All articles tagged with #family film
The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants is a visually lively but ultimately exhausting and somewhat flat adventure that primarily appeals to children and dedicated fans, featuring silly jokes and familiar characters without much innovation or excitement for adults.
Poetic License, directed by Maude Apatow in her debut, is a warm, funny family-centered comedy about a woman navigating new friendships and family dynamics in a small town, featuring strong performances and a natural, improvisatory style. Despite its nepotistic cast, the film stands out for its genuine humor and relatable characters, making it a charming addition to the festival circuit.
Jim Jarmusch's ensemble film 'Father Mother Sister Brother' won the Golden Lion at Venice 2025, celebrating themes of family and empathy, with Jarmusch expressing surprise and emphasizing art's role in fostering connection.
'Sketch' is a heartfelt family film that explores grief and healing through the imaginative creations of a young girl, highlighting the power of art and family bonds in overcoming emotional pain, with a warm, nostalgic tone reminiscent of classic adventure movies.
The live-action adaptation of 'How To Train Your Dragon' stays faithful to the original animated film, with subtle updates and strong performances, especially from Mason Thames and Gerard Butler, capturing the emotional core and themes of coexistence between humans and dragons, while offering a nostalgic yet fresh experience.
The U.S. release of "Paddington in Peru," the third installment in the Paddington film franchise, has been moved from January 2025 to Valentine's Day, coinciding with President's Day weekend. This strategic shift aims to capitalize on the extended holiday break for students. The film, which has already had a successful debut in the U.K., continues the adventures of Paddington Bear as he searches for his missing Aunt Lucy in Peru. The movie features returning cast members and new additions, with distribution handled by Studiocanal and Sony Pictures.
"Kung Fu Panda 4" benefits from pent-up demand and the timeless nature of animated characters, delivering laughs and fun for parents and kids. The film sees Po facing a new threat, The Chameleon, while also grappling with the idea of grooming a successor. The A-list voice cast and energetic action sequences contribute to the film's appeal, despite the challenge of recycling the concept. With growing intervals between movies, fans may have to wait until 2036 for "Kung Fu Panda 5."
The film "Wonka" attempts to be a prequel, a classic musical, and a Paul King film, but fails to succeed in any of these aspects. The story follows Willy Wonka as he tries to sell chocolate and free himself and his fellow indentured servants. However, the film deviates from the original character, turning Wonka into a Mary Poppins-like figure with magical abilities. The movie lacks focus and fails to center on the more compelling character, Noodle. Timothée Chalamet's performance as Wonka is lacking, and the film includes tasteless fat jokes. Additionally, the portrayal of chocolate as an addiction and the attempt to tie the film to the original "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" make little sense. Overall, "Wonka" disappoints and misses the mark.
Timothée Chalamet's "Wonka" had a successful box office debut, earning $39 million over the weekend. The film, a fantasy musical centered around the early days of the eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka, received positive reviews from both critics and audiences. With a strong international performance and the holiday season ahead, "Wonka" is expected to have staying power at the box office. The movie solidifies Chalamet's star power and showcases his ability to lead a family film. Other films in the box office include "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," "The Boy and the Heron," "Godzilla Minus One," and "Trolls Band Together." In limited release, A24's "The Zone of Interest" had a strong opening and aims to be a contender in the awards season.
"Wonka," the new family film starring Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka, debuted to $3.5 million in Thursday previews. Warner Bros. is hoping for strong endurance and a successful opening weekend, projecting around $35 million. The film has received positive reviews from critics, with an 83% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, theater owners anticipate a less successful holiday season compared to previous years due to the absence of blockbuster releases like "Spider-Man: No Way Home" and "Avatar: The Way of Water."
Timothée Chalamet's portrayal of Willy Wonka in the movie remake "Wonka" is projected to debut to $35 million at the box office, just under the opening weekend of his highest-grossing film "Dune." Warner Bros. hopes that "Wonka" will have staying power during the holiday season, competing against other family films. The movie has already earned $43.2 million overseas and features a cast including Olivia Colman, Keegan-Michael Key, Sally Hawkins, and Hugh Grant as an Oompa-Loompa.
Writer-director Robert Rodriguez incorporated video games into his new Spy Kids movie, "Spy Kids: Armageddon," after his kids suggested bringing back a video game element. Unlike the previous installment, the young spies in the film are tech-savvy and grew up in a world full of gaming and technology. The plot involves a code that turns technology into video game levels, and the kids' knowledge of video game creators gives them an edge against the villain. Rodriguez's son, Racer Max, is a credited co-writer on the film. "Spy Kids: Armageddon" is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
Adam Sandler's latest film for Netflix, "You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah," is a family affair featuring his wife and daughters in supporting roles. The movie, based on a YA novel, follows a young girl named Stacy as she navigates the challenges of preparing for her bat mitzvah and dealing with teenage angst. While the film includes some cringeworthy jokes, it offers a well-observed and amusing depiction of teenage girlhood and embraces its Jewishness.
"Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" is a charming animated coming-of-age film about a teenage girl named Ruby who discovers she is a sea monster and heir to the throne. While the movie plays it safe and lacks emotional depth, it features excellent voice acting, a female-centric soundtrack, and visually stunning ocean scenes. Suitable for younger audiences, the film offers clever nods to social media and explores themes of self-acceptance and family history. Overall, "Ruby Gillman" is an enjoyable diversion, though it doesn't break new ground.
"World's Best" is a hip-hop musical family film set in contemporary New Jersey that tells the story of a math whiz gearing up for the mathlympics competition. The film reveals itself to be an origin story with daddy issues reminiscent of most of the MCU’s characters. The brisk pacing and deft handling of the ups and downs of ‘tweenhood make the emotions earned, and the playful tone accommodates the more serious reveals and complications nicely. Ambudkar and Magnus’ chemistry goes a long way toward making the film work. Now on Disney+.