Weathering With You (PG-13)
Age 13+
Charming, romantic, powerful anime fantasy has some edge.
“Weathering With You” is a teen-friendly animated adventure from Japanese filmmaker Makoto Shinkai (“Your Name”). It follows 16-year-old runaway Hodaka (voiced by Kotaro Daigo), who finds a home and a job as a reporter in Tokyo, where he falls for beautiful teen orphan Hina (Nana Mori), who can magically change the weather when she prays. The movie (available either subtitled or dubbed in English) should appeal to manga-loving tweens and teens, especially those who enjoy romance with folk tale/fantasy elements. Expect occasional language (“bulls---,” “a--holes,” “b------,” “hell”) and some suggestive material: Men want a teen girl to work at a strip club, a teen guy thinks a college-aged woman is an older man’s mistress, and a young woman reveals her body under a robe (but it’s transforming into water). The action/violence includes Hodaka getting bruised in street fights, shooting a gun to scare off those who are trying to hurt him, and a chase scene. Romance is mostly focused on an obvious crush, but not much more than an embrace and hand holding is shown. With themes of courage and teamwork, the movie also values the strong bonds between friends. (111 minutes)
Bad Boys for Life (R)
Age 16+
Violent, crude buddy-cop “threequel” is chaotic, tired.
“Bad Boys for Life” is the third movie in the “Bad Boys” series, which stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as violent, bickering Miami narcotics detectives. This one takes place 17 years after “Bad Boys II,” and it’s just as noisy and busy as the others. Expect lots of over-the-top action violence, with guns and shooting (including a high-powered sniper rifle), blood spurts, dead bodies, fighting, hitting with blunt objects, stabbing, explosions/fire, car chases and crashes and more. Constant strong language includes countless uses of “s---” and “f---,” as well as other words (including a use of the n-word). Women in a club are ogled/objectified, and there’s some crude sex-related talk, mostly played for laughs. Characters drink on social occasions and at celebrations, and a supporting character uses cocaine. The main story is based on revenge, and there are mixed-to-problematic messages about consequence-free violence. (124 minutes)
Troop Zero (PG)
Streaming
Age 10+
Heartwarming, funny underdog story has cursing, potty humor.
“Troop Zero” is an unconventional comedy in which a familiar underdog story turns out fresh and original. Set in 1977 Georgia, it follows young Christmas Flint (McKenna Grace), a quirky, space-loving girl who’s coping with the death of her mom just as the United States is preparing to launch two Voyager spacecraft carrying records of sounds of life on Earth. Her efforts to become part of the project — assisted by a ragtag gang of other kids she enlists, including a gender-nonconforming boy — are both funny and affecting. Expect occasional swearing (“a--,” “damn,” “hell,” “s---”) and bullying insults (“half-a--,” “freak,” “girl-boy,” “bed-wetter”). A character vomits; there’s also unintentional pants-wetting and a fart. Some tussling occurs: pushing, a punch, a fall, a food fight and mean girls’ intimidation. A scout leader smokes and adults drink beer but don’t get drunk. Some mean-girl and Southern exaggerations/stereotypes. (97 minutes)
Available via Amazon Prime streaming.
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