2009 Family Film Suggestions

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa: PG, 89 min. – This sequel brings back lovable New York Zoo Animals, Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo. Still stranded in Madagascar, they manage to leave the island only to land in the wilderness of Africa. There, Alex meets the rest of his family but has trouble communicating after his time at the Central Park Zoo in this hilarious animated adventure.

Kung-Fu Panda: PG, 92 min. - Po is a lazy, irreverent slacker panda who is a fan of Kung Fu but that doesn’t help his boredom at working in his family's noodle shop. Unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy, Po's dreams become reality when he comes under the leadership of Kung Fu guru Shifu and trains to hilarious result. Po must use his training to fight the treacherous snow leopard Tai Lung in this animated adventure.

The Tale of Despereaux: G, 93 min. - Little Despereaux the mouse is born tiny, wheezy and with comically oversized ears and is very different from his family. His love for a princess leads him on adventures which involve him with an unhappy rat who schemes to leave the darkness of his dungeon and a bumbling servant girl with cauliflower ears in this beautifully crafted animated film.

Open Season 2: PG, 76 min. - Elliot the deer has fallen in love Giselle but his road to the altar take a detour when their friend, Mr. Weenie the dachshund is kidnapped by a group of pampered pets determined to return him to his owners. Elliot and pals Boog, McSquizzy and the rest of the woodland creatures launch a full-scale rescue mission.

Mall Cop: PG, 87 min. - Paul Blart is a mild-mannered, dutiful father who works as a security guard in a New Jersey mall. He has always wanted to be a cop but has remained stuck in his current job. One day when a gang of organized criminals place the mall under siege and take hostages, Paul remains inside and tries to thwart the group to hilarious result in this comedy.

Journey to the Center of Earth: PG, 92 min. - A scientist whose radical theories have completely tarnished his reputation goes backpacking across Iceland and finds a cave that leads him deep down into the bowels of the planet. He follows it trying to find out what has happened to his missing brother. He discovers a fantastic and dangerous lost world in the center of the earth filled with bizarre landscapes and terrifying creatures.

Mamma Mia: PG-13, 108 min. - In this big screen version of the stage musical featuring the songs of ABBA, Donna is the mother to Sophie, who's on a quest to discover the identity of her father on the eve of her wedding. Donna owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island and when three men from her past arrive unexpectedly it is a trip down memory lane that no one will ever forget.

Hotel for Dogs: PG, 100 min. - Based on Lois Duncan’s novel, the story revolves around two orphaned teenagers who decide to turn an abandoned building into a safe haven for stray dogs.

Get Smart: PG-13, 110 min. - Bungling secret agent Maxwell Smart, also known as Agent 86 for CONTROL, is on a mission to battle the forces of the evil crime organization known as KAOS. Luckily his more-competent partner, simply known as Agent 99, leads Maxwell in the right direction when the heads of CONTROL apprehensively send him in to thwart the plot for world domination in this comedy.

Twilight: PG-13, 122 min. - Bungling secret agent Maxwell Smart, also known as Agent 86 for CONTROL, is on a mission to battle the forces of the evil crime organization known as KAOS. Luckily his more-competent partner, simply known as Agent 99, leads Maxwell in the right direction when the heads of CONTROL apprehensively send him in to thwart the plot for world domination in this comedy.

Marley and Me: PG, 115 minutes The heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life.

Iron Man: PG-13, 126 min. - After an accident, billionaire industrialist Tony Stark creates a suit that sustains his life. When he heals, he decides to use his technology to fight crime and leads a double life as Iron Man in this comic book adventure.

Horton Hears a Who: G, 86 min. - One day, Horton the elephant hears a cry from help coming from a speck of dust. Even though he can't see anyone on the speck, he decides to help it. As it turns out, the speck of dust is home to the Whos, who live in their city of Whoville. Horton agrees to help protect the Whos and their home, but this gives him nothing but torment from his neighbors, who refuse to believe that anything could survive on the speck. Still, Horton stands by the motto that, "After all, a person is a person, no matter how small."