Movies with the kids can be great fun…or absolutely brutal experiences. Luck of the draw. Fact is you’re going to have to deal with some lame shows. Most aren’t exactly aimed at older guys but they aren’t all as bad as
a root canal.
The next family movie night, here are some choices that the little ones will enjoy and you won’t find yourself trying to swallow the remote after a few scenes.
The Sandlot
: So many good points to this movie that it’s actually hard to lock it down to a couple but here goes. It’s a period movie that takes you back to memories of childhood and times gone by, playing ball with your buddies when summer seemed to last forever. The character development is outstanding from the great neighborhood athlete (Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez) to the aptly named, and hilarious Michael ‘Squints’ Palledorous. A great film to watch with your kids and an absolute classic if you’re a baseball fan too. Special bonus points for a young Dennis Leary, early in his acting career and a cameo by James Earl Jones as neighbor Mr. Mertle, owner of a dog known simply as “The Beast”. Double dad bonus–it’s short, clocking in at a tolerable 101 minutes.
The Neverending Story
: Wanna kick it old school? Show the kiddo what breakthrough animation was back in good old 1984. Yep, The Neverending Story was pretty revolutionary for the time and pushed into some new territory as far as creating a larger than life character (the flying, talking, dog, monster….thing known as Falcor. It’s an adaptation of a German fantasy adventure (“Die Unendliche Geschichte”) that will get kids imaginations rolling or they will laugh their little butts off at what we used to think was cutting edge. It’s a fun time either way.
The Lion King 
: Inspiring story focusing on a coming of age for a young lion that struggles with growing up following the death of his father. There are lessons on leadership, family,and friendship which make this a significant movie for kids. Because of the topic and relationship between young Simba and his father, it also holds special significance for Dads and their children. It’s cool, we all shed a tear.
Ponyo 
: This one is a bit different than many of the others on the list as it’s in the style of Japanese anime (minus semi-nudity and violence) but includes some unique animation and a classic style story from Hayao Miyazaki. It’s an adaptation of a familiar Little Mermaid theme and can skew to younger kids who will enjoy the simple fairy tale style.
Despicable Me
: If your looking for current options still in theaters, look no further than Despicable Me. Steve Carell manages to pull off the kids show but still gives the adults enough of his Office-style delivery to keep the jokes moving and zooming right past the kids. Good slapstick humor mixed in to make for a fun show despite a story line (guys are idiots and clearly can’t take care of kids)that’s been done a ton.
Almost all kids like the movies and there’s something out there for everyone. And, if the kids are acting like little terrors from hell, you can always threaten them with having to watch Kazaam
. That should be enough to straighten anyone out.
Technorati Tags: Despicable Me, DVD, Kazaam, Movies, Ponyo, The Lion King, The Sandlot
Better yet, that’s what Grandma is for! movies and back to school shopping “well ok if you really want both of them for five hours, i guess it will be ok” run to fridge bust a coldy, football and whooppeeedee the wife, ahh yeah!
You don’t love back to school shopping? Isn’t that an early Christmas for parents?
only to gawk at MILFs
A) I’d rather move my house than shop
B) I’d rather have nuts surgically moved to my forehead than move
thus C) i have balls for brains!
See Pablo, the key is getting the kids to like football too. Then they can get you the cold ones….
Course you might want to back off the whooppeeedee at that time unless you like HUGE therapy bills.
with the amount of cold ones they have to get as i full metal jacket on the TV as my team implodes, they’ll be in therapy anyway.
Doc: so tell me about your father
my girl: oh, he is/was a horrible must be rascist
Doc: why?
my girl: anytime this white guy who was throwing a ball would get crushed by huge black guys my dad would start going Sgt. Early on the TV and I would cry…
or something like that, i’m sure to screw it up someway!
if only i could write for Penthouse…
You can. Got crayons?