Who's The Boss? Reviews

Movie Review: Bolt

Can I just tell you how much I love, love, loved this movie?  Through a clever premise, Disney illustrates something profound about loyalty and devotion.  It's a great story.  One that your kids will love and parents won't be bored to tears watching.

Bolt is one of the biggest television stars in the world… only he doesn’t know it.

In his TV show, Bolt is a genetically-altered, super-powered dog who fights crime alongside his real-life owner Penny.  But in reality, he’s just a normal dog who’s been tricked into believing his superhero backstory so that he can maintain real emotion while on screen.  Bolt really believes he has a super bark and can jump giant distances.   Think dog-action version of the Truman Show - everyone else knows it all pretend except for the dog.

When Bolt accidentally is air-mailed to New York City, he must find his way back to his owner in LA with the help of a de-clawed cat, Mittens, and an overenthusiastic hamster, Rhino. Along the way, he’ll struggle with the "loss" of his powers and discover the true level of his devotion to his “person." 

Beware, the hamster totally steals the show and your kids may be asking for a furry friend for Christmas. 

What I loved most about the movie is that is shows that there is nothing wrong with being just ordinary.  And that we all have a little superhero strength inside of us.

Bottom line: The under 3 crowd may get scared by some of the action sequences.  Try the 3-D version if it is available in your area.

Movie Review: Journey to the Center of the Earth

Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) is a Geology Professor and scientist who has undertaken the research started by his brother Max who just happened to go missing long ago.  Max’s son Sean is preparing to visit his Uncle Trevor while his mom packs up for a big move to Canada. When he is dropped off, Trevor is given a box of Max’s belongings. Inside is a copy of the Jules Verne novel, Journey to the Center of the Earth. It turns out Max was obsessed with the idea that the center of our planet could exist as it does in the fictional story.   When Trevor realizes that some of Max’s notes in the book are identical to climate conditions today, Trevor and Sean set out to Iceland with to find out for himself what lurks beneath the surface.

Along the way, they hire a super-hot Icelandic mountain guide named Hannah to help them navigate the caves. Haphazardly, they locate this underground world filled with strange creatures and vast landscapes. Once the trio is deep below they find out that Max had lived in the underground world and use his journal when they have trouble escaping.  The movie has a touching and brief scene when Hannah discovers Max’s remains and Trevor and Sean have to come to grips with the death.

The movie has some great action sequences.  Our family favorites were the mine shaft ride – felt  just like being on a roller coaster – and the batting practice with the scariest looking fish you’ll ever see.   The movie is rated PG for intense action sequences and they are not lying.  There was more than one moment where my very adventurous four year-old was on my lap quicker than you could say T-Rex.   But he kept his eyes glued to the screen even if he was shaking in his boots.

Bottom line:  Don’t take kids that get scared easily.  Avoid the 3D version unless you have tweens/teens that can handle the intensity. 

Movie Review: Nim's Island

  Nim's Island is children's movie slash adventure movie slash attempt at romantic comedy all rolled into one.  The premise of the movie is a tad bit difficult for a child to wrap their head around as it often feels like two separate story lines that attempt to come together in the last 10 minutes of the movie.

It starts with meeting Nim, an 11 year old girl, who lives on a secret island with her widowed father.  Her father spends most of his time away studying plankton while Nim "learns" about life through her animal friends and her love of reading Indiana Jones-esque adventure novels.  When her father decides to take a 2-day trip to study plankton, Nim insists on staying behind at the island to help her sea turtle friend hatch eggs.  The first night away, there is a terrible storm and her father is lost to sea.  Leaving Nim all alone on her private island. 

Cut to meeting Alexandra Rover, the agoraphobic author of the book's Nim loves, who is having writer's block on her latest "Alex Rover" novel.  She comes across an article written by Nim's father and decides to email him about the volcano on her island in order to develop her plot line.  Nim responds to the email and the two strike up a email conversation. 

After another night of her father not returning and a cruise ship finding the island to use as a tourist destination, Nim desperately emails Alex Rover to come save her and her island.  Alexandra then has to conquer her fears to get half way across the world to save Nim. 

There is a lot of slapstick comedy that keep my son entertained.  The storm scene did mildly frighten him but it was over quickly.  The shots from the island often felt like they were stolen from a moder-day Swiss Family Robinson set.  I doubt that my son realized the message of conquering your fears. 

At times, it does try to tell too many stories (the relationship between a tween girl and her father, the recluse writer's struggle to come out, Nim’s quest to save her island from exploitation), but I found all of this forgivable.   Afterall, it's the farting sea lion and flying lizards that will leave a lasting impact on my son.

Nim’s Island isn’t the perfect movie by far, and there are some moments that might annoy anyone over the age of ten.  All in all, I say it is a great family film.