At The Movies

Freedom Writers Age Rating: PG-13 Runtime: 123 minutes Studio: MTV Films, Jersey Films, Double Feature Films, Paramount Pictures A powerful true-story drama about a young teacher who uses compassion, literature, and personal writing to break through racial hatred, gang violence, and hopelessness in an inner-city classroom. Ratings: My Rating: 7.1/10 The Dove Foundation: Not Approved / Mature Teen Audience IMDb: 7.6/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 69% Metacritic: 64/100 TMDb: 7.4/10 Plot Summary: Set in Long Beach, California during the aftermath of the Los Angeles riots, the film follows Erin Gruwell, a new and idealistic English teacher assigned to a classroom full of students considered “unteachable.” Her students come from different racial gangs and backgrounds, and many have experienced violence, poverty, abuse, and death firsthand. At first, the class rejects her completely. Over time, Erin begins connecting with them through literature such as The Diary of Anne Frank and by encouraging them ...

The Three Musketeers Age Rating: PG Runtime: 105 minutes Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Country of Origin: United States A young swordsman joins three legendary musketeers to defend honor, friendship, and the crown against betrayal and corruption. Ratings: My Rating: 6.2/10 The Dove Foundation: PG IMDb: 6.4/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 31% Metacritic: 52/100 TMDb: 6.4/10 Plot Summary: D’Artagnan, an eager and idealistic young man, travels to Paris to join the King’s Musketeers. Instead, he finds them disbanded due to the schemes of the corrupt Cardinal Richelieu. Along the way, he befriends three former musketeers—Athos, Porthos, and Aramis—each with their own personalities and pasts. Together, they uncover a plot to overthrow the king and seize control of France. Facing danger, betrayal, and political intrigue, the four unite under the famous motto “All for one, and one for all,” risking their lives to restore justice and protect the throne. Critics Review: The film received mixed reviews, with ...

Radio Age Rating: PG Runtime: 109 minutes Studio: Columbia Pictures Country of Origin: United States An unlikely friendship between a high school football coach and a mentally challenged young man transforms an entire community. Ratings: My Rating: 6.8/10 The Dove Foundation: PG IMDb: 6.9/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 35% Metacritic: 38/100 TMDb: 7.3/10 Plot Summary: Based on a true story, the film follows James “Radio” Kennedy, a shy young man with an intellectual disability who lives in a small South Carolina town. He is often misunderstood and mistreated until Coach Harold Jones, played by Cuba Gooding Jr., takes him under his wing. Coach Jones invites Radio to assist with the high school football team, gradually integrating him into the school and community. Over time, Radio becomes a beloved figure, and his presence challenges the town to confront its prejudices and learn compassion, patience, and acceptance. Critics Review: “Radio” received mixed reviews from critics. While many praised th...

Last Action Hero Age Rating: PG-13 Runtime: 130 minutes Studio: Columbia Pictures Country of Origin: United States A young movie fan is magically pulled into the world of his favorite action hero—where cinematic fantasy collides with real-world consequences. Ratings: My Rating: 6.4/10 The Dove Foundation: Not Rated IMDb: 6.5/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 40% Metacritic: 44/100 TMDb: 6.4/10 Plot Summary: Danny Madigan, a teenage movie lover, idolizes action star Jack Slater, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Through a magical movie ticket, Danny is transported into Slater’s latest film, where the exaggerated rules of action movies—invincible heroes, endless ammo, and over-the-top villains—are the norm. As Danny tries to convince Slater that his world isn’t real, a villain escapes into the real world, where the stakes become genuine and deadly. Slater must adapt to reality, where he can be hurt and actions have consequences, while Danny learns the difference between fantasy and truth. Together, the...

