“Finding Entertainment Appropriate for Kids,” or FEAK, runs every Friday and discusses places – mainly the movie theaters – where parents can look to find things for their kids to watch over the weekend.
While last week had a major family release with “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” this week is even bigger. Dragon big.
“How To Train Your Dragon” is a hugely promoted, epic, family 3D animated action film featuring the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerald Butler, America Ferrera, Chris Mintz-Plasse, Johan Hill, Craig Ferguson and Kristin Wiig. Baruchel voices a young viking named Hiccup who befriends and learns from a dragon, which is the mortal enemy of his people. We gave the film a positive review at this link, so check that out for more on the specifics of the movie.
As to the question of the film being appropriate for kids, of course it is. There’s some subtle subversive humor but nothing that goes over the line. The one minor issue in the film is the relationship between Hiccup and his father Stoick, voiced by Butler. Their relationship is fleeting at best because Stoick, who is big and strong, is ashamed of Hiccup. And because of that, he says some very hurtful things to, and about, his son. Of course, at the end, things wrap themselves up nicely but the jabs that dad throws at his son can be stinging.
The other major release this week is also a movie your kids might want to see based on the title alone: “Hot Tub Time Machine.” Unfortunately, unlike “Dragon,” this R-rated romp is not for your kids. Filled with language, violence, nudity, it’s a throwback to the 1980s in every kind of way. You, the parent, will surely enjoy all the inside jokes from films like “Better Off Dead” but even if you let your kids see it, not only will they get a whole dose of inappropriate, they are sure not to understand the references.
Next week: “The Last Song” and “Clash of the Titans”
