Just like they did with rom-coms, Netflix looks like it's trying to fill another void: a live-action kids movies. To be more specific, non-franchise live-action kids movies. So today I thought I'd roll through three of them and see which ones might be best for your young ones.
The Sleepover
In this film, Malin Akerman stars as an unassuming housewife who's hit a rough patch with her kids who think she's too strict and uncool. That is until said mom, and their blissfully unaware dad is kidnapped/recruited by her old gang of thieves for one last job.
This movie really feels like it's two movies slammed into one. There's been plenty of movies like this, Spy Kids, comes to mind. But the emphasis is almost always on the kids and how doing their parents work is fulfilling and makes them feel closer to their seemingly distant parents. In this case it's almost an even split between the kids and parents which means neither side gets time to establish characters outside of generic baselines that the film attempts to paper over with physical comedy.
That also means we've got some weird stylistic overlaps where spy movie, including guns and life or death scenarios, merges with a campy kids movie. All the leads are giving their all to the silliness, especially Ken Marino, but it doesn't quite work.
The Main Event
This is a perfect kids movie setup. A giant wrestling fan, Leo, discovers a magical mask that gives his superhuman abilities and could help him win a wrestling tournament with a prize money his family needs. But the brand new attention might go to his head and alienate those closest to him.
I had fun with this one. All of the characters are solid. The scenes of the little kid flying around the ring and lifting people are hilarious. And we've got a real human heart to all of this. Leo is dealing with a depressed dad who has trouble talking and a mom who left, so all of this attention goes to his head.
And yes this is definitely aimed at wrestling and specifically young WWE fans who will get every cameo and the cheesy trash talk, and won't notice that it's a giant ad for WWE, but I think it's fun enough. Wait Ken Marino is in this one too?
A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting
Ah ok. This is the Spy Kids one. This one follows Kelly Ferguson, a newbie babysitter who gets the challenge of her life on her first job when the boy she's watching is grabbed by the boogieman. Oh and the boogeyman is Tom Felton of Draco Malfoy fame because we're gonna get on the nose with the casting here.
So this movie is silly and campy even by kids movie standards, but I think it'll be fun for the young ones. It's kind of like baby's first James Bond with an over-powered villain with a world-domination plan and evil minions and a bunch of baby related gadgets. It's also got a great self-aware sense of humor (i.e. Kelly commenting on how insane it is to use another baby as bait) and Tamara Smart has star potential. Not sure if they'll get the sequel they're aiming for, but it's a decent likely spooky movie for kids.
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