Archives for February 16, 2022

The all-new animated adventure, “The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild,” continues the hilarious escapades of the beloved sub-zero heroes from the wildly successful global “Ice Age” franchise as they create more prehistoric pandemonium. The thrill-seeking possum brothers Crash and Eddie have grown restless in Snow Valley. They need plenty of wide-open space to practice their extreme stunts and are eager for a bit of independence. Their older sister, the woolly mammoth Ellie, is over-protective and worries too much. Still, Eddie and Crash are like sons to Ellie and Manny (her woolly mammoth husband), whom they met following a devastating flood, and they have bonded to become a make-shift family.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Calee N. comments, “How wonderful it is that the crazy characters of Ice Age are back with a new adventure. Having watched the Ice Age movies from the beginning, I am familiar with their sarcastic and humorous personalities. It’s almost like hanging out with old friends.” See her full review below.

The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild

By Calee N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

How wonderful it is that the crazy characters of Ice Age are back with a new adventure. Having watched the Ice Age movies from the beginning, I am familiar with their sarcastic and humorous personalities. It’s almost like hanging out with old friends.

Crash (Vincent Tong) and Eddie (Aaron Harris) crave adventure and feel Elli (Domonique Jenning) is preventing them from living their “best life.” Eddie and Crash leave the safety of their pack and find their way to the Lost World. Not realizing the actual dangers of the Lost World, Eddie and Crash unexpectedly become reunited with Buck Wild when he has to rescue them from unruly dinosaurs. Buck Wild is in the middle of trying to restore harmony to the Lost World and doesn’t have the time to deal with the Opossum brothers. Eddie and Crash are oblivious to the risks involved in staying but have no choice because the cave entrance was blocked. Together with Buck Wild, Eddie, Crash set on a quest to restore the peace of the Lost World.

With the talented cast, visual and animation department, director John Donkin produced an action-adventure film that embraced the Ice Age saga and introduced a fresh outlook.

The music by Batu Sener brought life into the action scenes by absorbing the person into the movie. Danger, drama, and humor were not only told through dialogue but also musical notes. The animation team directed by Marshal Fels Elliot seamlessly brought all the original characters back onto the screen while at the same time introducing new friends and foes. The details and color of the animated plants, animals, and birds captured the moviegoer’s attention from start to finish.

Teamwork, family, and courage are themes throughout Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild. The pack realized that family is family even if you are apart. Love for each other doesn’t change just because you have added distance.  Change is not something to be afraid of, and taking risks to find your true happiness takes courage.  

I rate Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4 to 13. I would have rated the movie higher if it had included all the main characters I love and did not have so much dialogue. Adults will also enjoy watching this action-adventure film. Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild premieres on Disney Plus on Friday, January 28, 2022.

After her inspiring speech at the homecoming dance, Jodi (Ava Michelle) is no longer just the “tall girl” – she’s popular, confident, has a boyfriend, and just booked the lead role in this year’s school musical. But as the pressure of her newfound popularity intensifies, so do her insecurities, and new relationships are formed while old ones are tested. As the world she built starts to crumble around her, Jodi realizes that standing tall was only just the beginning.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Mikella G. comments, “Tall Girl 2 is a heartwarming, inspiring film. It has a light happy feel to it, but still has a deep meaning and message.” See her full review below.

Tall Girl 2

By Mikella G., KIDS FIRST!, Film Critic, age 15

Tall Girl 2 is a heartwarming, inspiring film. It has a light happy feel to it, but still has a deep meaning and message.

The storyline continues from the original teen romantic comedy Tall Girl and features Jodi making her way through life in high school. No time has passed—however, now Jodi (Ava Michelle) and Dunkleman (Griffin Gluck) are officially dating and exploring that new aspect of their life. On top of this major change in Jodi’s romantic life, she’s also starring in her school’s musical. Jodi must learn to juggle these new experiences, while figuring out her own identity.

The structure of the film really stands out to me. Although this is a sequel, the storyline still feels entertaining, fresh and relevant—unlike with some sequels— and continues to grab my interest throughout. I also enjoy how different each character’s personality is. For example, Harper (Sabrina Carpenter) is very confident, and knows what she wants. Whereas Stig (Luke Eisner) is more sarcastic, and still trying to figure out who he is. Representing different types of personality is a strong quality in a film—it also attracts a bigger audience, because viewers are always looking for a character they can relate to.

The message of Tall Girl 2 is to never give up on yourself. And the meaning in this story really stands out—throughout the movie they illustrate an important lesson. Overall, it’s very inspiring, and makes you examine your life through a different lens.

I give Tall Girl 2 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 10 to 18. Tall Girl 2 releases on Netflix February 11, 2022.

Tucked among the magical redwood trees of Northern California and surrounded by her grandmother’s gargantuan roses, 17-year-old Lennie Walker, a radiant musical prodigy, struggles with overwhelming grief following the sudden loss of her older sister, Bailey. When Joe Fontaine, the charismatic new guy at school, enters Lennie’s life, she’s drawn to him. But Lennie’s complicated relationship with her sister’s devastated boyfriend, Toby, starts to affect Lennie and Joe’s budding love. Through her vivid imagination and honest, conflicted heart, Lennie navigates first love and first loss to create a song of her own. Acclaimed filmmaker Josephine Decker directs this moving adaptation of the beloved novel of the same name. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Samantha B. comments, “The colorful and beautifully-acted film The Sky Is Everywhere by director Josephine Decker and writer Jandy Nelson blends magic and romance in a perfect story just in time for Valentine’s Day. The film’s setting in the redwood forests of Northern California creates the perfect backdrop for scenes that include magical realism.” See her full review below.

The Sky Is Everywhere
By Samantha B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12

The colorful and beautifully-acted film The Sky Is Everywhere by director Josephine Decker and writer Jandy Nelson blends magic and romance in a perfect story just in time for Valentine’s Day. The film’s setting in the redwood forests of Northern California creates the perfect backdrop for scenes that include magical realism. In addition, Grace Kaufman, Jacques Colimon and Pico Alexander all act their hearts out in this dramatic story about moving through grief and loss.

The Sky Is Everywhere tells the story of a high school senior named Lennie (Grace Kaufman) who suffers the sudden loss of her older sister, and, in her grief, also loses the ability to play her clarinet. She bonds with her sister’s devastated boyfriend Toby (Pico Alexander), and yet is also intrigued by a new boy in her advanced band class named Joe (Jacques Colimon). We watch Lennie navigate her feelings about both boys while also processing her sister’s death.

Grace Kaufman does not hold back in her portrayal of Lennie, showing how she moves in and out of different stages of grief. Her acting feels natural as does her chemistry with both of her male co-stars. Pico Alexander gives a sympathetic performance as Toby who is distraught and confused. Jacques Colimon’s Joe comes off as playful and flirtatious. You really feel the chemistry between Lennie and Joe. One of the best parts of The Sky Is Everywhere is how magical realism is used to bring Lennie’s emotions to life. People break out in dance, musical notes float across the screen and Lennie’s grandmother’s rose garden comes alive, which is also my favorite scene in the film.

The main message of The Sky Is Everywhere is the importance of letting yourself experience grief after a big loss. In the film, you see Lennie clinging to her sister’s belongings, breaking out in tears and getting angry at her grandmother. She has to experience the full range of emotions before she can move forward with her life. There is some light sexual content and a stereotypical “mean girl” who competes with Lennie for first chair in clarinet. I give The Sky Is Everywhere 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this film for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. The Sky Is Everywhere opens in select theaters and on Apple TV+, Friday, February 11, 2022