KIDS FIRST! Jury Blog

Harriet (Lucy Boynton) finds art imitating life when she discovers certain songs can transport her back in time — literally. While she relives the past through romantic memories of her former boyfriend (David Corenswet), her time traveling collides with a burgeoning new love interest in the present (Justin H. Min). As she takes her journey through the hypnotic connection between music and memory, she wonders — even if she could change the past, should she?

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Zoe C. comments, “The Greatest Hits is an emotional comedy, drama, and fantasy film that highlights the impact of music. The cute yet sentimental storyline is unique, and I especially love how this film uses music as a metaphor to depict grief, and the stages people go through processing it.” See her full review below.  

The Greatest Hits 
By Zoë C, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

The Greatest Hits is an emotional comedy, drama, and fantasy film that highlights the impact of music. The cute yet sentimental storyline is unique, and I especially love how this film uses music as a metaphor to depict grief, and the stages people go through processing it. 

The film introduces Harriet (Lucy Boynton) who loses her boyfriend in a car accident. The tragedy leaves Harriet with trauma and also the ability to go back in time. When she hears a song that’s connected with a memory, the ability to time travel is triggered, and Harriet goes back to that time. Harriet tries to bring Max back, and faces many life-challenge obstacles that don’t allow her to recover from his death. Two years later, Harriet remembers the accident like it happened yesterday—she visits a support group where she meets David (Justin H. Min). And so Harriet must “face the music” and make some very tough decisions.

This film is authentic, heartbreaking, and very relatable. I love the soundtrack and connected with it so much as I constantly listen to music, and I love how music symbolizes different stages of life.  Throughout the film, Harriet is desperately looking for ways to bring Max back. While this makes Harriet relatable, I also found this to be the film’s biggest flaw. That being said I did find the plot to be very cute and romantic.

The story is about overcoming grief, and I like how the film represents what that means to Harriet. However, the acting and script aren’t as strong as I wished. Lucy Boynton does deliver a very good performance as she shows how grief can harshly impact one’s life. And I liked Austin Crute’s performance as Harriet’s best friend—their chemistry is refreshing as he supports Harriet through her grieving process. Finally, I enjoy the aesthetic of this film—the warm cinematography is pleasing to the eye.

The message of this film is that sometimes we need to let go of the past to move forward with the present. 

I give The Greatest Hits 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults.  The Greatest Hits debuts in limited release in theaters on April 5, 2024 and on Hulu April 23, 2024.

An evil doctor (Weird Al Yankovic) wants to steal the world’s best soccer players’ talents, skills, and abilities. He targets Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Megan Rapinoe (both playing themselves) and turns them into horrifying “mutant” monster versions of themselves. But with the help of some children soccer players, “Weird Al” will have to overcome their team of heroes that relies on hard work and practice instead of a magic serum.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gavin S. comments, “The Soccer Football Movie is a delightful blend of humor, heart, and thrilling action sequences. From start to finish, the film captivated me with its engaging storyline and charming characters. It’s a joyride that kept me hooked throughout.” See his full review below.

The Soccer Football Movie
By Gavin S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

The Soccer Football Movie is a delightful blend of humor, heart, and thrilling action sequences. From start to finish, the film captivated me with its engaging storyline and charming characters. It’s a joyride that kept me hooked throughout.

In this animated adventure, a group of plucky kids, known as the Creature Catchers, embarks on an exciting journey to witness their soccer heroes, Zlatan and Megan Rapinoe (voiced by themselves) in action. However, their plans take an unexpected turn when they discover that the players have been mutated by a strange slimy slug concocted by the eccentric Weird Al (voiced by Weird Al Yankovic). Now the creature catchers must team up with superstars to thwart a monstrous creature created by the nefarious slime.

This movie is a true gem! The clever humor, stellar voice acting, and stunning animation make it a joyride from start to finish. The jokes had me laughing out loud, and the voice acting by the remarkable cast brings the characters to life in a way that is both entertaining and endearing. The animation is top notch, with vibrant visuals that capture the excitement of the soccer matches, and the chaos of the creature’s rampage. Moreover, the underlying message of unity and camaraderie adds depth to the storyline, making it a film that resonates long after the credits roll.

Watching the creature catchers and the soccer stars come together to overcome obstacles and defeat the common enemy is not only thrilling, but also uplifting. The Soccer Football Movie is a winner for both soccer fans and animation lovers.

The film’s message is that teamwork makes the dream work and that, with support, anything can get done.

I give The Soccer Football Movie 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 through 12; this film is available on most streaming platforms now, be sure to check it out.