Ultimate kids’ holiday movie guide for 2019 and 2020
Parents, don’t panic. This guide from Leigh Paatsch will help you decide which movies are best for every young film buff in your entourage.
Movies
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With a long hot summer now upon us, the cinema will invariably be the coolest place to be on more than once occasion over the extended holiday break.
For parents, it becomes a question of how to best choose from all the G and PG-rated titles on offer during this busy period. Particularly when factoring in the tastes and needs of multiple age groups.
Don’t panic. This guide will break down which movies best fit the bill for every discerning young viewer in your entourage.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY (PG, 86 min)
Now showing
Who?: the voices of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Finn Wolfhard.
What?: Animated comedy. An eccentrically macabre family moves to a town where a hostile reality show host tries her best to make them leave.
Well …?: This cartoon reboot of the iconic characters created by legendary illustrator Charles Addams is severely sub-par stuff. Kids who’ve never heard of the Addams Family might be diverted for a little while, then distracted as a thick blanket of bland fog descends upon the entire enterprise. Made with no zest or ideas.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : *
5yo – 8yo : **
9yo – 12yo : **
13yo+ : *1/2
FROZEN 2 (PG, 103 min)
Now showing
Who?: the voices of Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff.
What?: Animated musical sequel. Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven leave Arendelle to travel to an ancient, autumn-bound forest of an enchanted land.
Well …?: The original was a worldwide phenomenon kids wanted to see (and sing along with) over and over again, and the robust box-office of the past month suggests the sequel is following suit. Though a mite darker than the first one, it still covers all age bases effectively. Little ones will dig the slapstick antics and clever quips of Olaf, while older viewers will dig the involving story.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : ***
5yo – 8yo : ***1/2
9yo – 12yo : ***1/2
13yo+ : ***
PLAYING WITH FIRE (PG, 96 min)
Now showing
Who?: John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo, Brianna Hildebrand.
What?: Family comedy. A crew of rugged firefighters meet their match when attempting to rescue three rambunctious kids.
Well …?: While by no means the worst flick targeting families this season, this so-so chuckle-fest does not have a lot going for it. Children will definitely eat up the physical comedy and stunts – some of which are impressive – rather than the empty-calorie plotting.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : *
5yo – 8yo : **
9yo – 12yo : **
13yo+ : **
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (PG, 141 min)
Now showing
Who?: Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Carrie Fisher
What?: Space adventure sequel. The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once more in the final chapter of the Skywalker saga.
Well …?: This culmination (for now at least) of all things Star Wars will be dominating cinema programming well into January. As a stand-alone movie, it is a bit of a mess and a real drop in standard from other episodes. Can only be recommended to children who’ve been following this sprawling yarn every step of the way, and need to complete the epic journey.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : *
5yo – 8yo : *1/2
9yo – 12yo : **1/2
13yo+ : ***
JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL (PG, 123 min)
Now showing
Who?: Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Danny De Vito, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Danny Glover.
What?: Adventure comedy sequel. Participants in the original game return to rescue one of their own, braving parts unknown from arid deserts to snowy mountains, to escape the Jumanji curse.
Well …?: Always a pleasant surprise to catch a sequel that matches (and in some departments, better) the first one. While it’s fast-paced action and whip-smart wisecracks will be lost on the very little ones, most kids will have a field day with the gaming-centric delights on offer. Parents hauled along will find this one relatively easy going thanks to some excellent casting (Dwayne Johnson never lets anyone down).
Which age group?:
under 5yo : **
5yo – 8yo : ***
9yo – 12yo : ***1/2
13yo+ : ***1/2
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CATS (G, 110 min)
Now showing
Who?: Francesca Hayward, Idris Elba, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Rebel Wilson, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson.
What?: Musical cat-astrophe. A tribe of cats called the Jellicles must decide yearly which one will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new Jellicle life.
