The Latest Movies in the Box Office
Three of the latest family friendly movies at the box office offer a glimpse into two worlds most people to get to experience on a daily basis. One movie takes a look at life as part of a traveling circus. The second is an inspirational story of a young woman who survived a shark attack. The third takes you on a wild fantasy ride into the life of a slacker Easter bunny.
“Soul Surfer” (PG) This is the story of Bethany Hamilton, the professional surfer who lost an arm in shark attack in 2003. AnnaSophia Robb, best known for her role “Race to Witch Mountain,” takes on the role of the teen surfer. Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt play her parents. Early reviews have found the movie to be inspirational, but not overly dramatic to the point where it distracts from the movie. Kevin Sorbo and Carrie Underwood also star. “Soul Surfer” opens in wide release on Friday, April 8th. Director: Sean McNamara
“Circo” (Not rated) This is a documentary that is a little hard to find in theaters, but will be worth the effort. It is the fascinating story of a century old traveling circus in Mexico. It follows the family as they deal with dwindling audiences and family conflicts. It’s a fascinating look at a family that only knows one way to survive and their efforts to continue making a living. Director: Aaron Schock
“Hop” (PG) Proving he can make the transition from raunchy humor to family friendly banter, Russell Brand is the voice of the a slacker Easter bunny who is not quite ready to accept his lot in life as the critter who dispenses colored eggs once a year. James Marsden is the human counterpart with a similar attitude to that of the wayward bunny. It’s a cute family movie with humor that, for the most part, works well. It is no “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” but it is a nice way to escape into a fun world for a few hours.