The Washington Post - USA (2022-05-27)

25

EZ

THE

WASHINGTON

POST

.

FRIDAY,

MAY

27, 2022

Movies

Top Gun: Maverick (PG-13)
Age 12+
Tamer sequel to ’80s fave has
peril, cursing, solid message.

“Top Gun: Maverick” is the
long-awaited sequel to ’80s
favorite “Top Gun.” Expect
frequent intense peril and aerial
combat, but kills aren’t bloody,
and you can see someone
ejecting with a parachute after
their plane is hit. Time has made
Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell
(Tom Cruise) more responsible,
but he still sometimes can’t help
defying authority. And while
many ’80s teens probably saw his
character as proof that cocky was
cool and winning was
everything, now Mav teaches his
aviator students that knowledge
and preparation hone the
instincts they need for successful
outcomes. He also passes on a
moral code: Never leave your
wingman. Mav’s romance with
Penny (Jennifer Connelly) is
tame: A brief scene implies sex,
but she’s always shown fully
clothed. As is the “Top Gun” way,
the shirtlessness is reserved for

men enjoying sandy sports

together. Language is mostly “s---

,” but there’s one use of “d---

head” and a “what the f---.” It’s

possible to follow the movie’s

story as a stand-alone, but it will

be far more meaningful if you’ve

seen the first film — as well as

drive home the message that

growth and change of

perspective come with life

experience. (131 minutes)

In theaters.

The Bob’s Burgers

Movie (PG-13)

Age 13+

Charming, quirky TV spinoff

celebrates family, community.

“The Bob’s Burgers Movie” is a

spinoff of the hit animated

comedy series. Like the show, it

focuses on the Belcher family —

here, they’re behind on their

business loan and anticipating a

busier-than-usual summer when

a large sinkhole mysteriously

appears directly in front of their

titular restaurant and home.

While Bob (voiced by H. Jon

Benjamin) and Linda (John

Roberts) frantically try to save

their business, their three kids

set out to solve the sinkhole

mystery. Expect some suggestive

material (daughter Tina

fantasizes about sexy zombies

and her underwear-clad crush

riding horses or kissing her) and

potty humor (references to

diarrhea, butts, pee, farts,

kicking in the nuts, etc.).

Occasional language includes “a-

-,” “damn,” “schmuck” and

“sucks.” There are a few

disturbing scenes of peril: At one

point, a skeleton crumbles on top

of a kid, plus there are chase

scenes, and a character holds

others at gunpoint and plans for

their deaths. But at its heart, the

movie, like the series, centers on

the close-knit, quirky Belchers,

who band together and support,

encourage and genuinely love

one another while

demonstrating courage,

perseverance and teamwork.

(102 minutes)

In theaters.

My Little Pony: Make

Your Mark (TV-Y)

STREAMING

Age 5+

Ponies work together for unity in

cute, colorful special.

“My Little Pony: Make Your

Mark” is a special that kicks off a

new series about the adventures

of the popular characters. The

ponies live in Equestria, a world

that has recently allowed magic

powers again, with the presence

of the three Unity Crystals

allowing all kinds of ponies

(from Earth ponies to pegasi to

unicorns) to live together in

harmony. The story has a lot of

emphasis on technology,

including phone use. (The ponies

often live-stream to let their

community know what’s going

on.) Conflict arises when some of

the Earth ponies make it clear

that they aren’t happy about the

return of magic and the mingling

of all the types of ponies, which

could open up an age-

appropriate conversation about

prejudice and bigotry. (44

minutes)

Available on Netflix.

Prehistoric Planet (TV-PG)

STREAMING

Age 8+

Sleek doc re-creates sometimes-

violent dinosaur life.

“Prehistoric Planet” is a sleek,

remarkably realistic

documentary-style miniseries

with extensive digital effects that

re-create what life might have

been like for dinosaurs 66

million years ago. David

Attenborough narrates with the

care and expertise he’s known

for. Predators hunt prey, baby

dinosaurs are eaten and

dinosaurs are shown mating

(from the neck up). In short, life

in the age of dinosaurs —

complete with its peril and

variety — is explored in depth.

(Five approximately 40-minute

episodes)

Available on Apple TV Plus.

APPLE TV PLUS

Dinosaurs of the genus Dreadnoughtus are re-created in the docuseries “Prehistoric Planet.”

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.

SCOTT GARFIELD/PARAMOUNT PICTURES

Tom Cruise is back as Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in “Top Gun:
Maverick,” the long-awaited sequel to the 1986 favorite.

20TH CENTURY STUDIOS

From left, Linda (voiced by John Roberts), Louise (Kristen Schaal), Gene (Eugene Mirman), Tina (Dan
Mintz) and Bob Belcher (H. Jon Benjamin) in “The Bob’s Burgers Movie,” a spinoff of the TV series.

© 2022 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

NOW PLAYING

IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE