Children's Movies for 2009

When you have children, it's hard enough to get out of the house, let alone find a weekend outing to satisfy everyone. Movies, possibly one of the most popular weekend activities, are especially hard to find, especially ones appropriate for children. Here are the films for children (G and PG only) that will be released from January through March 2009.

Though these films are rated G and PG, parents should still investigate the films themselves. Learn as much as you can about it by reading articles and reviews and speaking with other parents who have seen the film.

Hotel for Dogs (January 16)

PG (for brief mild thematic elements, language and some crude humor)

The first children's film of the new year is the canine comedy Hotel for Dogs. The film stars Nancy Drew headliner Emma Roberts, Wizards of Waverly Place's Jake T. Austin, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon and Don Cheadle.

16-year-old Andi (Roberts) and her brother Bruce (Austin) have to think fast to find a home for their dog after being forbidden to keep him by their new guardians. Determined to find the perfect place for their dog, Friday, the kids discover an abandoned hotel and decide to transform it into a dog-paradise. The technology-loving Bruce invents a variety of machines to keep Friday (and eventually thousands of other dogs) happy and fed.

However, when the neighbors begin to be disturbed by the sounds of barking dogs, Andi and Bruce have to use their inventions to keep anyone from discovering their dog-utopia.

Inkheart (January 23)

PG (for fantasy adventure action, some scary moments and brief language)

Based on the best-selling book of the same name, Inkheart stars Brendan Fraser, Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren, Jim Broadbent, Andy Serkis, Eliza Hope Bennett, and Sienna Guillory.

Mo "Silvertongue" Folchart (Fraser) and his 12-year-old daughter, Meggie (Bennett) share a unique talent: the ability to draw characters out of books into the real world. The only problem is, once you draw a character out, a real person goes into the pages.

During a trip to a secondhand book shop, Mo finds Inkheart, a book he's been searching for since Meggie was three years old, when her mother, Resa (Guillory) vanished into its pages. Determined to use the book to draw out Resa, Mo accidentally releases the villain of the book (Serkis). When Meggie is kidnapped, Mo gathers friends from books and family and journeys to rescue his daughter.

Coraline (February 6)

PG (for thematic elements, scary images, some language and suggestive humor)

The film version of Neil Gaiman's best-selling book is the first stop-motion film for visionary director Henry Selick since James and the Giant Peach and The Nightmare Before Christmas. The film is the first of its kind to be filmed with 3D technology. Coraline stars Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Ian McShane and John Hodgman.

Young Coraline (Fanning) is bored in her family's new home. Her parents are too busy to spend time with her and things just aren't as interesting as she thought they would be. However, everything changes when she finds a hidden door and discovers that it leads to an alternate reality of her life. Things are much better here. Coraline's parents drop everything to pay attention to her and everything is interesting and new.

The only strange thing is, the longer Coraline stays, the more her "Other Mother" (Hatcher) begins to waste away. Coraline soon discovers that the parallel world is only a trap spun by the "Other Mother," a witch who wants Coraline to stay with her forever.

Free Style (February 6, LIMITED RELEASE)

PG (for language, some sensuality and thematic material)

Free Style stars High School Musical's Corbin Bleu, Penelope Ann Miller, Madison Pettis, Matt Bellefleur, Grant Langston and Sandra Echeverria.

The film tells the story of Cale Bryant's (Bleu) struggle to win a coveted spot on the Grand National motocross racing team. Encouraged by his mother (Miller), little sister (Seven Pounds' Madison Pettis) and girlfriend (Echeverria), Cale does everything possible to follow his dreams.

The Pink Panther 2 (February 6)

PG (for some suggestive humor, brief mild language and action)

The Pink Panther 2, the sequel to the 2006 film, stars Steve Martin, reprising his role as Inspector Jacques Clouseau. It also stars Jean Reno, Alfred Molina, Emily Mortimer, Andy Garcia, Lily Tomlin and John Cleese.

When the priceless Pink Panther Diamond and other assorted treasures are stolen, Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Cleese) is forced to assign Clouseau (Martin) to a team of detectives and experts from around the world.

The Velveteen Rabbit (February 20, LIMITED RELEASE)

RATING NOT AVAILABLE

The real-life/animated film, directed by Michael Landon Jr., stars Jane Seymour, Tom Skerritt, Ellen Burstyn, Matthew Harbour, Kevin Jubinville and Una Kay.

Inspired by the beloved children's book, The Velveteen Rabbit follows the story of a lonely boy who fights to win over his distant father and strict grandmother. With the help of a kind velveteen rabbit who longs to be real and other toys the boy finds in his grandmother's attic, he learns many valuable lessons about life and the world around him.

Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience (February 27)

G

Disney is giving the Jonas Brothers the same treatment they gave Miley Cyrus and is releasing the band's 3D Concert Experience. The film combines clips from the Brothers' recent tour and includes performances from Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift. Fans will be especially pleased with the film, as it includes behind-the-scenes footage, close-ups of their favorite brothers and a never-before-heard song.

Race to Witch Mountain (March 13)

RATING NOT AVAILABLE

This remake of the 1975 Disney film, Escape to Witch Mountain, stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Carla Gugino, Ciaran Hinds, Alexander Ludwig, Tom Everett Scott, Christopher Marquette, Cheech Marin and Garry Marshall.

The film is centered around Witch Mountain, a place that has been rumored to be the site of strange sights and phenomena over the years. When a Las Vegas cab driver (Johnson) finds two teens with supernatural powers, he is quickly swept up in an adventure he cannot avoid. As the teens struggle to reach Witch Mountain, they soon realize that they are not alone in their quest, as the government, mobsters and extraterrestrials try to stop them.

Though the rating is not yet available, it is likely the film will be PG.

Monsters vs. Aliens (March 27)

RATING NOT AVAILABLE

This fun film from Dreamworks stars Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, Rainn Wilson, Stephen Colbert, Kiefer Sutherland and Paul Rudd.

On what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, Susan Murphy (Witherspoon) is hit by a meteor right before her wedding. As a result, she grows to 49-feet-11-inches tall on the altar. The military quickly acts and captures Susan, renames her Ginormica and puts her in a secret government compound with other assorted Monsters.

These creatures include the brilliant insect Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D. (played by House star Hugh Laurie), the rough and tough half-ape/half-fish coined The Missing Link (Arnett), the gelatinous and indestructible B.O.B. (Rogen) and the 350-foot, timid creature, Insectosaurus.

Soon after Murphy's imprisonment, a robot lands on Earth, determined to destroy the world for its alien makers. The President of the United States (Colbert) calls upon the Monsters to go into battle against the Aliens in an effort to save the world.

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