Staying Alive Age Rating: PG Runtime: 96 min Studio: Paramount Pictures Country of Origin: United States Franchise: Saturday Night Fever Franchise Position: 2 A dance drama following Tony Manero six years after Saturday Night Fever, as he leaves Brooklyn for Manhattan and pursues his dream of becoming a Broadway dancer. The story traces his struggles balancing work, relationships, and artistic ambition while competing for roles in a major stage production. Ratings: My Rating: 6.5/10 The Dove Foundation: PG IMDb: 6.5–7.1/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 3% Tomatometer, ~40% audience Metacritic: 24–38/100 TMDb: 5.8/10 Plot Summary: Former disco king Tony Manero now lives in Manhattan, working as a waiter and dance instructor while chasing a big break on Broadway. When he auditions for a new show, Satan’s Alley, he lands a part as a backup dancer and must navigate romantic entanglements, professional rivalries, and personal growth. Tony’s journey culminates in a high‑energy Broadway performance that t...

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Age Rating: PG Runtime: 107 min Studio: Touchstone Pictures Country of Origin: United States Franchise: Sister Act Franchise Position: 2 Deloris Van Cartier returns to her nun disguise to help her friends at a struggling Catholic high school by teaching music and forming a choir in hopes of saving the school from closure, using her showbiz flair to inspire a rowdy group of students. Ratings: My Rating: 6.8/10 The Dove Foundation: PG IMDb: 6.4/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 19% Tomatometer, 61% Audience Score Metacritic: 38/100 TMDb: 6.0/10 Plot Summary: In this musical comedy sequel, Whoopi Goldberg’s Deloris Van Cartier is called back to help when the parochial school run by her nun friends faces closure due to poor student behavior and budget troubles. Reassuming her alter ego Sister Mary Clarence, she takes on the challenge of teaching music to a class of unmotivated teens, sparking transformation and unity through uplifting choir performances while navigating h...

The Sign of Zorro Age Rating: G Runtime: 91 min Studio: Walt Disney Productions Country of Origin: United States Franchise: Zorro Franchise Position: Standalone A classic swashbuckling adventure edited from episodes of Disney’s hit 1950s TV series, Zorro. Don Diego returns home to find his town oppressed by the cruel Captain Monastario. By day he plays the effete nobleman; by night he dons the mask of Zorro, the masked hero fighting tyranny with his sword and wits, aided by his loyal mute servant Bernardo, to free the pueblo from oppression. Ratings: My Rating: 7.1/10 The Dove Foundation: G IMDb: 6.9/10 Rotten Tomatoes: — Metacritic: — TMDb: 7.3/10 Plot Summary: Don Diego de la Vega returns to his hometown under Spanish rule to find a corrupt commandant terrorizing the citizens. To combat injustice, he assumes the secret identity of Zorro, a masked vigilante who uses swordsmanship and cunning to challenge Monastario’s tyranny. With help from his mute servant, Bernardo, Zorro engages in...

Bohemian Rhapsody Age Rating: PG-13 Runtime: 134 min Studio: 20th Century Fox, Regency Enterprises, GK Films, Queen Films Country of Origin: United Kingdom, United States Franchise: Standalone Franchise Position: N/A A dramatized biographical film tracing the rise of the British rock band Queen and the life of its iconic lead singer Freddie Mercury, culminating in their legendary 1985 Live Aid performance. Ratings: My Rating: 7.7/10 The Dove Foundation: PG-13 IMDb: 7.9/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 60% Metacritic: 49/100 TMDb: 7.5/10 Plot Summary: Bohemian Rhapsody follows the journey of Freddie Mercury from his early days as Farrokh Bulsara and the formation of Queen through their breakthrough, faltering professional and personal struggles, and ultimate triumphant Live Aid concert performance. The narrative interweaves the band’s meteoric rise to global stardom with Mercury’s exploration of identity, fame, and his relationships, portraying both the exhilaration and turmoil of life in one of roc...