Well …?: The calamity of the summer season is already becoming a byword for badness, madness and incomprehensible nonsense. Only take your kids if they have been misbehaving. Making them sit still through this annoyingly quirky and bizarre ordeal will teach ‘em a lesson.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : *
5yo – 8yo : *
9yo – 12yo : *
13yo+ : *1/2
LITTLE WOMEN (PG, 133 min)
releases Jan 1
Who?: Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Meryl Streep
What?: Period romantic drama. In the aftermath of the American Civil War, four high-spirited sisters learn a lot of life, love and letting go of others’ unreasonable expectations.
Well …?: The classic novel by Louisa May Alcott has been adapted many times for the big screen. This impeccably cast and cleverly written affair just might be the very best of them. Though the subject matter and storytelling style might be a touch too sophisticated for very young viewers, the timeless appeal of this tale will kick-in vividly for all other age groups (adults included). Sure to be an Oscars contender. A big yes.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : *
5yo – 8yo : **1/2
9yo – 12yo : ****
13yo+ : ****
SPIES IN DISGUISE (PG, 101 min)
releases Jan 1
Who?: the voices of Will Smith, Karen Gillan, Ben Mendelsohn.
What?: Animated adventure. When the world’s best spy is turned into a pigeon, he must rely on his nerdy tech officer to save the world.
Well …?: A fair effort that comes off as a semi-engaging mix of a Mission: Impossible adventure and a James Bond flick by way of The Incredibles. Definitely one of the louder and busier releases of the season, so keep that in mind if you’re considering taking children who don’t respond well to sustained overstimulation of the senses. Will Smith keeps the comedy stuff in the right zone with a pleasing lightness of touch.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : **
5yo – 8yo : ***
9yo – 12yo : ***
13yo+ : **1/2
A SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE: FARMAGEDDON (G, 87 min)
*** TOP PICK – PRIMARY SCHOOLERS ***
releases Jan 9
Who?: the voices of Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes.
What?: Animated comedy adventure. When an alien with amazing powers crash-lands near Mossy Bottom Farm, Shaun the Sheep goes on a mission to shepherd the intergalactic visitor home before a sinister organisation can capture her.
Well …?: The standout pick for younger children this summer is yet another instant classic from those cleverly creative clay-mation specialists at Aardman Studios (the same mob who gave the world Wallace & Gromit). This brilliant effort is going to make the day of preschoolers and early primary schoolers, who haven’t really been looked after by programmers this summer. Very funny and very inspired from start to finish. A total don’t-miss.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : *****
5yo – 8yo : ****1/2
9yo – 12yo : ****
13yo+ : ***
DOLITTLE (PG, 100 min)
releases Jan 16
Who?: Robert Downey Jr., Jessie Buckley, Emma Thompson
What?: Adventure fantasy. With Queen Victoria falling gravely ill, a gifted physician hits the high seas in search of a cure. En route he discovers a new gift: the ability to talk to all animals.
Well …?: This new adaptation of the famous books by author Hugh Lofting is yet to be screened to the world’s media. However, some stunning advance footage and an impressive production pedigree indicate this passion project for Robert Downey Jr. (now free of all Avengers commitments) will be a massive all-ages hit. As it has been for previous generations with Rex Harrison and Eddie Murphy in the title role.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : ***1/2
5yo – 8yo : ***1/2
9yo – 12yo : ***1/2
13yo+ : ***
GO! (PG, 102 min)
*** TOP PICK – HIGH SCHOOLERS ***
releases Jan 16
Who?: Richard Roxburgh, William Lodder, Frances O’Connor
What?: Action adventure. Jack is a young larrikin who has just discovered the one thing he is really good at: go-kart racing. Mentored by a race car ace with a secret past, Jack blazes a trail towards the national title.
Well …?: Great to see an Australian-made family picture entering the fray this summer, as it is one genre our filmmakers continue to do very well indeed. This lively film from the team that brought you Paper Planes is a very likeable affair throughout, channelling an energy and sense of humour that is easy to relate to. The go-karting sequences are good, too.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : *
5yo – 8yo : ***
9yo – 12yo : ****
13yo+ : ****
Originally published as Ultimate kids’ holiday movie guide for 2019 and 2020