Quality Children's Entertainment Family Movie Reviews

Archive for April, 2017

The Boss Baby – Dreamworks’ fun, lighthearted film with a stellar performance by Alec Baldwin

Friday, April 7th, 2017

A new baby’s arrival impacts a family, told from the point of view of a delightfully unreliable narrator — a wildly imaginative 7-year-old named Tim. The most unusual Boss Baby (Alec Baldwin) arrives at Tim’s home in a taxi, wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase. The instant sibling rivalry must soon be put aside when Tim discovers that Boss Baby is actually a spy on a secret mission, and only he can help thwart a dastardly plot that involves an epic battle between puppies and babies. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Tristan T. comments, “The Boss Baby is fabulously directed by Tom McGrath, who you might recognize from his work on all three Madagascar movies and Megamind. He says that the movie is partially an apology letter to his own brother for all the grief he put him in when they were young.” Mia A. adds, “This film is very funny because Tim and the baby are always fighting. Sometimes they put scenes in slow motion which makes them extra funny. In one scene, the babies are going against Tim and everything is over exaggerated. I went with a 6-year-old and she and the rest of the audience laughed a lot.” See their full reviews below.

The Boss Baby

By Tristan Tierce, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

Dreamworks’ The Boss Baby, is an extraordinary, fun and lighthearted animated film based on an award-winning picture book by Marla Frazee. 7-year-old Tim (Miles Christopher Bakshi) had the perfect life and the full attention of his parents until one day, a new arrival took it all away and became the Boss of his family. Tim and Boss Baby face sibling rivalry, trying to both win the affection of their parents. Much to Tim’s surprise, the two bond when they join forces to uncover the evil plot of the CEO of Puppy Co. And in the midst of it all, Tim and his new brother Boss Baby (Alec Baldwin) learn the true meaning of the love of family.

The Boss Baby is fabulously directed by Tom McGrath, who you might recognize from his work on all three Madagascar movies and Megamind. He says that the movie is partially an apology letter to his own brother for all the grief he put him in when they were young.

My favorite character is Boss Baby. Alec Baldwin voices this character with great panache. His witty personality mixed with a take-charge attitude bursts through the screen. I feel that Baldwin’s voice talent in this is one of the key reasons this movie shines.

My favorite scene is when Tim and Boss Baby work together to sneak into Puppy Co. and attempt to steal the secret file. Watching a working large scale replica of one of my favorite games when I was young (Mouse Trap) was particularly fun. Also, there are many toys from the 70s and 80s included which I enjoyed. Several times I found myself times trying to find them in the scene. There are so many magical moments throughout. As an only child, it’s funny that there are times the movie made me want to have a brother and, other times, I’m happy to be an only child.

The Boss Baby is an enjoyable film, safe to keep you and your family thoroughly entertained. Director Tom McGrath states “I want this movie to draw you in and make you move to the edge of your seat, not pull away from the screen” and I believe he achieved that goal. It is rated PG for mild humor and I recommend it for ages 6 to 14, although the whole family will enjoy it. I give this film 4.5 out of 5 stars. It opens in theaters nationwide on March 31, 2017 so, go check it out.

The Boss Baby
By Mia Anderson, KIDSFIRST! Film Critic, age 13

The Boss Baby is a hilarious movie about a boy named Tim (Miles Christopher Bakshi) who has a pretty great life with his parents, until one day he gets a baby brother (Alec Baldwin) who wears a suit and tie. Tim is very skeptical about this new baby brother, but eventually he works with his baby brother to help stop the antagonist, the CEO of Puppy Co.

This film is very funny because Tim and the baby are always fighting. Sometimes they put scenes in slow motion which makes them extra funny. In one scene, the babies are going against Tim and everything is over exaggerated. I went with a 6-year-old and she and the rest of the audience laughed a lot.

The animation in this movie is very detailed and brightly colored. The creative use of so many colors help give each scene a happy feeling. There is a lot of detail in this movie such as the characters’ hair. You can see little strands of hair and each individual eyelash. Having so much detail on each character helps make it more realistic.

The moral to this film is “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Although Tim is right to be skeptical about the new baby, he doesn’t get to know the baby before judging him and jumps to the conclusion that he is bad. My favorite scene is when Tim tries to show the parents that the baby can talk. This is a very funny scene because everything is so over-the-top and the slow motion parts are hysterical. The music is primarily one song, Black Bird. This song is sung throughout and is Tim’s favorite song. Black Bird brings a sweet mood to the film whenever it is sung.

