MOVIES TO WATCH WITH YOUR ‘TWEENS

We all treasure family nights cuddled up on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn, watching a movie with our children. But what happens when the kids outgrow Disney movies? When our children hit adolescence, it can be tricky to find common ground in movie choices. This can result in kids watching “their” movie in one room, parents in another. That’s not much of a family night! There are some fun family flicks in the PG/PG-13 range that can be enjoyable for kids and parents. Please be aware that while these choices are fairly “clean,” some of these movies may have some romantic themes or distasteful jokes. Parental guidelines vary from family to family, and if you have concerns about a particular movie, you may want to watch it ahead of time.

THE SCHOOL OF ROCK (PG-13) Of all the selections, this one is probably the most sassy, but also lots of fun! When failed rocker Dewey Finn, played by Jack Black, fraudulently worms his way into a job as a substitute teacher, bedlam ensues. There is a bit of role-reversal throughout the movie, as the rebellious Finn encourages the well-mannered children to break the rules. At the same time, he introduces his students to the world of rock music. In spite of Finn’ irreverent nature, he grows attached to the kids, who ultimately teach him about love, loyalty, and hard work. The terrific music in this movie has made classic rock popular for a new generation of kids.	CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (PG) Take two parents, add twelve children, and numerous pets and you have a recipe for non-stop, fun-filled chaos! This movie can’t miss with Bonnie Hunt and Steve Martin playing the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Baker, along with an assorted cast of teen favorites like Hilary Duff and Ashton Kutcher. When Mom leaves town to go on a book tour, Dad is in charge. Struggling with his new job as a college football coach, family responsibilities, and lots of creative scheming by his offspring, it seems like “normal” is pretty much unattainable for this bunch. There is no doubting the underlying theme of family love and loyalty, which makes this a warm-hearted favorite among kids and parents.
BEWITCHED (PG–13) Although only somewhat reminiscent of the favorite TV show, the movie is fun for all ages. Those of us who are old enough to remember the original BEWITCHED will enjoy the trip down memory lane. The movie is about re-making the TV show. Looking to cast the perfect witch to play Samantha, they end up hiring Isabel (Nicole Kidman.) Unsuspecting Jack Wyatt (Will Ferrell) is the fading movie star who plays Darrin. Expect classic witch antics throughout, against the backdrop of a romantic relationship between Isabel and Jack. Somewhat predictable, this movie would not be a first pick for the theatre. But for a rental, it is a sweet enjoyable film with a terrific cast, including Michael Caine and Shirley MacClaine	CHRISTMAS WITH THE CRANKS (PG) You don’t have to wait until December to enjoy this holiday flick. Mr. and Mrs. Krank (played by Jamie Lee Curtis and Tim Allen) are modern day scrooges when they decide to forgo Christmas for a cruise, much to the chagrin of their neighbors. As they prepare for their cruise, including very humorous scenes about spray-on tans and botox injections, the community wages war against the Kranks. The Kranks re-think their position when their daughter comes home for a visit expecting a traditional Christmas celebration. This movie is fun for kids and adults of all ages.