Family-friendly Movies to Watch For in 2011

Though most of the movies listed on my What to Expect at the Movies in 2011 are inappropriate for children (due to offensive content or adult themes), the 2011 schedule does list a few family-friendly films.

Gnomeo and Juliet

Plot: A feud between neighbors threatens the star-crossed love affair between two garden gnomes.
Starring: Voices of James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Maggie Smith, Patrick Stewart
Director: Kelly Asbury
Rating: G
Opens: Feb. 11

My two-cents: Anything that makes you laugh and gleans from the classics is worth a see in my book.

Soul Surfer

Plot: After being attacked by a shark, Bethany, competitive teen surfer survives the loss of her arm with the hope of surfing again.
Starring: Carrie Underwood, Helen Hunt, AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid
Director: Sean McNamara
Rating: PG for an intense accident sequence and some thematic material.
Opens: April 8

My two-cents: Based on the true story of surfer Bethany Hamilton, Soul Surfer should be a faith favorite as well. (Another faith-friendly film to be on the look out for is Courageous, from the makers of Fireproof and Facing the Giants.)

Winnie the Pooh

Plot: Honey-lovin’ Winnie the Pooh and his friends quest to save Christopher Robin from an imaginary foe, at Owl’s command.
Starring: Voices of Jim Cummings, Max Burkholder, Craig Ferguson, Gilbert Gottfried, Tom Kenny
Directors: Don Hall and Stephen J. Anderson
Rating: NR (Not yet rated)
Opens: July 15

My two-cents: Who doesn’t love Winnie the Pooh?!?

Dolphin Tale

Plot: An injured dolphin later named Winter is rescued by a young boy who in turn motivates everyone around him to help the dolphin by creating a prosthetic appendage to replace the dolphin's missing tail.
Starring: Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman, Nathan Gamble, Cozi Zuehlsdorff
Director: Charles Martin Smith
Rating: NR (Not yet rated)
Opens: Sept. 23

My two-cents: After visiting the set and meeting the young, courageous dolphin herself, I’ve come to look forward to seeing this inspirational story told on film. (Stay tuned to this blog for more from my set visit.)

War Horse

Plot: War Horse tells the story of a boy and a horse who are separated during the Great War.
Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irvine, Benedict Cumberbatch, David Kross, Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Stephen Graham
Director: Steven Spielberg
Rating: NR (Not yet rated)
Opens: Dec. 28

My two-cents: War Horse will be Steven Spielberg’s first major directorial project since 2008, making it an instant contender for my time and money. Plus, the film is based on a popular play, which was an adaptation of a children’s novel about a young boy and his horse during WWI. (If the rating stays low enough, this could be a great one for the family to watch together.)

Please note: My initial reactions to these films are based solely on trailers and movie info read thus far; Full reviews of newly released films can be found on CBN.com's movie page.