, "loser," "jerk" and "wimp," are used.

Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans will enjoy this movie. Even though the young character's in the film don't always make the best choices, they eventually learn their lesson! Parents need to be aware of the potty humor, pranks and the misbehaving kids in the film. I recommend this for kids ages 7 and up.

 

Total Recall 

Rating: 1 and 1/2 buckets out of 5

Release Date: August 3, 2012

MPAA Rating: PG13

Best Age Group: 14+

Sexual Content: Moderate

Violent Content: Excessive

Crude or Profane Language: Excessive

Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild

Will Kids Like It? No

A place where dreams come true...no it's not Disney World; it's a place called Rekall. Rekall provides its customers with an implanted fake memory; whatever you want, whatever you've always dreamed of; it's yours. Factory worker, Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), thinks this sounds great. However when the procedure goes awry, Doug becomes a man on the run when he realizes that he's a threat to the government, and a wanted man. Doug becomes confused (so was I) between what's real and what's fantasy as he tries to save the world from an evil villain. Total Recall is a remake of the 1990 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Doug is a good guy, and a likable character. He wanted to do the right thing, and even risked his life while doing so.
I read this film was originally rated R; it barely made the PG13 rating.
The story-line is confusing. I got tired of the battles and brutal fights.
Sexual Content: Moderate 
When Doug enters a red-light district a prostitute approaches him and opens her coat to reveal her three breasts...yes three! She says, "You're going to wish you had three hands." 
Doug and his wife are shown kissing, and caressing each other; while she's only wearing a tank top and undies.

Violent Content: Excessive
There are violent fights with gunfire and brutal punches throughout the whole film. 
People are stabbed and sliced with knives. 
Doug slices his hand open to remove a phone that was embedded in his hand. 
There are massive explosions, with several casualties.

Crude or Profane Language: Excessive 
The f-word is said once. "Sh-t" is said around 30 times. "B--ch," "d--n," "a--," "h--l," d-ck," are also used a couple times each.

Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild 
Character's are shown drinking beer at a bar.

Will Kids Like It? No
Overall this is an action packed, somewhat confusing, sci-fi film. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence and profane language. I recommend The Amazing Spider-man for a good action film to see at the theaters, with not as much violence or profane language.

Courtesy: Take Five Box Office Mom Jackie Solberg www.boxofficemom.com