November is here, complete with a chill in the air and a holiday season that’s ready to settle in with a turkey drumstick and a sprig of holly. It only seems right that we at Plugged In should focus on the holiday-loving youngsters in your fold and point out some kid-friendly fare.
Let’s see what the various stream sites have in store.
Netflix
Elf (PG, 2003): A guy named Buddy, who was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves, heads back to the human world in search of his real father. Buddy’s tale is generally a good time with a holiday slant, though not a perfect Christmas pic. Our Bob Waliszewski summed it up this way: “Lessons about the importance of the family—especially bonding with a father—are underscored. Still, Elf is not as pure as the driven snow. Some mild language problems, a wink at inebriation and a complete avoidance of the season’s Bethlehem roots mix some mud into it.”
Disney+
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (G, 2011): Dave Seville, the Chipmunks and the Chipettes all take a luxury cruise to the International Music Awards. But after a bit of mayhem, they end up marooned. OK, it may not be Gilligan’s Island, but this pic has lots of crazy hijinks and little-critter fun. And as I said in my review: “Best of all, possibly, is something that’s not included: The typical chipmunk poop jokes are left back in the cage at home.”
Jingle All the Way (PG, 1996): Workaholic dad, Howard, wants to make up to his son for missing out on important times and events. So he promises to get his hands on the hottest toy of the season, Turbo-Man, even though it’s Christmas Eve and the toy is nowhere to be found. Is it goofy? Yep. Slapsticky? Uh huh. But this action-packed Christmas comedy has fun for the kids and even a dash of a lesson for dads.
Amazon Prime
Fantastic Mr. Fox (PG, 2009): Mr. Fox breaks a promise to his wife and raids the farms of their human neighbors. His animal instincts endanger not only his marriage but also the lives of his family and their animal friends. And Mr. Fox has to find a way out of the hole he’s dug. Here we have a not-so-typical stop-action-animated pic based on a kid’s book by Roald Dahl. Plugged In’s Paul Asay wrapped his review up like this: “The movie doesn’t have a stereotypical happy ending, where everyone gets to do exactly what they want to do. And yet it is happy. The animals survive and, on some level, thrive. Mr. Fox trades his chicken-hunting talents for more mundane trips down the grocery store aisle. And that’s OK, we’re told. ‘We’ll eat tonight,’ Mr. Fox says, ‘and we’ll eat together.’
Gnomeo & Juliet (G, 2011): Miss Capulet and Mr. Montague feud over whose garden is the better. And garden gnomes that decorate each neighbor’s flower beds continue the rivalry when the humans aren’t looking. But there’s some gnomey love in the mix that might help set things right. As I said in my review, “As forced as the idea for this flick may sound—and the movie’s trailers look—Gnomeo & Juliet has a lot of pottery-clinking playfulness going for it. … The downside? A bit of toilet humor that could easily have been pruned.”
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (PG, 1988): A down-on-his-luck private eye gets hired by cartoon producer to investigate a scandal involving Jessica Rabbit, the sultry wife of the studio’s biggest star, Roger Rabbit. This classic pic, blending live-action and cartoon characters, had some parents a bit unsure because of its adult story winks and the proportions of its female cartoon star. But this movie still wows in a way that many cartoons today just can’t measure up to. Lots of fun with just a few eye-roll worthy bits.
Hulu
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (PG, 2009): After food shortages leave people eating sardines, Flint Lockwood, a failed inventor, thinks he has the answer to the town’s crisis. He builds a machine that converts water into food. But there’s a storm on the horizon. My review of this fun pic noted, “this cheery, animated smorgasbord—which is loosely based on a very popular children’s book that is, as we speak, being read to scores of schoolchildren by scores of schoolteachers—lays out a satisfying spread.” You’ll eat it up.
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (PG, 2004): The three young Baudelaire siblings are left orphaned by a fire in their mansion. And then they’re carted off to live with their distant relative, Count Olaf. Unfortunately, Olaf isn’t a very nice man. So what are the orphans to do? That may sound a tad dark, as children’s stories go, but our Steve Isaac liked this flick quite a bit. “But the dark tones that are painted on this canvas are quite unlike those seen in cultural peer Harry Potter. Magic and sorcery don’t muddy things up here. It’s pure imagination that powers Lemony Snicket’s world. And that’s a huge relief. Violet and Klaus don’t stay one step ahead of their troubles by casting spells, they do it by drawing on the internal resources they’ve accumulated by reading and by inventing.” Steve gave it a hearty thumbs up.
And lastly, lets turn to HBO Max for a couple older kid’s pics that you may not have seen—both based on beloved kid’s TV shows.
HBO Max
The Brady Bunch Movie (PG-13, 1995): The Bradys of the popular ’70s sitcom get thrust into the ’90s. And the family’s house is in danger of being taken away if the ever-positive brood can’t come up with $20,000. It’s time for the six Brady kids to step up and try and raise the money themselves. If that doesn’t sound like typical Brady fare, then you haven’t been bingeing enough old TV shows. Lots of wholesome fun ensues.
The Care Bears Movie (G, 1985): In this animated movie, a young magician’s assistant falls prey to an evil spirit intent on destroying all happiness in the world. It is up to a group of Care Bears, including Friend Bear and Love-a-Lot Bear, with help from a couple of orphans, to stop the spirit using their caring powers. OK, there’s magic (and a little bit of scary content) in this tale. But it’s Care Bear magic. And a thoughtful mom and dad can guide little viewers—and their lovable stuffed bears—through.
One Response
-I used to like the Hallmark Christmas movies. Now they have to add in gays. I wish I could know before I time in. Need to have a “plugged in” movie review for these TV movies. Thanks for listening.