“No school like the old school.”
The Scoop: 2004 PG, directed by Brad Bird and starring Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter and Jason Lee
Tagline: Save The Day
Summary Capsule: More than a decade after superheroes went into hiding to avoid litigation and public condemnation, one super-powered family is forced to save the world, and in doing so teach us all what it means to be a superhero.
“I led you here, sir, for I am Spartacus.”
The Scoop: 1996 PG, directed by Tom Hanks and starring Tom Hanks, Liv Tyler and Tom Hanks’ younger clone (er, Tom Everett Scott)
Tagline: In every life there comes a time when that dream you dream becomes that thing you do.
Summary Capsule: The Oneders Wonders, a group of young musicians in the mid 60s, record a hit tune and skyrocket to fame… maybe a bit too quickly. Can the band work out their differences, or will they end up as the one-hit Wonders?
“The wise and powerful Jabba has one more small condition: he demands you bring back the slime who kidnapped his little…punky muffin.”
The Scoop: 2008, PG, directed by Dave Filoni, starring: Matt Lanter, James Arnold Taylor, Ashley Eckstein
Tagline: No tagline
Summary Capsule: Anakin, Obi-Wan and friends fight battle droids a lot. Also, Dooku.
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Well, this show has been on the road for eleven years, and over that time the Mutant Reviewers from Hell have undergone some changes. We’ve had reviewers and readers come and go. We’ve had people move. We’ve had people get married. We’ve had tragedies and scares. And we’ve had births.
Just given our age demographic, it’s not surprising. Of the current reviewers on staff, four of us are married, and at least nine of us are of the age where we can have children and our parents wouldn’t completely die of a heart attack. And our readers are hitting that same time in their lives. And as we do, what’s on our TVs changes.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under two don’t watch TV, and after that, children are exposed to a very limited amount of television. Now, I’m all for that, but at the same time, kids watching TV has some benefits, trust me. When your kid is sick, when it’s raining out, or when God forbid you actually want to cook dinner without someone under your feet constantly, the TV is a godsend.
But what can you put on? What isn’t completely shrill and annoying and is something that everyone in the house can actually tolerate? (At least the first 50 times.) Fortunately, I have answers. Now, this list is geared at the toddler set. It’s also geared at the times parents want to sit down and watch WITH their kids. I’m not saying that you should watch with your kids every second, because that can sometimes defeat the purpose (like the dinner-cooking one). But sometimes it’s nice to have a cuddle and share something you love with your child.
And one other caveat: I have two boys. There is a serious lack of princesses on this list.
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“You’re crazier’n a road lizard!”
The Scoop: 2009 PG, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Hank Azaria and Owen Wilson
Tagline: When the lights go off, the battle is on.
Summary Capsule: It’s up to Larry to rescue his friends from the evil clutches of Moe! I mean, Kahmunrah!
“I really thought I’d turned in my warranty that time!”
The Scoop: 1987 NR, directed by Jerry Rees and starring Deanna Oliver, Jon Lovitz, and Timothy Stack
Tagline: Imagine if Your Toaster Went on a Journey of its Own!
Summary Capsule: Loving appliances hit the road in search of their long absent Master.
“Humans who put seeds in the ground pour water on them, and they grow food – like, pizza!”
The Scoop: 2008 G, directed by Andrew Stanton and starring Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, and Jeff Garlin
Tagline: After 700 years of doing what he was built for – he’ll discover what he’s meant for.
Summary Capsule: Two robots, one distinctly female and the other just plain cute, fall in love while humanity gets lazier and lazier by the second.
“We stand united against the darkness.”
The Scoop: 2008 PG, directed by Gil Kenan and starring Bill Murray, Tim Robbins and Harry Treadaway
Tagline: Escape Is The Only Option
Summary Capsule: Two kids save their city and humanity when no adults will listen to them.
