Movie Mom: ‘Daddy’s Home,’ ‘Joy,’ ‘Concussion’ and five R-rated movies for Christmas
Information for parents deciding which movies are best for kids ages 2 to 18:
“Daddy’s Home”
Why it’s rated PG-13: Extremely crude and raunchy content with many sexual, reproductive and bodily function references, drunkenness, very strong language, theme of rivalry between step and biological fathers.
Minimum age: Mature teens.
Family discussion: What did Brad and Dusty most dislike about each other? What did each do best?
If you like this, try: “Big Daddy” and “The Other Guys.”
“Joy”
Why it’s rated PG-13: Themes of family conflict and dysfunction, corrupt, thuggish and fraudulent behavior, some sexual references, some strong language.
Minimum age: Middle school.
Family discussion: Why did Joy keep taking care of everyone in her family? What did Neil mean about staying friends? What invention would you like to create?
If you like this, try: “Erin Brockovich.”
“Concussion”
Why it’s rated PG-13: Story concerns severe traumatic brain injury from professional sports with catastrophic consequences including dementia, substance abuse, domestic abuse and suicide, as well as the obstructionist efforts by the authorities to deny the injuries. Also: some strong language.
Minimum age: Middle school.
Family discussion: Why did Bennet Omalu pay for the additional tests? Why didn’t the NFL do more to protect its players? Who is most like Dr. Omalu in your life?
If you like this, try: “The Pursuit of Happyness.”
“The Big Short”
Why it’s rated R: Constant very strong and crude language, vulgar sexual references, strippers, nudity, extreme widespread fraud and corruption.
Minimum age: High school.
Family discussion: What made just these men able to see what so many other people did not? How did they verify their analysis? Will it happen again?
If you like this, try: The book by Michael Lewis and documentaries about the financial meltdown including “The Flaw” and “Inside Job.”
“Carol”
Why it’s rated R: Sexual references and explicit situation, nudity, some strong language, drinking, smoking, discussions of divorce, adultery and custody.
Minimum age: Mature teens.
Family discussion: What do we learn from the questions Therese asked Richard? How does this movie illustrate what one character calls the difference between what people say and what they really feel?
If you like this, try: “Far From Heaven” and “Strangers on a Train.”
“Youth”
Why it’s rated R: Very strong adult material including graphic nudity, sexual references and situations, and very strong and crude language, also themes of mortality, suicide and betrayal.
Minimum age: Adults.
Family discussion: What is the meaning of the final image? What made Ballinger change his mind about bringing flowers to his wife and performing his “Simple Song?” Do you agree with Tree’s categories of horror and desire?
If you like this, try: “The Great Beauty” by the same director.
“The Danish Girl”
Why it’s rated R: Depiction of transgender issues before they were recognized, explicit discussions of gender, body parts and sexuality, graphic nudity.
Minimum age: Mature teens.
Family discussion: Who understood Lili best? Did Gerda love Lili or just Einar?
If you like this, try: “Normal.”
“The Hateful Eight”
Why it’s rated R: Extensive and extremely graphic and disturbing violence including guns and knives, rape, sexual references and situation, explicit nudity, very strong, racist, misogynistic and crude language.
Minimum age: Adults.
Family discussion: How do we learn about each character’s sense of justice? Look up the inspirations for some of the character names, including some of Quentin Tarantino’s favorite movie directors and characters.
If you like this, try: “Pulp Fiction” and “Django Unchained.”
Find Nell Minow’s reviews at Beliefnet on moviemom.com. Email: moviemom@moviemom.com.
This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 4:00 AM with the headline "Movie Mom: ‘Daddy’s Home,’ ‘Joy,’ ‘Concussion’ and five R-rated movies for Christmas."