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arlingtonmomsandkids
Reviews
Sky High (2005)
actually funny -- never offensive -- for the whole family
This movie won't change my life (beyond the laughter it provided this extremely weary mom tonight) hence the 9 instead of 10 rating, but it's a very fun movie to watch. The audience laughed a lot, not just me. And the kids in the theater ranged from 4ish to 64ish. We all had a great time judging by the laughter during and then the applause while the credits began rolling.
Any comments about the content I fear could be construed as spoiler in this fun family movie with a decent plot. I think that reading the plot summary will give you enough info--anything more might spoil some of the fun. It is comic book superhero stuff--not intended to be real, but the main plot is more real--a kid trying to find his way through adolescence. The comedy is in the superhero/non-superhero action--and it seems intended that way. The movie pokes fun at itself a bit (ie-comic book superhero cheesiness), but I certainly wouldn't call it slapstick.
Well written, directed, and acted. I'd even watch it again on DVD! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Instant Star (2004)
parent thinks it's great
This show is about a not very popular teenage girl who wins a contest because she's a good songwriter, then gets a recording contract that doesn't turn out to be what she expected. She goes on to discover that all the things that go along with stardom are pretty hard to handle--especially for someone still learning to just maneuver through life. She's a sweet and talented kid, and the show is about her joys and disappointments. BTW--The songs are all really sung by the actress (unlike most TV shows where they overdub) as can be seen in the credits.
I watch this show every Friday and anxiously await the next episodes. The actors are all talented, nobody shows excessive skin, and nobody talks potty-mouth or jumps in bed with ANYONE. Teen angst, yes, but told poignantly and with talent. The writing is great, music as heart wrenching as any teen could want, and acting superb.
And now for my input on the topic of sex. I am a fairly strict and prudish parent and I think this show is fantastic. As far as the sex and sexuality in this show, I disagree with what another IMDb poster/reviewer said. The star doesn't sleep with anyone to get ahead, or for any other reason--she doesn't even sleep with anyone--at least not in the shows that have aired so far; I'm not sure what TV series this person watched, but what s/he describes is not the series "Instant Star" that is airing now on The-N. The most "sex" in this show (as of writing date) is kissing. And it's not passionate as much as it is sweet and romantic. Without giving anything away, I can say that each kiss has happened for good reason and isn't just gratuitous making out scenes. The show is about relationships of all kinds--family, friends, self, and romantic. I've seen TV commercials with far more sexuality than this TV show! I'm not saying the actors aren't sexy and gushing charisma, I'm just saying that the scripts and drama are plenty chaste.