The Vow (2012)

Overall Rating: 9/10

Quick Summary: Based on a true story, a woman (Rachel McAdams) wakes up not remembering her husband (Channing Tatum), and he has to try to win her back.

Review: I loved this movie. I keep wondering what I would do in this situation. The movie makes you keep thinking about it several weeks after its over. I think casting Rachel and Channing together was also amazing because they had such good chemistry.

Which show/movie does the same idea but better? There are a few soap operas that use the plot of amnesia, but I think this is my favorite amnesia story.

Could this happen realistically? This did happen, but of course the movie exagerates and dramatizes the story a lot. There are pictures of the real couple at the end.

Can my kids watch this? Yes...but there are a few areas where language is a problem. I would say if your kids are 12+, that would be a good age-range.

Explicit Content (Without Spoilers):

- Sexual: (4/10)

There is some kissing and making out, but I think it's only 1-2 parts for like 10 seconds.

A dude is naked at one point, but it doesn't show anything except him being in a towel.

- Violence (4/10)

There is a pretty traumatic car crash, but there isn't blood or anything.

- Language (2/10)

I do believe there are a handful or curse words. Language is why this is rated PG-13.

- Drug Use (1/10)

There is alcohol.

Side note for section below: If you are having to cover your kids eyes for most of the movie, wouldn't it be better to watch a different one that they can actually watch?

Scenes to Cover your Kids' Eyes (With Spoilers): 

- After the guy takes his wife back to the apartment, the girl wakes up to find her husband naked the next morning (but nothing is shown.)

I Woke Up A Vampire: TV Series (2024)

Overall Rating: 7/10

Quick Summary: Carmie realizes she is a vampling (half vampire and half human) on her 13th birthday when she mysteriously, and suddenly, wakes up with magical powers.  

Review: This is a fun kids' show with danger and mystery. The acting is sub-par, but the creators lighten up the vampire world to seem fun for kids when it could've been very dark in reality.

Which show/movie does the same idea but better? There was a show on Disney Channel called "My Babysitter is a Vampire," which was also pretty good. I loved "Wizards of Waverly Place" better though, and there are also friendly vampires in that show. 

Could this happen realistically? I think if this story was true, the vampire girl would be found out immediately. She is not very good at hiding her powers.

Can my kids watch this? Yes! It's a fun kids' show. The vampires could've been portrayed in a threateneing way, but this show is more about Carmie being a superhero than a vampire.

Explicit Content (Without Spoilers):

- Sexual: (4/10)

- Violence (1/10)

There are vampire fights, but it's more like superhero fights. There is no blood or anything.

- Language (0/10)

- Drug Use (0/10)

Ready Player One (2018)

Overall Rating: 9/10

Quick Summary: One teenage boy must unlock the secrets of the game's creator in order to save the world and all future gaming.

Review: What an interesting movie! Stephen Spielberg did an excellent job directing, and all the characters are extremely relatable. People who don't play videogames may not understand this movie, but I think it's an epic adventure for any gamer!

Which show/movie does the same idea but better? All I can think of is the Spy Kids's third movie, but I think this movie is WAY better. Haha.

Could this happen realistically? Yes, I think this movie could easily be our future in the next one hundred years or so. Every guy I know plays videogames, so I can definitely see this happening, especially because AI and VR are beginning to be things in our lives.

Can my kids watch this? Yes! I can't think of anything explicit in this movie.

Explicit Content (Without Spoilers):

- Sexual: (1/10)

There is one scene where a girl and a guy kiss.

- Violence (3/10)

There are a lot of cars crashing and people fighting in gaming worlds

- Language (2/10)

There may be just a small handful of curse words.

- Drug Use (0/10)

Yesterday (2019)

Overall Rating: 9/10

Quick Summary: A lightning strike causes the world to forget that the Beatles exist, but one lucky musician remembers all of their songs and tries to share them with the world again.

Review: This is a really cute movie. It has romance, comedy, and adventure. This gives a great life lesson too.

Which show/movie does the same idea but better? There really isn't another idea like this out there...I cannot think of how to compare this.

Could this happen realistically? Maybe? Althought the plot does seem a little far-fetched.

Can my kids watch this? Yes...but there are a few areas where language is a problem. I would say if your kids are 12+, that would be a good age-range.

Explicit Content (Without Spoilers):

- Sexual: (4/10)

There is some kissing and making out, but I think it's only 1-2 parts for like one minute.

At one point, a girl sleeps with a guy, but it doesn't show anything.

- Violence (2/10)

One dude crashes his bike and knocks his teeth out.

A woman chases a person and threatens to kill them, but it's comedic.

- Language (2/10)

I do believe there are 1-2 "f-bombs." Language is why this is rated PG-13.

- Drug Use (1/10)

There is alcohol.

Side note for section below: If you are having to cover your kids eyes for most of the movie, wouldn't it be better to watch a different one that they can actually watch?

Scenes to Cover your Kids' Eyes (With Spoilers): 

- Near the beginning, the main guy gets struck by lightning and crashes his bike, which knocks out his teeth.

- There is one part near the end where the main guy and girl kiss a lot and start to take off jackets. But nothing else is really shown.

