Discuss: The Family Films of 2009
Filed under: Animation, Comedy, New Releases, Family Films, Remakes and Sequels, Lists
Of course, "family film" usually translates into "kiddie film," with the parents and older siblings left to grit their teeth and endure while the tykes laugh at the singing chipmunks. Rare is the film that is truly entertaining for the entire family -- which is why I'm always excited about a new Pixar project, since they're the only ones who pull it off regularly.Pixar's Up (due May 29) is this year's entry, and there's no reason to suspect it will be any less admirable than the company's previous work. Coraline (Feb. 6), from the director of Nightmare Before Christmas, looks like it could be an imaginatively macabre treat for grown-ups and kids. There's also a Harry Potter movie due in July, though that series becomes darker and less kid-oriented as it progresses, so you might want to leave certain younger family members at home.
Here's as complete a list as I can muster for what family-oriented flicks are coming in 2009, including live-action, animation, and whatever the Jonas Brothers are.
January: Hotel for Dogs, Inkheart.
February: Coraline, Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience.
March: Race to Witch Mountain (Disney + The Rock = $$$), Monsters vs. Aliens.
April: Hannah Montana: The Movie.
May: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Up.
June: Imagine That (warning: contains Eddie Murphy).
July: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (is this a prequel? How are the dinosaurs dawning after the mammals?), G-Force, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
August: None, unless you count G.I. Joe, which is based on a line of children's dolls.
September: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
October: Toy Story (3D re-release), Where the Wild Things Are, Astro Boy.
November: A Christmas Carol (one of those crazy 3D motion-capture things, like Polar Express), The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Old Dogs (aka John Travolta and Robin Williams remake Daddy Day Care).
December: Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel (GET IT?!!!?!?!?), The Princess and the Frog.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-04-2009 @ 9:23PM
Will said...
I am really excited for Where the Wild Things Are. It was just about my favorite book when I was a kid, and I'm really excited to see what Spike Jonze has done with it (even if it ends up alienating the target audience).
Harry Potter will be nice, although my enthusiasm has waned since the series ended.
I love me some pixar, but I'm not really feeling excited for Up. The advertising I've seen for it seems to kinda lack that special Pixar something or other. Maybe I'll be proved wrong once it comes out.
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1-04-2009 @ 9:39PM
dtzamaras said...
haha I like the commentary in parenthesis, Eric. I see a lot of Disney crap in there this year, so they'll be raking in the money.
I'm pretty much looking forward only to Up, Night at the Museum, and possibly Princess and the Frog, but I'm just not sure about that one yet.
A lot of crap in there though, but family films are usually made just for the money, except for a few exceptions.
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1-04-2009 @ 10:04PM
MCW said...
"Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel (GET IT?!!!?!?!?)"
Hilarious :D
A free screening for Inkheart is coming up... wonder if it's worth it?
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1-04-2009 @ 11:13PM
Monkeydog said...
Can't wait for Up...but I think I'm most excited for The Princess and the Frog. I really hope this movie is great, and does well, and Disney leaves 3D up to Pixar.
In kind of related news...are we not getting Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea this year?
If I have to wait much longer for that movie...argh.
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1-04-2009 @ 11:16PM
vegimorph said...
I can't wait for Monsters vs. Aliens and Night at the Museum 2. They look awesome! I'm curious about Up because the more I hear about it, the more interested I become in it. With Pixar films, i used to think like "oh, this current Pixar film is awesome. the next film is eh. maybe i'll skip it." I know now that this is a totally big mistake. The more I hear about the next Pixar film, the more I want to see it. I was definetely wrong with that about Cars, so I'm not going to make the same mistake with Up. The other three I currently want to see are the Fantastic Mr. Fox because that's my favorite Roald Dahl book, G.I. Joe because I'm a Steve Sommers fan, and the Princess and the Frog because I love classic animation and its great that Disney is bringing it back. (sorry about the long message X o)
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1-04-2009 @ 11:59PM
Natrino said...
action figures!
ACTION FIGURES!
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1-05-2009 @ 8:13AM
Bill said...
I plan to see several of these. I think Pixar just keeps doing excellent work. Caroline, Up, Night at the Museum 2, and Harry Potter all look good to me.
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1-05-2009 @ 11:54AM
Brice_J said...
pixar is amazing. "up" and the 3d re-release of "toy story" will probably be the only 2 films i'll see at the theater all year. i'm an animation buff, so all the other animated films seem interesting (mostly coraline & fantastic mr. fox), but can wait 'til dvd.
also, i heard ice age 3 is being justified as another sequel because the dinosaurs have supposedly been under the ice all along... i thought i read that here, but i guess not.. i can't remember where i read it & therefore, can't really vouge for the legitimacy.
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1-05-2009 @ 12:45PM
FIlmFemme said...
ZOMG, A HOTEL FOR DOG!! WHAT A HILARIOUS CONCEPT RIFE WITH COMIC POSSIBLITIES!!!
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1-07-2009 @ 5:39AM
That Werewolf Guy said...
I don't know, but 'Hotel For Dogs' might be a huge surprise. It's co-written by Bob Schooley & Mark McCorkle, the creators of Kim Possible and two of the smartest guys in the family entertainment industry these days. So far the never disappointed me, but this is the first time that they put something out for Nickelodeon instead of Disney, so maybe things have changed.
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