Reviews

RogerEbert.com — Penguins of Madagascar

“Penguins of Madagascar,” a spin-off from the “Madagascar” franchise, is zippy and zany and much funnier than you might expect. I laughed the whole way through — because the vast majority of the humor is for us and not our kids. Still, this animated comedy is super family-friendly. My RogerEbert.com...

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Danielle Cuccio’s 5 Films to Make You Happy

We are not exactly known for being perpetually sunny and perky around here. We get a little edgy. We get a little sarcastic. We get a little, well, critical. But my friend Danielle Cuccio, who’s one of my favorite yoga instructors, simply radiates positivity. It’s evident as she works with...

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The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1

Lionsgate Films Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images and thematic material. Running time: 123 minutes. Two stars out of four. Despite its action and revelations, its substantial political allegory and its strong performances from a tremendous cast, “The Hunger Games: Mockingkay — Part 1”...

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Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas

Samuel Goldwyn Films Rated PG for some thematic elements. Running time: 80 minutes. Zero stars out of four. Let’s just set aside the ideology for a second. We’ll get to that, I promise. Purely from a technical perspective — from a perspective of sheer craft — “Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas”...

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What the Flick?! — Beyond the Lights

Gugu Mbatha-Raw gives a powerhouse performance as a Rihanna-esque R&B singer on the brink of superstardom, and she has insane chemistry with Nate Parker as the member of her security detail with whom she falls in love. Writer-director Gina Prince-Bythewood’s film has its melodramatic moments, but Parker and Mbatha-Raw bring...

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Five Favorite Films at Los Feliz Day Care

Five Favorite Films at Los Feliz Day Care

One of my favorite Twitter feeds these days is Los Feliz Day Care, a dead-on parody of uptight, ultra-P.C. parenting and educational tactics. Whether or not you’re a parent, you should seriously check it out — you will cackle daily. As the mother of a 5-year-old in Los Angeles, I...

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