And now for the top five movies …
Dancing in at the number five spot is Happy Feet (PG), a delightfully amusing cartoon with a great soundtrack. Mambo the Emperor Penguin can’t sing, even though ALL penguins are supposed to sing. But he can tap dance. Ostracized as the cause of a current famine, Mambo and his friends set off to find the real reason the colony is starving. The message is the celebration of the individual, and it’s effective.
Akeelah and the Bee (PG for language) – In fourth place is this delightful film of self-reliance, perseverance, and the value of education. Akeelah (Keke Palmer in a role that will surely garner her many more) is from the wrong side of the tracks, but she has a gift. She’s a great speller. Though somewhat predictable, it’s a heartwarming film.
The genius of Will Smith brings The Pursuit of Happyness (PG-13 for language) in at third place. Smith brings a good movie to greatness. Happyness is based on a true story of a man struggling to keep his head above water: struggling to pay the rent, struggling to raise a son alone, struggling for his dreams, and struggling to be a better man. The moments with his son are tender and unforced, and it’s a sure bet many a tear will be shed in the audience. Save this for the children who can gloss over the occasional profanity.
Lassie (PG) – Duking it out for the top spot is this British adaptation of the American classic. It has that British understatement that will require you to think about what you’re watching, beautiful scenery, and a tear-jerking story. Sensitive younger children may be upset by the implied cruelty to animals, but it’s integral to the plot.
And the number one family-friendly movie of the year is …
Drum roll, please!
Cars (G) – Second only to Beauty and the Beast as the best animated film in the last twenty years, it’s this year’s top family flick! It’s one of the few animated films that appeals to adults and children equally. The story line is good, the voice actors are great, and the animation proves why Pixar is destined to be King of the Hill for a long time.
There you have it. The Top Ten Family Friendly Films of 2006 as rated by my family and me. Do you agree with our choices?
Before I sign off, there’s a special award I’d like to give.
The special award for the WORST family movie of 2006 goes to Zoom. Tim Allen plays a washed-up superhero (read into that what you will) who gets recalled to duty, shaping a group of misfit kids into superheroes. Unfortunately there’s nothing super here.