MovieChat Forums > Daddy Day Camp (2007) Discussion > Can we stop trashing Kids Movies

Can we stop trashing Kids Movies

posted 18 years ago by cdparker03
52 replies | jump to latest

Ok. I just have one quick thing to vent. I think we (myself included) over analyze movies sometimes, especially kids films. Just about every single kid theme movie gets like a 1-3 out of 10 on this site and critics trash the mess out of them as well. I think it is important to know what target audience fims of this caliber are targeted towards. If our kids, someone else's kids or heck any kids enjoy the movie then mission is accomplished. I seriously doubt when producers, directors, writers, actors, etc. take these roles looking to win Oscars or anything. These movies are not for us so lets stop hating so much!! I hate even looking at threads when it comes to children's films because I automatically know it will be trashed. And if anyone goes into these movies actually looking for an A+ film then please lower your standards (haha). Just remember when we were young we saw some movies that we absolutely loved as children that I'm sure our parents truly hated.

[–] Phantasiii 17 years ago

no we can't stop trashing kids movies now a days. cause they all have mindless pointless stories. a group of girls have to get the best dresses so they can show it off at the school dance, or a group of kids have to go to the candy store before it closes for the day. if this is the best they can do, then they deserve all the critism they get. a great example of a good "kids" movie that grownups can watch and be genuienly entertained by is "Monster Squad". or any john hughs non-R-rated comedy. they are made in a serious way (Kids in a adult world with serious consiquences), they have funny elements that are not too over the top and can be watched more than once. on top of that, the kids usualy learn a lesson or grow up a little bit by the end of the film. not let the kids get away with everything and stay kids forever. i'm tired of these hi-key, flashy, shallow kids films nowadays. they need to be stopped or improved now!

[–] roddickrocker21 17 years ago

Honestly, I have to agree with those that say we shouldn't stop "trashing kids movies". The truth is that there are many good "kids movies" which even adults can enjoy. People act like they are judging kids movies like they are supposed to be for adults, but the fact of the matter is that in many cases great movies are for kids AND adults. This was not. Maybe people would stop "trashing kids movies" if someone would finally bring back what used to be- GOOD KIDS MOVIES.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

[–] tycoon928 17 years ago

Only the kids movies that are *bad* get bashed. And don't tell me that "these movies are not for us." There are dozens of kids movies that have been critically praised and even have won Oscars:

Toy Story
Toy Story 2
The Incredibles
Monsters Inc.
Madagascar
Finding Nemo
Ratatouille
The Lion King
Shrek
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Snow White
Aladdin
The Polar Express
Harry Potter
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (both 1971 and 2006)

Not to mention the countless others.
It's just that most children's films tend to go for jokes that children would come up with although that does NOT need to be done.

[–] Rancher_X 17 years ago

I agree with you. My fiance and I saw the movie and it was a good movie for what it was intended to be, a fun campy family film. Adults can enjoy this movie if they put themselves in a mindset that will allow them to enjoy a film like this.

[–] kingusaking 17 years ago

All kids fillms get bad reviews? "Looks at ratatouille"

All The Movies I Have Seen - http://imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=26584075

[–] JimJepson 17 years ago

I agree with you. More time is spent bashing the kids' movies than watching them. If you go back and look at all the 100's of "official" reviews from "official" film critics, all of them say the same EXACT thing. It's NOT that they have the same opinion, but copied and pasted exactly what the 1st guy wrote.
It appears to me that 1% of the critics actually saw the movie, and 99% read that review, broke out their laptops, did a little COPY & PASTE, and put it in their local papers, calling it their own. If I were the guy who wrote that first review, I'd sue the rest.
Let the kids enjoy their movies and leave them alone.

[–] mako_chan7 17 years ago

I agree that sometimes we are a little hard on movies that might not be spectacular. I remember a whole bunch of movies, that in hindsight sucked horribly, but I loved them as a kid (eg. An American Tail). A movie doesn't need the best visuals, a perfect plot, and an all-star cast to be memorable and fun.

On the flip side of that, I think it's important to remember that kids don't need movies to be dumbed down for them. There have a been a whole bunch of movies aimed at children that are just pathetic. The characters aren't memorable, the plot is boring and shallow, and the visuals don't do anything to help.

I would love to see some intelligent kids movies. Unfortunately, this isn't one of them.

