Summer Movies for the Whole Family

The summer movie season is here and we’ve got your best bets for family flicks

Originally published May, 2009

By Dayna Danson and Robin Stevenson

Image courtesy Twentieth Century Fox/Blue Sky Studios

ALL AGES

Up

May 29

Senior citizen and former balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner) rigs his house with thousands of helium balloons and sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream of exploring South America. After lifting off, Carl learns he isn’t alone on his journey, when he notices eight-year-old Russell, who has accidentally become a stowaway on his trip.

SCOOP: This is the first Pixar (Cars, Monster’s Inc.) film in digital 3-D. Not that it matters—you were probably going to see this anyways.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

July 4

In this sequel to Ice Age and Ice Age: The Meltdown, Scrat (the sabre-toothed squirrel) is still trying to nab his ever-elusive acorn, Manny (Ray Romano) and Ellie (Queen Latifah) are awaiting the arrival of their mini-mammoth, Diego (Dennis Leary) is wondering if he’s getting “soft” just hanging with his pals and Sid (John Leguizamo) is in trouble…again.

SCOOP: If your child knows that there’s no way dinosaurs could have existed alongside ice age mammals, you might want to explain the idea of creative license.

G-Force (3-D)

July 24

What if James Bond was a Guinea pig? Decked out in designer suits, sunglasses and the latest spy gear, this team of highly trained talking guinea pigs (voiced by Will Arnett, Bill Nighy, Nicolas Cage and Penélope Cruz), try to stop a billionaire with a plan to take over the world using household appliances.

SCOOP: Laugh at the premise if you want (it’s a kids’ movie after all) but the film’s producer is Jerry Bruckheimer, the man behind Bad Boys and The Rock who knows a thing or two about action flicks.

SCHOOL-AGED CROWD

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

May 22

In the 2006 blockbuster Larry (Ben Stiller) the security guard, realized the exhibits come to life at night. Now Larry must help out his museum friends (Owen Wilson and Robin Williams) who have been shipped to Washington’s Smithsonian Museum. Amy Adams is also on board as pilot Amelia Earhart and Larry’s love interest.

SCOOP: The Smithsonian is actually 19 museums, which means that much more than creatures—think aircraft and artwork—come alive at night.