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance Age Rating: PG-13 Runtime: 96 minutes Studio: Columbia Pictures Franchise: Ghost Rider Franchise Position: 2 The Rider returns—more violent, more unhinged, and fighting to save a boy whose fate could unleash hell on Earth. Ratings: My Rating: 3.2/10 The Dove Foundation: Not approved IMDb: 4.3/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 18% Metacritic: 34 TMDb: 5.0/10 Plot Summary: Years after the events of the first film, Johnny Blaze is hiding in Eastern Europe, trying to suppress the Ghost Rider curse. A secretive monk order seeks him out, asking for protection for a young boy targeted by the demon Roarke — the same demonic figure who once bargained for Johnny’s soul. Blaze reluctantly agrees and must confront not only Roarke’s forces but the increasing instability of the Rider’s violent nature. As the boy’s fate threatens to give the demon unstoppable power, Johnny battles for redemption and a chance to reclaim his humanity. Critics Review: Critics largely panned the film, ...

Ghost Rider Age Rating: PG-13 Runtime: 110 minutes Studio: Columbia Pictures Franchise: Ghost Rider Franchise Position: 1 A stuntman who once sold his soul must now face the darkness within him to stop a demonic uprising. Ratings: My Rating: 3.8/10 The Dove Foundation: Not approved IMDb: 5.3/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 27% Metacritic: 35 TMDb: 5.6/10 Plot Summary: Johnny Blaze is a motorcycle stunt performer who, as a teenager, made a desperate deal with a demonic entity to save his father. Years later, the deal comes due. Johnny becomes the Ghost Rider, a flaming skeletal enforcer bound to punish evil. When the demon Blackheart seeks an ancient contract that would unleash a thousand corrupted souls, Johnny must decide whether to reject the curse or wield its dark power to protect the innocent. Critics Review: Critics widely criticized the film’s uneven tone, shallow script, and over-the-top performances. The fiery Ghost Rider visuals earned praise, but reviewers agreed that the narrative lack...

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F Age Rating: R Runtime: 118 min Studio: Netflix Country of Origin: United States Franchise: Beverly Hills Cop Franchise Position: 4 Tagline: Axel Foley returns — older, wiser, and ready for one last ride. Ratings: My Rating: 56% The Dove Foundation: Not listed IMDb: 6.4/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 64% Metacritic: 53/100 TMDb: N/A Plot Summary: Detective Axel Foley returns to Beverly Hills decades later when his daughter Jane finds herself in danger. He teams up with a new partner, Detective Bobby Abbott, as well as old friends Billy Rosewood and John Taggart, to uncover a conspiracy within the city’s corrupt crime and law enforcement structures. Critics Review: Critics gave Axel F mixed but generally average reviews. Praise often goes to Eddie Murphy's charismatic return and the nostalgic tone, while criticism focuses on the formulaic plot and reliance on callback humor rather than new ideas. Christian Perspective: This installment emphasizes themes of redemption, ...

Beverly Hills Cop III Age Rating: PG-13 Runtime: 103 min Studio: Paramount Pictures Country of Origin: United States Franchise: Beverly Hills Cop Franchise Position: 3 Tagline: Axel Foley returns for one last ride — the laughs are back, but the danger is bigger than ever. Ratings: My Rating: 63% The Dove Foundation: PG-13 IMDb: 5.6/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 38% Metacritic: 41/100 TMDb: N/A Plot Summary: Axel Foley travels to Beverly Hills once again, this time investigating a series of thefts at a local amusement park tied to a corrupt businessman. Reuniting with old friends Billy Rosewood and Sgt. John Taggart, Foley navigates traps, chases, and comedic mishaps as he uncovers the criminal mastermind behind the park’s operations, combining his trademark street smarts with daring action. Critics Review: The third installment was widely regarded as the weakest in the franchise. Critics cited a weaker script, less inventive action sequences, and a lack of the original’s freshness. Eddie Murphy’...