*mC_7*

[–] roo_6339 17 years ago

I work in a school and we took a bunch of kids to this movie for a holiday excursion. They were bored out of their mind. That's why this movie gets trashed. Kids movies have to appeal to kids to be a good movie and to adults as well to be truly great.

[–] philip904 17 years ago

People who like this film should be put in a trailer of poo and made to eat the poo

[–] BrandtSponseller 17 years ago

I also agree with the OP, and I thought this movie was okay from my adult perspective, too (although from my adult perspective, I of course see all the cliches, see this as yet another version of Meatballs, etc.). It wasn't great, but I enjoyed it enough--I gave it a 5 out of 10, which I think of as "C" letter grade, and I think most kids would enjoy it.

[–] fatpigeon5 17 years ago

Kids movies are becoming stale. Examples:
Cheaper by the dozen
RV
Daddy Day Care
The latest pink panther

You now think why kids today are watching rated 15s. Because Us suck.

[–] BrandtSponseller 17 years ago

You now think why kids today are watching rated 15s. Because Us suck.

I was first a kid with a voracious film appetite in the 70s. I regularly watched R-rated films (this was beginning at about the age or 7 or 8) because as soon as I saw a couple horror films, I fell in love. Just like adults, kids have different tastes.

[–] chrisselliott 17 years ago

This may be a kids movie, but most non-retarded parents wouldn't take their kids to see this movie. Unless, of course, the kids were retarded then they might enjoy this low rent unoriginal piece of crap based around mindless physical comedy that any dog could sniff out. There is a difference between a good kids movie and a horrible one, this being the latter.

Goonies=Good kids movie
Ratatouille=Good kids movie

Daddy Day Camp= Fecal Matter(Turd)
Baby Genius 1 or 2=Dumplestiltskin

[–] patience94 17 years ago

chrisselliot
You are a jerk for saying such lewd offensive comments. Grow up. Enough said. Some people like this movie. Others don't. Chill out and say your sorry for offending a bunch of parents.

[–] jwatkins_88 17 years ago

This is classified as a "family" movie. I don't think there is a "kids" movie genre. Yeah, it's target demographic is young kids, but the adults also have to sit through it. There are plenty of adult movies that don't suck, so we praise them. We trash the bad ones. The same principle applies for childrens' movies. Look at some of the movies/shows that actually got it right. The Emperor's New Groove, Spongebob Squarepants (series AND movie), Toy Story, hell even the Looney Toones. All of those have the things children enjoy, and the jokes that only adults get, and yet are still appropriate for the young'uns to hear.

Yeah, sometimes we go a bit overboard while critisizing family films, but classic Disney, Disney/Pixar, and a few oddball shows (Spongebob) have all gotten it right. Let's be honest. I've never seen this movie, but I've seen the trailer and previews, and it looked like absolute garbage. there's a right and wrong way to do things, and this movie is in the bottom 100 ever made. Which way do you think the makers chose for this one? If one can get it right, others should be able to also. I'm not saying everyone is capable of it, but if they're going to give it a shot, they should brace themselves for backfire.

Bottom line: if you're going to make a movie for FAMILIES, throw in a little something to keep the adults entertained also. That way it's balanced and truly fun for the entire family. Don't just throw it a bunch of stupid slapstick humor kids have been seeing since the dawn of cartoons and expect us to cream our pants at it. Adults are the ones who make the reviews, not the kids. So give us something worthwhile, just like every other movie maker does. You're not exempt from critisizm.

[–] wolfinspirit 17 years ago

I agree with the original person on this thread... This movie was intended for kids. Adults seem to over analyze many of these types of movies.

Some say that good "family films" have something to keep everyone entertained. I agree with that to a certain extent, but it isn't always easy to do. Many so called "family films" like Shrek get trashashed by many people for having rude humor and for being too "adult" for young kids. Of course the more innocent films get trashed for being "boring."

Perhaps there is some point at which we must say "If a film is innocent enough" (for lack of a better term) for kids, it really doesn't matter if adults are thoroughly entertained by it.

[–] Cann428 17 years ago

I agree with OP, the best family comedies such Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, in recent years Night at the Musuem all have scored lower then 7's, which is a little unfair. I saw this, I think an apporiate rating should have been 6 or so. (I usually give higher ratings.)

[–] Mike_the_Critic 16 years ago

this movie was fine. didnt mind it, kids movie for sure.

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