KIDS FIRST! News

The students of the school of magical animals want to perform a musical for the school’s anniversary. Will the rehearsals end in chaos or will the class pull together? And what’s up with the strange holes on the school grounds? With the help of their magical animals, the children learn what really matters: teamwork. The School Of Magical Animals 2 is a warm-hearted adventure with CGI-animated animals, set in an unusual school where the children receive a magical animal as a companion.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ella S. comments, “I absolutely love the movie School of Magical Animals 2! The sets are very detailed and are beautifully designed to fit the lighthearted style of the movie. The animals’ hilarious antics kept me laughing throughout the film! Best of all, you don’t need to have seen the first film, School of Magical Animals.” Clara B. comments, “I like the film The School of Magical Animals 2. It is entertaining with all the magical animals talking and having fun personalities. I also really like how the animals match their owners’ personalities. The movie has a castle in a village for the school which makes the setting very interesting.” Ashleigh C. wraps it up with, “The lead characters in this film are brought to life by a talented cast. The dynamic between the students and their magical animal companions is both heartwarming and entertaining. The CGI used to create the animals is top-notch, making each magical creature feel real and full of personality.” See their full reviews below.

School of Magical Animals 2
By Ella S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 15

I absolutely love the movie School of Magical Animals 2! The sets are very detailed and are beautifully designed to fit the lighthearted style of the movie. The animals’ hilarious antics kept me laughing throughout the film! Best of all, you don’t need to have seen the first film, School of Magical Animals. You can enjoy and completely understand the film for what it is!

School of Magical Animals 2 follows a group of students and their talking pets preparing to celebrate their school’s anniversary with a musical performance. They want to honor their school by recreating the story of its foundation. The only problem is, they cannot agree on how to do it! Ida (Emilia Maier) is appointed director, but when the school’s most popular girl, Helene (Emilia Pieske), attempts to take control, the class is torn. Additionally, the school director, Mr. Siegmann (Justus von Dohnányi) has his own vision for the musical and insists that it is followed. With the advice and assistance of the magical animals, the students eventually realize they must join forces, each learning a valuable lesson along the way.

The sets immediately stood out to me, especially the individual characters’ bedrooms. The room decorations reflect each of their personalities. My favorite room belongs to Anna-Lena (Lilith Johna). She is a shy but happy, welcoming girl with a wonderful singing voice and a talent for textiles. Her room is covered with beautiful fairy lights, warm pastel-colored cushions, and sewing equipment, because she is sewing the main character’s dress for the musical. There is a wooden bunk bed with a ladder and there are plants and vines around the room, in adorable white or neutral pots. Her room looks like it belongs to a garden fairy, which describes Anna-Lena perfectly! Aside from the characters’ rooms, the rest of the sets are also beautifully designed, such as the stage for the performance and the set for Ida’s rooftop birthday party. Both maintain a light, happy color scheme to support the movie’s cheerful tone. They are very detailed as well, with star-shaped cutouts and strobe lights for the stage and a whole snack booth with cafe-style tables set up by the trampolines for Ida’s birthday party.

The animals are essential to the plot and the character development. Each main character’s animal represents either their internal thoughts or a lesson they need to learn. For example, Anna-Lena receives a chameleon named Caspar (Rick Kavanian), who pushes her to overcome her shyness and step out of her comfort zone, even encouraging her to take on the lead role in the musical. And Juri (Axel Stein), Jo’s penguin, represents his conscience when he makes a mistake and guides him to the right decision by sharing advice, as well as his own hilarious stories from when he was in Antarctica.

The message of School of Magical Animals 2 is that teamwork makes the dream work! At the end of the film, the students realize that they are more powerful together than apart, and to make their musical the best it can be, they need to work together, share their ideas and listen to others’ opinions. Be aware that this film was originally recorded in German and is dubbed in English, with captions provided.

School of Magical Animals 2 gets 5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. School of Magical Animals 2 releases in theaters on June 7, 2024. 

School of Magical Animals 2
By Clara T., KIDS FIRST! Film critic, age 11

I like the film School of Magical Animals 2. It is entertaining with all the magical animals talking and having fun personalities. I also really like how the animals match their owners’ personalities. The movie has a castle in a village for the school which makes the setting very interesting. The only drawback is that, at times, it is a little repetitive.

The storyline follows Ida and Benni who attend the Winterstein School where the students are practicing a musical to show their parents and they sometimes disagree and make each feel upset or left out –  but they work it out. At the end when they put on the play something strange happens and they are shocked to find out.

Based on the successful German children’s book series by Margit Auer, this film is a blend of CGI animation and live action. What makes it particularly fun is the talking animals, which include a talking fox, tortoise and magpie. Director Sven Unterwaldt beautifully brings this story to life. Ida, a kind and nice girl, is played by Emilia Maier, who portrays her perfectly.  Her pet, Rabbat, is wonderfully voiced by Max Von der Groeben.

I love watching the magical animals sing, rap, talk, and dance, and at times they advise their human friends. The animals help teach lessons in friendship, perseverance, and the importance of sharing feelings. Another fun fact about the animals is that they can transform into stuffed animals when needed, so they can hide from strangers. Throughout the movie, you see beautiful landscapes and European villages and castles.

The film’s message is about teamwork. In the beginning, the children struggle to come together as a team, but when they start to work together they start to accomplish more.

I give School Of Magical Animals 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. It is available in theaters June 7, 2024.

School of Magical Animals 2
By Ashleigh C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 20

School of Magical Animals 2 is an enchanting sequel that absolutely captivated me! This film continues the magical journey with even more excitement, heart, and humor. The combination of great acting, a fantastic soundtrack, and impressive CGI makes it a must-watch for fans of the first movie and newcomers alike.

