FOR FAMILIES: "Speed Racer," "What Happens in Vegas"

By Roger Moore | Tribune Newspapers

May 9, 2008

Tribune Newspapers

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'Speed Racer'

Rating: PG for sequences of action, some violence and language.

What it's about: Idealistic, independent young driver battles long odds to foil the cartel of evil, cheating racing sponsors.

The Kid Attractor Factor: Eye candy galore, based on a cartoon and starring Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci and a cute chimpanzee.

Good lessons/bad lessons: "Cheaters never prosper."

Violence: An awful lot for a children's film.

Language: Gratuitous profanity peppered here and there.

Sex: None.

Drugs: None, unless you count poison.

Parents' advisory: It's childish enough to be attractive to young children, but the plot demands many a tedious argument-discussion-explanation scene, when all most kids want is more chimp moments. Fine for 9 and older.

'What Happens in Vegas'

Rating: PG-13 for some sexual and crude content, and language, including a drug reference.

What it's about: A girl meets a guy, drinks are drunk and a Vegas wedding ensues. Getting out of that is complicated by a little jackpot they win in mid-breakup.

The Kid Attractor Factor: Ashton Kutcher, Cameron Diaz, bumping ugly and fighting dirty in Sin City.

Good lessons/bad lessons: Alcohol and wedding chapels don't mix.

Violence: Sucker punches. Crotch shots too.

Language: Not as much profanity as you might expect, but still worth a PG-13.

Sex: Yes, that happens in Vegas.

Drugs: Yes, with alcohol serving as Love Potion No. 9.