Beverly Hills Cop II Age Rating: R Runtime: 104 min Studio: Paramount Pictures Country of Origin: United States Franchise: Beverly Hills Cop Franchise Position: 2 Tagline: Axel Foley is back — and this time, the stakes are higher and the laughs are louder. Ratings: My Rating: 70% The Dove Foundation: Not listed IMDb: 6.6/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 57% Metacritic: 46/100 TMDb: N/A Plot Summary: Axel Foley returns to Beverly Hills when a string of high-profile robberies and the murder of a fellow officer threatens the city. Reuniting with detectives Billy Rosewood and Sgt. John Taggart, Foley uses his street smarts and unorthodox methods to track down the ruthless criminals behind the crime spree, all while navigating the challenges of law enforcement bureaucracy and comedic misadventures. Critics Review: The sequel received mixed reviews. Critics praised Eddie Murphy’s performance and comedic timing but noted that the film relied heavily on action-comedy tropes from the original without offeri...

Beverly Hills Cop Age Rating: R Runtime: 105 min Studio: Paramount Pictures Country of Origin: United States Franchise: Beverly Hills Cop Franchise Position: 1 Tagline: A streetwise Detroit cop in Beverly Hills — Axel Foley doesn’t just break rules, he blows them up. Ratings: My Rating: 77.6% The Dove Foundation: Not listed IMDb: 7.4/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 82% Metacritic: 66/100 TMDb: N/A Plot Summary: Axel Foley, a sharp-witted Detroit cop, travels to Beverly Hills when his childhood friend is murdered. Posing as a journalist, he infiltrates the world of upscale crime and art, suspecting that his friend’s employer, art dealer Victor Maitland, might be involved in something shady. Foley teams up with two skeptical Beverly Hills detectives, Billy Rosewood and Sgt. John Taggart, to unravel the conspiracy — but his unorthodox methods and refusal to play by the rules make him both a liability and an asset. Critics Review: The film was praised for its energetic direction, sharp humor, and Eddi...

The Choirboys Age Rating: R Runtime: 119 minutes Studio: Universal Pictures Country of Origin: United States Franchise: Standalone Franchise Position: N/A A gritty and darkly comedic look at what happens when a group of Los Angeles patrol officers wind down after work with the “choir practice” of ritual drunken revelry, only to spiral into chaos and moral ambiguity.  Ratings: My Rating: 5.7 The Dove Foundation: Not rated IMDb: 5.6  Rotten Tomatoes: 40%  Metacritic: 21  TMDb: N/A Plot Summary: Based on the novel by Joseph Wambaugh, the film follows a cohort of LAPD officers who call themselves the “choirboys”—not for singing, but for debauched after‑shift gatherings they euphemistically label “choir practice.” The story covers a week in their lives: excessive drinking, carousing, crude antics, and ultimately a tragic‑tinged shift into a shooting incident that triggers a cover‑up among the group. Through these events, the film probes themes of exhaustion, cynicism, pow...

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Age Rating: G Runtime: 134 minutes Studio: United Artists / Great Western Films Country of Origin: United Kingdom Franchise: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Franchise Position: 1 A magical car, a daring inventor, and a whimsical adventure sweep a family into fantastical escapades across land and air. Ratings: My Rating: 7.5 The Dove Foundation: G IMDb: 6.9 Rotten Tomatoes: 73% Metacritic: 65 TMDb: 7.3 Plot Summary: Inventor Caractacus Potts transforms an old racing car into the extraordinary flying car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Along with his children, Jeremy and Jemima, and the charming Truly Scrumptious, he embarks on a magical adventure to save the children from the nefarious Baron Bomburst and his minions in the fictional land of Vulgaria. The film combines whimsical inventiveness, musical numbers, and a lighthearted narrative that celebrates imagination, courage, and family unity. Critics Review: Critics praised the film for its imaginative set design, colorful vis...

