My kids are ridiculously lucky when it comes to entertainment. It’s not that we’re one-percenters who can afford to hire popstars and professional athletes to do meet-and-greets at their birthday parties, but thanks to my job as a movie critic, I have an impressive DVD collection. But just because we get movies for free doesn’t mean my children love every movie. I’ve taught them better than that, and they know that some family movies are excellent while others belong, in a giveaway pile for their school fundraisers. I’ve asked my three young cineastes what their favorite DVDs du jour are, and here are their responses (mostly verbatim):
“Madly Madagascar”: “It was funny, because King Julian makes the animals think a perfume that falls from the sky is a love a potion. Then all the animals, like Marty and Skipper, want to have it so they can fall in love. One of the funniest parts is when Alex puts a potion that King Julian made, but it wasn’t a potion — it was just stinky!” — D, age 8
“The Lorax”: “I like when the Lorax, the fish, the bear, and the bird play a card game. It was funny. Dr. Seuss makes you think about things. I like the Gruffalo trees.” –“Baby” J, age 4
I received complimentary review copies of the DVDs, but but as a career-long entertainment writer, free movies never influence my (or my children’s opinions). Sandie blogs about Young Adult literature at Teen Lit Rocks and reviews movies and books at Common Sense Media.
