A Movie Break on Spring Break

It is that time of year again, the time you both love and fear, Spring Break! It's a wonderful time because you and your children get a break from the everyday routine of school. It can also be a scary time when you realize you have approximately 126 waking hours to fill with entertainment (I'm being generous with the estimate of 10 hours of sleep nightly). Playing outside or a game night are great options to fill the time but just in case your allergies have had enough pollen or you can't handle a fiftieth game of Candy Land, here are a few movies in local theaters and on DVD you and your "little monsters" can check out this week.

Options currently showing on the big screen are limited but here are a couple that are family friendly.

Mirror Mirror (PG) - The live action remake of this classic Snow White fairy tale and even more classic Disney movie is playing at Regal Fredericksburg 15 and Marquee Cinemas. The movie stars Julia Roberts as the evil Queen and bills itself as a comedic version of the original story. Don't confuse it with the much darker and sexier remake of Snow White releasing on June 1, Snow White and the Huntsman. Might we worth the hefty price if you are looking for something new. See showtimes.

Dr. Suess' The Lorax(PG) - The Lorax is still going strong in its fifth week in theaters. It is an animated feature film with an environmental spin and of course features the crazy fun language of Dr. Suess. Its running time is approximately one hour and twenty-six minutes long.  If you include travel time to the theater and watching previews that just leaves you with 124 hours left to fill. The Lorax is also available in a 3D version but remember to think about that before you commit to it. Read my post for some tips on deciding whether or not 3D is worth the money. See showtimes.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (PG) - It appears that some local theaters still have a few matinee showings of this sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth. I have to say that I have not heard good things about this movie and the first "Journey" movie was less than stellar. However, if you are desperate and think your kids will be distracted by giant bugs and plants then it is an option. See
showtimes.

Millions of options on DVD and Blu-ray are available but here are few that my family and I suggest.

The Muppets (PG) (2011)- Really any of the Muppets movies are terrific fun and the whole family can watch. My family just watched the latest Muppets movie with Jason Segal and Amy Adams and we all thought it was great. All your favorite characters are back along with the traditional celebrity cameos. I promise at the end you will all be singing Mahna Mahna!

Mr. Popper's Penguins (PG) (2011) - Mr. Popper Penguins stars Jim Carrey and six crazy penguins (mostly computer graphics) who live in downtown  anhattan. The story is cute and at times a little sad, but there are several very funny and heartwarming moments. Watch out for "Stinky" he is kind of disgusting but your kids will think he is hilarious.

The Princess Bride (PG) (1987) - A great movie for all ages. The Princess Bride is a true modern day classic  filled with some of the greatest quotes of all time. Kids love it for the sword fights, princesses, giants, and villains. Adults love it for all those reasons and the witty dialogue and humor that permeate the entire film. Better yet, the adult themes and sexuality are kept to minimum as kissing is considered "gross". Take a walk down memory lane and introduce your kids to a film they will want to see again and again.

The Goonies (PG)(1985) - The Goonies is another eighties classic that stands the test of time. A perfect Spring Break movie that follows the adventures of a rag tag group of kids in search of treasure to save their friend's home. The characters are all very memorable and between the action and the laughs there is something for everyone in your family. I would be shocked if your kid's aren't practicing the "Truffle Shuffle" by the end of the adventure.

Spy Kids (PG) - With four Spy Kids movies to choose from you can knock out an entire day. Not that I recommend doing that. My family has seen all the Spy Kids movies and each one provides some fun kids-style action adventure. The main characters, Juni and Carmen, are pint-sized heroes who are easy to cheer for and watching them grow up throughout the films is fun.

Here's wishing you a wonderful Spring Break with your family. Hopefully you will find yourself with so many wonderful things to do that the time will just fly by. But if for some reason things become a little rough and your kids literally start climbing the walls then I hope these movies give you a much-needed movie break during your Spring Break.

Are planning to watch a movie during Spring Break? Does this short list make you think of even better movies appropriate for the whole family? Make sure to share them with everyone in the comment section.