I advocate active movie-watching when watching movies at home with kids. That means kids watch with your participation. When you can, commit to sitting on Continue reading
I started watching movies with my kids for one reason. I love the movies. I’m fortunate to be married to someone who does too. As Continue reading
ScreenMom is a mother to elementary school-age boy/girl twins and a story analyst at a major motion picture studio, where she has worked in that capacity Continue reading
I cannot escape the animated family movie. I’m a parent of two elementary school-age kids, boy/girl twins who live in media-opolis Los Angeles. Movie-goers since Continue reading
THE STORY IN CAPSULE In case you’ve never seen DESPICABLE ME, here’s what you need to know about the story: When the pyramids of Giza Continue reading
2. THE PREMISE APPEALS TO BOTH KIDS AND ADULTS Here’s why the premise appeals to children: kids love it when they get the better of Continue reading
3. THE PROTAGONIST IS TRULY LIKABLE Too often, the makers of family movies take for granted that the audience will like the protagonist just because Continue reading
4. THE PROTAGONIST HAS A SATISFYING ARC, CHANGING FOR THE BETTER In the course of the story, the orphaned girls’ persistent need for love and Continue reading
5. CHARACTERS & SITUATIONS ARE RELATABLE TO THE FAMILY AUDIENCE The characters & situations invite the audience to recognize themselves. Like most parents, Gru’s former Continue reading
6. THERE IS CONSISTENT, EFFECTIVE COMEDY FOR BOTH KIDS AND ADULTS Not all animated family movies are primarily comedies – but they all include comedy. Continue reading
7. IT’S NEVER TOO SCARY Though kids can enjoy a good scare, one rule in our household is that if one sibling is frightened by Continue reading
8. IT HAS GENUINE HEART THAT’S NOT OVERLY EARNEST The orphaned girls need a home and family, but their predicament is never presented in a Continue reading
DO OTHER SUCCESSFUL ANIMATED FAMILY COMEDIES USE THESE ELEMENTS? DESPICABLE ME delivers satisfying family entertainment because so many of its script’s elements work so well. Continue reading