Family film guide: ‘Footloose,’ ‘The Big Year’

  • Monday, October 17, 2011 12:01am
  • Life

“Footloose”

Rating: PG-13 for some teen drug and alcohol use, sexual content, violence and language.

What it’s about: A new kid in town tries to get the adults to allow organized dancing, which was banned after teens died in a car accident years before.

The kid attractor factor: Sexy young actors shaking their groove things, rebelling against grown-ups

Good lessons/bad lessons: You can’t protect your kids from everything. You have to let them grow up.

Violence: A beat-down.

Language: A smattering of profanity.

Sex: Lots of bumping and grinding, on and off the dance floor.

Drugs: Cigarettes, beer.

Parents’ advisory: If they’re old enough to have seen the original film on TV, which was pretty racy for its day, this one won’t hurt them. OK for 13 and older.

“The Big Year”

Rating: PG for language and some sensuality.

What it’s about: Three competitive bird-watchers set out to break the record for most bird species seen in North America in a year. Mayhem ensues.

The kid attractor factor: Three kid-friendly comics chasing birds.

Good lessons/bad lessons: Step back and rethink your priorities, especially if you’re putting bird-watching ahead of people.

Violence: None.

Language: Birders have been known to curse when they miss a sighting.

Sex: A suggestion of an affair.

Drugs: Wine with dinner.

Parents’ advisory: The adult themes, sex and profanity make this best left to those 15 and older.

— Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel

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