By Trina Boice Republished with permission from The Movie Review Mom. WHAT IS THE LION KING ABOUT? It’s been 5 minutes, so that means it’s time for another Disney remake! If you’re like me, you’ve probably seen the 1994 original movie The Lion King at least a dozen times, right? My kids grew up watching it over and over. The story, in a nutshell, is that a lion prince is deceived by his evil uncl ...[Read More]
Family Review: THE LION KING is Gorgeous but Kind of Flat
Family Review: TOY STORY 4 is Worthy of What Came Before
By Trina Boice Reprinted with permission from Movie Review Mom. WHAT'S TOY STORY 4 ABOUT? Our favorite toys are back together again in Toy Story 4, 24 years after the original Toy Story hit theaters to instant, raving fans. How does this franchise consistently pump out one fantastic film after another? Disney and Pixar’s magical formula has done it again. Former Chief Creator Director of Disney J ...[Read More]
Family Review: Despite Huge Budget, ALADDIN Looks Cheap
Republished with permission from The Movie Mom. By Trina Boice WHAT'S ALADDIN ABOUT? It’s been about five minutes, so what does that mean? Time for another Disney live-action remake! (Wink.) This version of the 1992 animated musical Aladdin was directed by Guy Ritchie, who wanted to make a children’s film for his five kids. He admits he’s always been compelled by stories about street hustlers. A ...[Read More]
Family Review: DUMBO Charms But Doesn’t Soar
By Trina Boice Republished with permission from The Movie Review Mom. WHAT’S DUMBO ABOUT? Dumbo is a story of a sweet, baby elephant whose unusually large ears allow him to fly. He gets separated from his mother in their circus life together and has to rely on the help of a kind circus family in order to find his mother. This live-action adaptation of the original Dumbo is directed by Tim Bu ...[Read More]
MARY POPPINS RETURNS Family Movie Review
By Trina Boice WHAT’S IT ABOUT? Based on the stories by P. L. Travers, this lovely family-friendly film is, as Mary Poppins would say, “practically perfect in every way.” It has the magic, wonder, fun, style, and spirit of the original movie while providing new talent and new musical numbers. It is not a remake, but a sequel. The 1964 Disney movie Mary Poppins became a classic and has warmed ...[Read More]
NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS Family Movie Review
By Trina Boice WHAT’S IT ABOUT? Based on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T. A. Hoffmann, this coming-of-age movie adaptation feels partially familiar, yet also new and wacky. It feels like a sugary cupcake that is beautifully decorated, but mostly fluff with no nutritional value. Very young girls may enjoy it. Most everyone else will be bored or disappointed. IS IT ANY GOOD? C+ Not ...[Read More]
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN Family Movie Review
By Michael Stanley WHAT’S IT ABOUT? Christopher Robin is the latest live-action reimagining of Disney Studio’s classic characters. Based on the beloved cartoon series inspired by A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh stories, this film follows a grown-up Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) struggling to find a balance between his demanding career and his role as husband and father to his wife (Hayley Atwell ...[Read More]
INCREDIBLES 2 Family Movie Review
By Michael Stanley WHAT’S THE INCREDIBLES 2 ABOUT? Picking up right where the The Incredibles (2004) left off, the super-powered Parr family struggle to fulfill their duty as superheroes in a world where superheroism remains illegal. Given a chance to work as an advocate for a superhero legalization movement, the mother Helen Parr decides to don the mask and tights of Elastigirl once more in order ...[Read More]
A WRINKLE IN TIME Family Movie Review
By Joel Hilton WHAT'S A WRINKLE IN TIME ABOUT? Based on the beloved novel by Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time tells the story of Meg (Storm Reid) and her brother Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe) as they search through time and space to find their missing father (Chris Pine). Rent or buy it here. IS IT ANY GOOD? (GRADE: D) Fans of the book will probably be disappointed. There are a lot of changes ...[Read More]
COCO Family Movie Review
By Lindsi Neilson WHAT’S COCO ABOUT? Miguel, a young boy who wants nothing more than to be a musician, finds himself transported to the Land of the Dead and has to team up with his ancestors to find a way back to the Land of the Living. IS IT ANY GOOD? (GRADE: A) First thing about this movie: the animation will completely blow you away. Pixar goes above and beyond what they’ve already accomplis ...[Read More]