Although strong family ties play an important role in this sequel, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” still warrants caution for most families. A great relationship is the core beauty of “Luca” — and its core reason for caution.
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Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire – In Theaters
“Ghostbuster: Frozen Empire” is the latest in the “Ghostbusters” franchise, and it’ll likely feel like satisfying fan service for folks familiar with the 1984 classic.
In some ways, this reboot feels a bit more wholesome than the original. That might be because instead of being a story about four single guys, it’s a tale about a family. But don’t be fooled by the teenager-filled cast: Much of the content here still might be a nonstarter for your family.
Like the original, there’s a bit of language to watch out for. Suggestive innuendo is frequent. A possible same-sex romance begins to bud. And, of course, there are demonic, godlike beings trying to end the world as we know it, pretty much from start to finish
So although strong family ties play an important role in this sequel, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” still warrants caution for most families.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
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Luca – Streaming on Disney+, Theater rerelease
In a Disney+ missive, “Luca” director Enrico Casarosa says that he drew from his own life to make this movie.
“My best friend Alberto was a bit of a troublemaker, [while] I was very timid and had a bit of a sheltered life — we couldn’t have been more different,” Casarosa said. “We were also a bit of ‘outsiders,’ so it felt right to use sea monsters to express the idea that we felt a little different and not cool as kids. Alberto pushed me out of my comfort zone, and pushed me off many cliffs, metaphorically and not. I probably would not be here if I didn’t learn to chase my dreams from him.”
It’s in that relationship that we find both the core beauty of “Luca” — and its core reason for caution.
Outside some slapstick animated violence and a couple of winking asides to bad language, ”Luca” has very few content problems to navigate. No, it’s not quite as squeaky clean as Pixar’s best movies — ”Toy Story” and “Finding Nemo” come to mind — but when we point out some minor worries here and there, we’re really picking at undersea nits. And while this is a movie meant for kids (and is thus not quite as emotionally or philosophically rich for adults as some Disney/Pixar films) Pixar still knows how to craft a great, resonant story. It might just nurse out a tear or two from even jaded moms and dads.
But as real and as beautiful and as true as the friendship between Luca and Alberto can feel — and as important as sometimes those imperfect friendships can be in our development — we can’t escape another truth: Alberto’s kind of a bad influence. Luca knows it. His parents certainly discover it. And while Alberto comes to life as a fully formed, three-dimensional character who could really, really use a father figure, I do think it’s worth pumping the bicycle brakes on the movie for just a moment here.
In the real world, a metaphorical Luca might be just what a metaphorical Alberto needs to turn his life around. But just as easily, Alberto could help lead Luca to a childhood filled with detention.
“Luca,” the film, makes a passing reference to “Pinocchio,” and it seems fitting. In Disney’s classic 1940 version, the story of Pinocchio becomes a wall-to-wall cautionary fable about keeping the right sort of company. When Pinocchio falls in with a ne’er-do-well named Lampwick — who, like Alberto, is just a little too cool for school — the two are nearly turned into donkeys. (Pinocchio escapes, but just barely. Lampwick isn’t so lucky.)
Luca is, in some ways, the flip side of Pinocchio. His story illustrates how a little bit of trouble can lead to growth, and how the wrong sort of company can turn out all right in the end. It’s a more generous movie, one that emphasizes grace and compassion over “Pinocchio’s” stern lectures.
But sometimes as parents, it can be hard to tell just what story your kid is in.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
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Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate, and impact the culture in which they live. Through our reviews, articles and discussions, we hope to spark intellectual thought, spiritual growth and a desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
Reviews written by Paul Asay and Emily Tsaio.