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Age Rating: PG Runtime: 111 minutes Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Franchise: Standalone Franchise Position: N/A A Southern family confronts lies, secrets, and desires during a tense reunion at their Mississippi plantation. Ratings: My Rating: 8.1 The Dove Foundation: PG IMDb: 7.9 Rotten Tomatoes: 98% Metacritic: 87 TMDb: 7.8 Plot Summary: Set in the Mississippi Delta, the film follows Big Daddy Pollitt, a wealthy plantation owner, and his family during his birthday celebration. Tensions rise as Brick, his troubled son, and Maggie, Brick’s passionate wife, navigate strained relationships, unspoken desires, and the truth about family inheritance. Themes of mendacity, addiction, repressed emotions, and marital struggles emerge as each character confronts their own moral and emotional dilemmas. Critics Review: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof received acclaim for its powerful performances, especially Paul Newman (Brick) and Elizabeth Taylor (Maggie). Critics praised the adap...

Car Wash Runtime: 97 minutes Studio: Universal Pictures Franchise: Standalone Franchise Position: N/A A day in the life of a Los Angeles car wash crew, filled with comedy, chaos, and colorful characters set to a funky ‘70s soundtrack. Ratings: My Rating: 7.1 The Dove Foundation: Not rated IMDb: 6.1 Rotten Tomatoes: 89% Metacritic: 71 TMDb: 6.3 Plot Summary: Car Wash follows a diverse group of employees at the DeLuxe Car Wash in Los Angeles as they navigate an eventful day of work, customers, and personal dramas. From the flamboyant and hilarious antics of the workers to their real-life struggles—romance, money problems, and dreams of something better—the film paints a vibrant portrait of 1970s urban working-class life. Throughout the day, eccentric customers roll through, including a minister, a cab driver, and even a celebrity cameo, while the employees bond, bicker, and groove to the disco-funk rhythms that define the era. Critics Review: Critics have praised Car Wash for its energy,...

Garfield: The Movie Runtime: 80 minutes Studio: 20th Century Fox Country of Origin: United States Franchise: Garfield Franchise Position: 1 (First live-action film adaptation) America’s favorite lazy orange cat makes his big-screen debut — full of lasagna, sarcasm, and mischief — as he tries to save his owner’s new dog from trouble. Ratings: My Rating: 6.2/10 The Dove Foundation: Approved for All Ages IMDb: 5.0/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 14% Metacritic: 27 TMDb: 5.6/10 Plot Summary: Garfield (voiced by Bill Murray) lives a pampered life with his owner Jon Arbuckle (Breckin Meyer), ruling the house with snarky charm and a love for lasagna. His routine is disrupted when Jon adopts a sweet but dim-witted dog named Odie, who quickly steals the spotlight — and Jon’s attention. When Odie is kidnapped by a greedy television host seeking fame, Garfield must leave his comfortable home to rescue the pup, discovering courage, friendship, and a little humility along the way. Critics Review: Critics were ...

Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties Runtime: 86 minutes Studio: 20th Century Fox Country of Origin: United States Franchise: Garfield Franchise Position: 2 (Sequel to Garfield: The Movie) Garfield crosses the pond for a royal misadventure when he’s mistaken for a pampered palace cat in England. Ratings: My Rating: 6.0/10 The Dove Foundation: Approved for All Ages IMDb: 5.0/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 12% Metacritic: 37 TMDb: 5.7/10 Plot Summary: Garfield (Bill Murray) joins Jon Arbuckle (Breckin Meyer) and Liz (Jennifer Love Hewitt) on a trip to England, where he’s mistaken for Prince, a royal cat who has just inherited a castle. With identical appearances, Garfield enjoys the luxury of his new life — endless food, servants, and admiration — until he realizes that Lord Dargis (Billy Connolly), the greedy estate manager, plans to get rid of Prince to seize the property. When the real Prince returns, the two cats must team up to outsmart Dargis, save the estate, and teach him a lesson about greed an...