Ella McCay (PG-13)
Age 14+
Dysfunctional family dramedy has cannabis use and language.
Writer-director James L. Brooks’s dramedy follows a young politico who is unexpectedly promoted to governor. The title character (Emma Mackey) is well-meaning, with a strong work ethic and integrity, trying to do her best amid chaos she can’t control. Most of the noise in her life stems from family dysfunction: She has a womanizing dad (we see someone grab his butt), a brother with anxiety, and a selfish, ambitious husband. Sex scandals are discussed but not shown; other scenes have kissing and depict high school sweethearts falling in love, getting married and having marital problems. Ella gets humorously high after she accidentally consumes someone else’s cannabis edibles. Language includes sparing use of “f—,” plus “s—,” “dammit” and “douchiness.” (115 minutes)
Available in theaters.
Goodbye June (R)
Age 15+
Emotionally intense family drama has language and death.
This moving family drama — Kate Winslet’s directorial debut, based on a script by her son, Joe Anders — follows a group of adult children who rush to their dying mother’s bedside just a few weeks before Christmas. The titular character (Helen Mirren) collapses and is taken to the hospital, where doctors reveal a cancer diagnosis that doesn’t give her long to live. Much of the film sees her in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines and often in visible pain. There’s strong language, including “f—” and “s—,” plus “God” and “Jesus” as exclamations. Characters drink alcohol but are not seen heavily under the influence, and there’s a reference to smoking pot. Sex is mentioned in relation to getting pregnant, and two characters kiss. Messages about family, empathy, communication and the acceptance of death make this an emotional and impactful drama that is as tearful as it is uplifting. (114 minutes)
Available on Netflix.
Elmo and Mark Rober’s Merry Giftmas (TV-G)
Age 5+
Feel-good special celebrates DIY gifts with a touch of STEM.
This holiday special uses beloved characters from “Sesame Street” to explore STEM-inspired arts and crafts as engineer-turned-YouTuber Mark Rober helps Elmo (Ryan Dillon), Abby (Leslie Carrara-Rudolph) and friends make special gifts for one another. Together, they learn about physics concepts, such as how a camera works and how to build strong structures. They also find out that failure is a part of the learning process and that it’s okay to make mistakes. But this special is more than “just” positive messages and role models: It’s also full of funny gags, plus appearances by characters such as Big Bird and the Cookie Monster. It’s all uplifting and warm, with no iffy content. It’s worth noting that the characters visit CrunchLabs, the real Rober-owned company that sells toy subscription boxes. But the special’s focus is on giving gifts rather than receiving them, and the joy of honoring friends. (35 minutes)
Available on Netflix.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (NR)
Age 16+
Best entry in gory, holiday-themed slasher series.
There’s lots of gory violence in the second remake of the 1984 holiday-themed slasher movie about a killer who dresses as Santa Claus (Rohan Campbell). Expect fatal gunfire, bloody and decomposed corpses, and kids in pain and peril (beaten with a hockey stick, abducted, drugged, threatened). Characters are chopped up in various ways with an ax; there’s a beheading, severed limbs, entrails, blood spatter and much more. Couples flirt and kiss, and two people are seen naked under the covers after sex (no sensitive body parts shown). There’s sex-related dialogue and sexy song lyrics, and language includes “f—,” “motherf—-r,” “s—,” “son of a b—-,” “a–,” “slut,” “Jesus,” “Christ,” “God” and “hell.” There’s a flash of cocaine use and images of cigarette smoking. (95 minutes)
Available in theaters.
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