I recommend this film for ages 4 to 14 because. It is a pretty funny movie parents can take their kids to, but you should know that there is a reference to killing people which might be scary to little kids. I rate this movie 5 out of 5 stars, because the plot is really developed and it is very funny. Go see The Boss Baby in theaters when it opens March 31, 2017. I think you will love it!

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Floogals – Making Exploration and Critical Thinking Fun and Exciting!

Friday, April 7th, 2017

Join the Floogals on a mission of discovery as they explore Earth and the funny “hoomans” who live there! Captain Fleeker, First Officer Flo, and Junior Boomer are pocket sized alien adventurers on a mission to observe and experience a new and exciting world Planet Earth! Arriving in their spaceship from the distant planet of Floog, the Floogals are on a mission to document everything around them in the peculiar world of the “hoomans”. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Lara M. comments, “I love how this show demonstrating the power of exploration and critical thinking. Floogals is a children’s TV show that mixes animated and real life images, exciting characters and unique episodes.” KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror Rachael V. comments, “This show follows three little explorers observing the hooman (human) world in a way that we can only observe by watching a show like this. All the stories are fantastic…” See their full reviews below.

Floogals: DESTINATION PLANET EARTH!
by Lara Marcus, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

I love how this show demonstrates the power of exploration and critical thinking. Floogals is a children’s TV show that mixes animated and real life images, exciting characters and unique episodes. Young children will enjoy the adventures the Floogals embark on.

This special Floogals DVD has eight episodes, stars Captain Fleeker, Officer Flo and Junior Boomer – aliens who have come to earth to explore the human’s objects. Episode #1, Project Caterpillar, explains the process of metamorphosis to the Floogals as they watch and wait for the Hooman’s caterpillars to change into butterflies. Episode #2 is Project Balloon, where the Floogals discover what a balloon is, how it works and why they are needed. The next Episode, #3 is Project Baby. The Floogals discover what a baby is exactly. Episode #4 is Project Bubbles. Along with discovering what a bubble is made of, the Floogals learn to work together to blow bubbles. In Project Hamster, the Floogals have to catch the Hooman’s hamster that escapes the cage. In Project Robot, they take Hooman’s son’s robot to rescue officer Flo. The episode Project Garden Hose has them finding out that the hose is turned on by a lever and learning that hoses are used to water plants. The final episode is Project Magnet where the Floogals’ learn what a magnet is and how it works. In each episode, kids learn the use of objects in our world.

My favorite character is Junior Boomer. Boomer’s adolescent character and curiosity is fun to watch throughout every episode. Of course, the other characters are exciting to watch too. Officer Flo’s intelligence and Captain Fleeker’s leadership qualities greatly enhance the show. In addition, I enjoyed the live elements incorporated into the show. In Project Hamster, I like how a real hamster is in the show along with the animated Captain Fleeker, who are both in the hamster’s cage.

Each episode teaches something different. Project Caterpillar teaches the audience about Metamorphosis. Project Balloon shows how balloons float. Project Baby demonstrates how we grow. Project Bubbles shows us what bubbles are made of. Project Hamster teaches about live animals and how to keep them in a cage. Project Robot shows how electronics work and how they run on batteries. Project Garden Hose demonstrates how a hose is used and how it works. Finally Project Magnet shows us how magnets work. As each episode teaches kids how ordinary objects in our world work, the Floogals’ comedic characters and unique adventures make the show enjoyable. I recommend Floogals for ages 2 to 6 and give it 5 out of 5 stars. This DVD is available now wherever DVDs are sold so, go check it out. You’re missing out if you don’t share it with your preschoolers.

The Floogals: Destination Planet Earth
By Rachael V., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror

This show follows three little explorers observing the hooman (human) world in a way that we can only observe by watching a show like this. All the stories are fantastic, but the one I like the most is Project Garden Hose. Due to the size of The Floogals, something like a garden hose is a behemoth to them (which becomes adorably obvious in Project Hamster). They are skating down the hose and it looks like this neat little jungle. It’s very fun. Something about this program that had me worried at first is that it mixes animation with live action. The Floogals and their belongings are shown in CGI, but the world in which they explore is all shown in live action. I’ve seen this before and didn’t care for it. Iwas not looking forward to watching it because of that. But the Floogals really pull it off! I can honestly say that the exploration would not be nearly as entertaining without the brilliant visual media mix along with the fun writing. I look forward to showing this to my son when he gets a bit bigger. I recommend this for ages 2 to 5 and give it 5 out of 5 stars!

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