The Washington Post - USA (2022-04-01)

25

EZ

THE

WASHINGTON

POST

.

FRIDAY,

APRIL

1, 2022

Movies

Dakota(UNRATED)
Age 10+
Underwhelming Marine dog
drama lacks bite; peril.

“Dakota” is a family drama
about a Marine dog named
Dakota who helps the family of
his deceased handler. The
handler’s widow, Kate (Abbie
Cornish), is overwhelmed by
debt, duty to her community
and caring for her daughter,
Alex (Lola Sultan). Kate is
depicted as brave, confident and
determined, but not necessarily
competent. She and Alex are the
lead characters, but they never
solve anything on their own;
they’re always aided by male
characters. The villain is a
small-town sheriff, but a deputy
is shown to have the integrity
that’s lacking in his boss (who’s
also his brother — it’s a small
town). While there’s no
language, sex or substance use
to worry about, you can expect
some peril and a feeling of
doom. Dakota whimpers while
remembering the events leading
to his handler’s death;
flashbacks to the battlefield are
delivered in snippets to break
up the intensity. The Marines’
enemies are seen shooting guns,
and wounded troops lie on the
ground, with viewers already
knowing that one of them will
die. Scenes show someone
trapped inside a burning
building, but it ends up okay.
(96 minutes).
In theaters; available May 20
on demand.

Better Nate Than

Ever(PG)
STREAMING
Age 10+
Book-based tween musical
celebrates differences, diversity.

“Better Nate Than Ever” is a
charming tween musical about
celebrating differences and
following your dreams, based on
Tim Federle’s same-named book.
Main character Nate (Rueby
Wood), a middle school boy who

wears lip gloss and aspires to a

career on Broadway, is deemed

“different” by his peers and gets

bullied for it. (One encounter

ends with the bully getting a

bloody nose.) But others in his

life, including his sporty big

brother, learn to value Nate’s

authenticity, talent and drive.

Two middle-schoolers put

themselves in potential danger

by running away from home

and catching a bus to New York

City (where Nate meets theater

kids and ultracompetitive stage

parents), but they don’t

encounter any serious trouble.

Nate’s best friend may or may

not have a crush on him. The

film has positive messages

about staying true to yourself

and accepting friends and

relatives for who they are,

sometimes making personal

sacrifices for their benefit. (91

minutes)

Available on Disney Plus.

Apollo 10 1 / 2 : A Space

Age Childhood(PG-13)

STREAMING

Age 10+

Language, ’60s-era upheaval in

evocative nostalgia trip.

“A pollo 10^1 / 2 : A Space Age

Childhood” offers a nostalgic

tour of life in the United States

in the late 1960s — and, in

particular, the excitement of the

race to put a human on the

moon. Accurately for the era,

people smoked indoors and

drank at parties; LSD is also

mentioned. Kids are shown

often being left to manage

themselves, safely or not: They

hurt themselves or get in harm’s

way outside. School officials use

the power they had at the time

to physically punish students.

Girls swoon over rock stars, and

boys make eyes at movie stars

and Playboy magazines.

Television scenes depict images

of the time, including war in

Vietnam, the civil rights

movement, riots and

assassinations. Kids are taught

to duck and hide under their

desks in case of an atomic

bomb. And astronauts risk their

lives to explore space,

sometimes not returning.

Language in the film includes

“s---,” “damn,” “damned,” “hell,”

“crap” and “oh my God.” (98

minutes)

Available on Netflix.

Moon Knight(TV-14)

STREAMING

Age 15+

Intense Marvel series has

psychological suspense,

violence.

“Moon Knight” is a six-

episode miniseries based on the

Marvel comic of the same name.

Starring Oscar Isaac and Ethan

Hawke, it leans more into the

psychological thriller category

than Marvel’s typical superhero

fare. There’s intense suspense,

an uber-creepy villain and

monsters that lurk in the

shadows. The actual violence is

somewhat toned down, as a lot

of it is implied versus shown,

though you can expect bloody

gun injuries and death

throughout. There’s moderate

profanity (“a--,” “s--t,” “bloody

hell”), as well as insults like

“idiot” and “stupid.” While

“Moon Knight” doesn’t sit in the

horror genre, teens (and adults)

who aren’t into intense scary

moments may want to sit out

this entry in the MCU. (Six

roughly hour-long episodes)

Available on Disney Plus.

DAVID LEE/DISNEY PLUS

“Better Nate Than Ever” follows Nate (Rueby Wood), a middle-schooler who wants to perform on

Broadway. The movie features positive messages about staying true to yourself.

Common Sense Media What parents need to know

Common Sense

Media helps

families make smart media choices.

Go to commonsensemedia.org for

age-based and educational ratings

and reviews for movies, games, apps,

TV shows, websites and books.

SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS

Lola Sultan stars as Alex in “Dakota,” named for the Marine dog
that helps Alex and her family. The film includes some peril.

NETFLIX

Milo Coy voices Stan in “Apollo 10^1 / 2 : A Space Age Childhood,” a

nostalgic exploration of the late-’60s United States.

DISNEY PLUS/ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Marvel miniseries “Moon Knight,” starring Oscar Isaac,

includes intense suspense, but the violence is largely implied.