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Children may already be getting antsy for summer fun to begin, but at the nation's multiplexes, school is still very much in session as high schoolers practice black magic (The Craft) and shoot hoops (Sunset Park). Kids with more tony tastes can learn about class from Mrs. Winterbourne. But the safest extracurricular option by far is a refreshing romp with the bouncing bottlenose Flipper.
Movies
Celtic Pride
What It's About: Enraged after their team loses
game 6 of the NBA finals to the Utah Jazz, rabid Boston Celtics
fans Jimmy (Dan Aykroyd) and Mike (Daniel Stern) teach the
Jazz's arrogant star Lewis Scott (Damon Wayans) about
sportsmanship by kidnapping him before game 7.
Will Kids Want
to Watch It? Though retired Celtics Larry Bird and Bob Cousy and
onetime SuperSonic Gus Williams cameo, there are no NBA young
guns to make the kids choose Pride over the real NBA finals on
TV. And Jimmy and Mike's pathetic obsession may offend sports
fans.
MPAA: PG-13.
Sex/Nudity: None.
Drugs/Alcohol: Jimmy
and Mike get drunk with Lewis; Mike has a beer with his family
and with Jimmy in a bar.
Violence/Scariness: Mostly
cartoonish — Jimmy holds Lewis at gunpoint, and Lewis later turns
the gun on Jimmy and Mike; Lewis douses Mike with gasoline and
threatens to set him on fire.
Objectionable Words/Phrases:About 70.
Lesson to Extract: One player does not a team make.
Appropriate Ages: 13 and up.
The Craft
What It's About: Once high school sorceresses (Robin
Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, Rachel True) start
practicing their spelling on those who've scorned them, their
magical mischief turns deadly.
Will Kids Want to Watch It?Older kids will be intrigued by the girls' empowerment. So keep
an eye on your daughter the next time she invites her pals over
for a slumber party.
MPAA: R.
Sex/Nudity: Two teens clinch
on a bed fully clothed and talk about lovemaking.
Drugs/Alcohol: The witches sip beer, hard liquor, and
blood-laced wine; guests imbibe at a party; an adult has a
cocktail.
Violence/Scariness: A man is hit by a car and
killed; a girl slits her wrists in a flashback and then gets
them slit for her; a teen falls out a window to his death; a
graphic scene involving an operation; an attempted date rape; a
plague of rats and snakes.
Objectionable Words/Phrases: About
40.
Lesson to Extract: Be careful what you wish for — you may
get it.
Appropriate Ages: 17 and up.
Flipper
What It's About: 14-year-old city kid Sandy (Elijah
Wood) befriends a dolphin when he summers on a Florida island
with his uncle (Paul Hogan).
Will Kids Want to Watch It?They'll flip over the magnificent mammal of TV fame but
experience deja vu if they've seen Free Willy.
MPAA: PG.
Sex/Nudity: None.
Drugs/Alcohol: Beers are gulped by the
uncle, fishermen, the sheriff, and a bird.
Violence/Scariness:A fisherman tries to capture Flipper; a shark chases Sandy;
Flipper gets sick; a dolphin gets shot.
Objectionable
Words/Phrases: About 10.
Lesson to Extract: If we take care of
nature, it will return the favor.
Appropriate Ages: 8 and up.
