By Chris Kavan - 10/08/19 at 08:53 PM CT
Welcome to the family-friendly edition of the MPAA Ratings Bulletin. Two films are worthy of mention this week and both look to be a hit with families - one certainly more than the other. The biggest film this week is a sequel to Disney's hit Frozen - and the biggest question is... will this one also feature a song your kids are going to sing non-stop for the end of time?! All will be revealed soon! On the live-action front, John Cena teams up with Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo and Tyler Mane as a group of rough and tumble firefighters who meet their match... when they have to take on three rambunctious kids. Daw - I'm sure many a lesson will be learned here, by both adults and children. That's the big two, plus some extras for those who stick through the end credits.
Disney has dominated 2019 thanks in large part to the MCU - but their animation department is going to kick it into high gear this fall when Frozen II is set to heat things up. The sequel to the mega-hit that had every child in the country - nay, the world perhaps - singing "Let It Go" - once again follows Elsa (Idina Menzel), Anna (Kristen Bell), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and the lovable snowman Olaf (Josh Gad) on another adventure - this time outside the kingdom of Arendelle. With a new threat on the horizon, the group finds themselves in an enchanted, autumn-bound forest where Elsa hopes to learn the origins of her powers - and save the kingdom. From the trailers - this looks like a feast for the eyes with colors that pop and animation that impresses. What else would you expect from Disney? I have a feeling this is going to top Frozen ($400.7 million) at the box office - and we'll see if it can top this year's behemoth The Lion King ($541.3 million and counting) - which is totally animated, you guys, or even challenge the top dog, Incredibles 2 ($608.5 million). I'm not holding my breath on that one, but one thing is for certain: this is going to be huge and if families flock to this one like the original - and maybe come back for more - the sky's the limit. Rated PG for action/peril and some thematic elements.
If you prefer your family films featuring live actors, don't worry, John Cena and company are here to put a smile on your face with Playing with Fire. Cena, John Leguizamo, Keegan-Michael Key and Tyler Mane play a group of firefights - the tough kind - who meet their match not with a raging forest fire or a towering inferno, but rather, a trio of children. Played by Brianna Hildebrand (Deadpool), Christian Convery and Finley Rose Slater - the three are more than the gruff, tough men are ready to handle. I mean, this is a Nickelodeon release, of course it's geared towards families. This seems like a page right out of Kindergarten Cop or Cop-and-Half - or any other number of films where adults suddenly find themselves out-witted by the kids. But I'm sure everyone will learn a valuable lesson in the end, and the kids will love it - and maybe, just maybe, their parents will too. Rated PG for rude humor, some suggestive material and mild peril.
That's it for the major films this week, but stick around, because you can find the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin below - and it's totally worth it!
3022
Rated R for language and some violence.
DANGER CLOSE
Rated R for sequences of war violence, and language throughout.
DARK WATERS
Rated PG-13 for thematic content, some disturbing images and strong language.
DRAGONHEART: VENGEANCE
Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, and some bloody images.
FROZEN II
Rated PG for action/peril and some thematic elements.
NO SAFE SPACES
Rated PG-13 for some language and brief violence.
PLAYING WITH FIRE
Rated PG for rude humor, some suggestive material and mild peril.
THE SONG OF NAMES
Rated PG-13 for some strong language, brief sexual material, thematic elements and smoking.
THE WARRIOR QUEEN OF JHANSI
Rated R for some violence.