Irish Wish (2024)

Overall Rating: 7/10

Quick Summary: A woman (Lindsay Lohan) is headed to an Irish wedding where her best friend is marrying her crush, but could one wish twist the fates and give her a happy ending?

Review: This is a great cheesy movie that you can watch for a girls' night or watch with your mother.

Which show/movie does the same idea but better? "Isn't It Romantic?" is a great feature about a girl who wishes she was in a rom-com, and that movie has more comedy in it. 

Could this happen realistically? As a kid at heart, I like to believe that there is magic out there in the world, but I'm not sure if this could actually happen.

Can my kids watch this? Yes! This is family-friendly for all ages. The movie gives a good lesson too. The only thing is that a fiance ends up wanting to be with someone else at one point (not a spoiler), and the two "almost" kiss. I think this a great family movie though.

Explicit Content (Without Spoilers):

- Sexual: (4/10)

 A woman hugs another girl's husband.

 There is a naked man in the shower, but it doesn't show anything bad. 

 People do hug and kiss one another.

- Violence (0/10)

- Language (0/10)

- Drug Use (1/10)

There is alchohol, but no one is drunk.

Scenes to Cover your Kids' Eyes (With Spoilers): 

- The main woman wakes up after making the wish only to find the dude of her dreams naked in her bathroom, but it doesn't really show anything.

The Good Place: TV Series (2016)

Overall Rating: 9/10

Quick Summary: Eleanor Shellstrop finds herself in the Good Place (similar to heaven) only to learn that she was mistaken for being someone else and doesn't actually belong there.

Review: I truly loved this show. This was hilarious, and there were some crazy twists for sure! I highly recommend it for watching with an older group of friends. 

Which show/movie does the same idea but better? I think "Defending Your Life" with Albert Brooks is a pretty good movie with a similar context, but it's a bit older. I'm not sure it is "better" per say.

Could this happen realistically? Yes, depending on what you believe. As a Christian, I personally believe this could not happen. The tv show basically says "if you did more good than bad on earth, then you can go to heaven." Then, the plot changes, and everyone eventually gets to go to heaven once they finally become a "good enough person." The only confusing thing is...how do humans judge what is good and what is bad?

Can my kids watch this? Maybe, but there are a lot of things that allude to curse words, drinking, and sexual content. I suggest showing this to kids that are 13+. This will make them think a lot about death, especially in the last season. I would say overall it's about as clean as "The Bachelor." This show isn't trashy though. Your kids will learn a lot about philosophy, and all of the philisophical concepts are written by famous philosophers in real life. I, surprisingly, learned a lot about existentialism and moral concepts from this show.

Explicit Content (Without Spoilers):

- Sexual: (4/10)

 People do sleep with one another.

 One character is nude multiple times, but her parts aren't shown.

 One character has a wind chime for a penis. 

- Violence (2/10)

 The demons later on mention torturing peopple by "flattening penises." I feel like this is more comedic than violent though.

- Language (5/10)

 They do curse later in the show. In the beginning, they just allude to cursing a lot. The characters say "What the Fork" because they can't curse in heaven.

- Drug Use (4/10)

 One character wants cocaine all the time.

 There is a lot of drinking.

 Someone sells fake medicine to people as a living, which is just a placebo.

Crazy Ex Girlfriend: TV Series (2015)

Overall Rating: 8/10

Quick Summary: Rebecca Bunch quits her law firm and moves across the country from New York to California because she believes she has had love at first sight with Josh, her summer boyfriend from middle school. 

Review: I truly loved this show, but I wish the ending had not been so dark. I think most of the songs could have been removed. The overall writing and plot were genius though! This was such a funny show to watch. 

Which show/movie does the same idea but better? I'm not sure if there is another idea like this out there...I can't think of another plot where a woman schemes in order to try to get the man of her dreams. 

Could this happen realistically? Yes, but I'm not sure if she would find a job right away, or if her law firm would be so relaxed in real life. 

Can my kids watch this? Um...no. Maybe when they are like 17+. There is a lot of sexual content. The show is very explicit when talking about sex. 

Explicit Content (Without Spoilers):

- Sexual: (8/10)

 One person realizes he is attracted to guys and girls, so it shows their butts a lot. He sings about how great it is to be bisexual.

 Someone mentions period-sex and sings a whole song about it.

 People sing about how hot they are, and the characters are shown in underwear/lingerie.

 Several characters sleep with one another and are shown in bed together.

 There are a lot of make-out scenes.

 Someone runs away with a professor at a college and has sex with them.

- Violence (6/10)

 One person tries to commit suicide in a later season.

 One person has a heart attack.

 Someone has an abortion, but nothing is shown. It's only mentioned.

- Language (7/10)

 The show is TV-MA partially because of this.

- Drug Use (5/10)

 In a later season, one person sings about how great anti-depressants are after trying to kill herself with medication.

- Other Content:

 There is a lot in the 3rd and 4th season of this show about mental illness and suicide. People try to kill themselves. The show definitely ends with a dark turn.

Side note: If you are having to cover your kids eyes for most of the movie, wouldn't it be better to watch a different one that they can actually watch?