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FILMS
Disney
Johnny Depp plays the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.”
Coming soon: Spring into the theaters for a family film
As winter nears its end, rain falls, the weather gets warmer and family-friendly movies bloom in movie theaters across the country. Springtime is family time in Hollywood and the upcoming slate for the spring of 2010 doesn’t disappoint. Dragons, ogres, and wondrous creatures are just some of the creative characters waiting to entertain children and parents alike.
Alice in Wonderland — March 5
The Tim Burton version of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale of the young Alice who literally falls into the world of Wonderland is sure to be visually spectacular. “Alice in Wonderland” (Disney) promises to be a roller coaster of special effects. Look for compelling performances from Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Anne Hathaway as the White Queen and Helena Bonham Carter as the Queen of Hearts. While it will certainly be an adventure, parents may want to ask themselves if the visual and suspenseful wonder of Burton’s “Wonderland” is too much for young children.
How to Train Your Dragon — March 26
Vikings and dragons are constantly at odds on the mythical island of Berk where Hiccup — a teenage Viking with more brains than brawn — lives as a misfit. In “How to Train Your Dragon” (DreamWorks) Hiccup catches and befriends a wounded dragon, whom he names Toothless. He sets out to convince his fellow villagers —eager to seek the demise of dragons — that the Vikings and dragons can co-exist. Focusing on Hiccup’s relationship with his father, the chief of the village, the film promises a positive message about family and will most likely teach the importance of looking past assumptions regarding people — or dragons — to see their real essence.
Letters to God — April 9
From the Christian filmmakers of “Fireproof” comes a drama about a young boy named Tyler who turns to God as a friend and pen pal during his fight against cancer. Based on a true story, “Letters to God” (Possibility) focuses on the way in which Tyler’s faith inspires the mailman who receives the letters, his mother and other family members. In what is sure to be a heartfelt and uplifting film, families can be certain of seeing positive messages about faith and family in this Christian film.
Shrek Forever After — May 21
The land of Far Far Away seems to be in good condition upon the audience’s return to it in “Shrek Forever After” (DreamWorks). In fact, things are going a bit too smoothly for Shrek the ogre, leading him to make a deal with Rumpelstiltskin that ends up turning his entire world upside down. With the entire fairy tale land in ruins, Shrek must try to piece things back together. Sure to be funny and reinforce previous themes about inner character over outward appearance. “Shrek Forever After” should end the Shrek series on a high note.
Toy Story 3 — June 18
America’s favorite group of toys returns for another entertaining animated feature from Pixar. Andy — owner of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the toys — is heading off to college at the outset of “Toy Story 3” (Disney). His mother donates his old toys to a daycare center. Hilarity ensues as the toys try to adjust to many new and small fingers playing with them. However, once the toys figure out that Andy is looking for them, they design a plan to return to their original owner. Always strong on friendship themes, the third “Toy Story” film will likely please audiences of all ages as parents laugh along with their children at the varied levels of humor.
Before a summer filled with blockbusters, springtime leaves room for many sweet stories. Parents should take advantage of this family-friendly time and enjoy these and other upcoming films.
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