New on DVD: Ramona, Zac Efron, and Scott Pilgrim

Ramona and Beezus

Children's Book Adaptation

The Gist: Ramona can't do anything right. Her sister, Beezus, is practically perfect in every way. When dad loses his job, how can dreamy, imaginative Ramona help the family? More importantly, how can she show up Beezus? Read our full review.

The Ups: Joey King sparkles as the spunky, creative, feisty Ramona. A warm, loving home and family feels like every girl's dream family, but the best part of the movie turns out to be a love story between sisters. The film aptly captures the loving torment that is sibling-hood.

The Downs: A story about sisters isn't for everyone, and there are practically no explosions to keep boys engaged, but your little girls will love this film and might just grow from it too.

The Verdict: Rent it and watch it with your daughters. Even better, have them read the book as well.

Be Aware: When the "Very Bad Word" Ramona threatens to say turns out to be "guts," you know you've got a family film. Rated G.

The Chat with Kids: What's special about your brother or sister? Do you want to fight sometimes (ok, all the time)? But what happens if he or she is in trouble?

Charlie St. Cloud

Teen romance/thriller

The Gist: After Charlie's (Zac Efron) little brother is killed in a car accident, the grieving older brother sees his spirit and promises to meet him every day to toss the baseball around. Charlie keeps his appointment with the dead at the cost of living his own life. Will a pretty girl help him move on? Read our full review.

The Ups: Like "Ramona and Beezus," this movie offers a compelling, touching, and realistic portrait of sibling love, even if one sibling happens to be dead. It's also an examination of the pain and necessity of moving on after loss.

The Downs: At times veering off into the corn like a tractor in Iowa, this film is definitely for people who like melodrama. Also, perpetuates that whole gothic, romance-in-a-graveyard vibe that is tragically trendy right now.

The Verdict: Depends. If you're a Zac Efron fan or really into not spooky ghost stories, you will like it.

Be Aware: PG-13 for language including some sexual references, an intense accident scene and some sensuality. The ghostly elements are not particularly spooky, but still are spirits walking around. Sex is implied between the leads.

 The Chat with Teens: How does one let go after grief? Why are graveyards considered romantic nowadays? (No, seriously, I want to know. Email me.)

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Teen Romance

The Gist: Scott Pilgrim likes Ramona (no relation to Beezus's Ramona). Before dating her, however, he must defeat her seven ex-boyfriends in this movie that overlays video game imagery and comic book ethos over real life. When they are defeated, they become coins and Scott is a level closer to winning Ramona's heart.

The Ups: This movie has connected with young adults and teens because it embodies their experience. Life is just a video game, or maybe they wish it could be. Good acting makes the concept work.

The Downs: In connecting with the younger generation, it becomes a fast-paced, loud, frenetic experience that may overwhelm us older folk. Also, like so many films aimed at this group, it features casual sex (including that of Scott's gay roommate), drug use, and alcohol use.

The Verdict: As an enjoyable artifact of pop culture with commentary on the younger generation, this works very well. I'd recommend watching it as parents, however, before allowing children to watch.

Be Aware: Rated PG-13 for stylized violence, sexual content, and language and drug references. Depictions of sex are implied rather than shown.

Grown Ups

Comedy

The Gist: Five allegedly grown men gather their families for a vacation. Mayhem ensues. In theory.

The Ups: With a cast of Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Selma Hayek, Kevin James, David Spade, and Rob Schneider, how can there possibly be no ups? And yet, there aren't.

The Downs: Not Funny. Not at all funny. Juvenile, but not in a good way.

The Verdict: Skip it. If you watch this film, not only will you be two hours closer to death with nothing to show for it, but it might actually take a few days off your life. It's that bad.

Read more by the same author:

Movie Review: Megamind

Blue, Zany Fun

Movie Review: Hereafter

Eternity itself may not be as long as this movie.

Movie Review: The Social Network

How has Facebook changed us?

Interview: Randall Wallace of "Secretariat"

The "Braveheart" writer talks to SixSeeds