In this sequel, the students of the School of Magical Animals are preparing a musical for the school’s anniversary. However, things don’t go as smoothly as planned. With strange holes appearing on the school grounds and the pressure of rehearsals mounting, the students must rely on their magical animal friends to navigate the chaos. Together, they discover the importance of teamwork and friendship in overcoming obstacles.

The lead characters in this film are brought to life by a talented cast. The dynamic between the students and their magical animal companions is both heartwarming and entertaining. The CGI used to create the animals is top-notch, making each magical creature feel real and full of personality. The sets and scenery are vibrant and perfectly complement the magical atmosphere of the story. The costumes are wonderfully designed, adding to the visual appeal of the film. One of my favorite parts of the movie is the cute and enjoyable love story between the two main characters. It’s a delightful extension from the first movie and adds an extra layer of charm to the story. The musical numbers are catchy and well-executed, thanks to the great soundtrack. Every element of this film, from the direction to the special effects, contributes to its overall magical feel.

The message of School of Magical Animals 2 is that teamwork and friendship are essential in overcoming challenges. The film successfully conveys this message through its engaging storyline and relatable characters.

School of Magical Animals 2 gets 5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 5 to 18, and adults will enjoy it as well. You can catch this magical film in theaters on June 7, 2024.

Star Wars: The Acolyte is set at the end of the Star Wars franchise’s High Republic era, approximately 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). It sees a respected Jedi Master investigating a series of crimes that bring him into contact with a former Padawan learner and reveal sinister forces. This Star Wars series takes viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Arya B. comments, “I really love the TV series Star Wars: The Acolyte because it is an action-packed series with unique and captivating plots that are very different from any of the other Star Wars films or series. Best of all, although it is helpful to have watched the prior Star Wars films, you don’t have to have seen any of them in order to enjoy this series.” See her full review below.   

Star Wars: The Acolyte
By Arya B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

I really love the TV series Star Wars: The Acolyte because it is an action-packed series with unique and captivating plots that are very different from any of the other Star Wars films or series. Best of all, although it is helpful to have watched the prior Star Wars films, you don’t have to have seen any of them in order to enjoy this series.  

This series takes place 100 years before episode 1 of the Star Wars films.  It is a story about a girl named Osha (Amandla Stenberg) who is accused of murdering a Jedi Master named Indara (Carrie-Anne Moss). However, Osha firmly states her innocence because she is apparently loyal to the Jedis. 

The plot is pretty complex. Early in the series, Osha suffers a tragedy as a young girl when her hometown is burned down by her twin sister, Mae (also played by Amandla Stenberg) and everyone, including Mae, is presumed dead, except for Osha, which is suspicious. Afterwards, Osha trains to be a Jedi but ultimately drops out after a few years. Sol (Lee Jung-jae), a Jedi master and Osha’s former teacher, believes that Osha is innocent and attempts to find her and confirm her innocence.  Another Jedi master is murdered while Osha is with Sol so there may be another killer! The show follows Osha and Mae and the audience tries to discover who the killers of the Jedi masters are.

What I really like about the series are the beautiful settings, the costumes, and the musical composition. The settings include areas with beautiful lush landscapes and other areas in a frozen ice land. The costumes are very unique as they are in most Star Wars films and series. For example, when the witch’s ceremony is held in the third episode, the gold costumes of the women are stunning.  The background music is both beautiful and eerie, and always fits the various scenes perfectly.  One of my favorite parts of the show is when the group travels to a remote planet to find one of the Wookie Jedi masters and all of the surprising creatures they see along the way including a massive flying beetle.  My favorite character in the series is Mae because we learn why she set her hometown on fire and begin to understand that not everything is as it initially seems.  

The series’ message is, “We are not defined by what we lose, we are defined by what we survive,” which is a direct quote from one of the supporting characters.  This highlights the point that Osha is not defined by having lost her family, but by having the strength and courage to survive it allows her to persevere in spite of it. Be forewarned that this series contains a lot of violent behavior.  

I give Star Wars: The Acolyte 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. The first two episodes of Star Wars: The Acolyte release on Disney + June 4, 2024. The remaining episodes of the eight-episode series release weekly after that. 

Summer Camp tells the story of Nora (Keaton), Ginny (Bates), and Mary (Woodard), who have been best friends since being inseparable at summer camp. As the years have passed, they’ve seen each other less and less, so when the chance to reunite for a summer camp reunion arises, they all take it, some begrudgingly and others excitedly. Each of their lives might not be where they’d imagined, but one thing is for sure — Nora, Ginny, and Mary need each other, and summer camp reminds them why.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Tia O. comments, “Summer Camp is an adventurous film targeted at an older audience. My favorite parts are the wardrobe, characters, and location – all of which make this super enjoyable. The film’s message is about the importance of having strong friendships and taking risks together.” See her full review below.

Summer Camp
By Tia O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 15

Summer Camp is an adventurous film targeted at an older audience. My favorite parts are the wardrobe, characters, and location – all of which make this super enjoyable.

Summer Camp is a comedic movie that follows a trio of best friends – Nora (Diane Keaton), Ginny (Kathy Bates) and Mary (Alfre Woodard) who met years ago while attending a summer camp together in their youth. Over the years, they’ve drifted apart due to lifestyle changes. So when the opportunity for a summer camp reunion arises, they all decide to go and relive the fond moments they used to share. Though a few bumps in their camp stay emerge, Nora, Ginny, and Mary all remember the importance of having strong friendships.

The wardrobe styling in this film is stellar. Costume designer, Maria Lorenzana, designed all of the characters’ outfits so that they were not only tailored to each person but also represented specific characteristics of their personalities. For example, Nora’s studious and reserved side is showcased by her wearing corporate colors, business suits, collared shirts and turtlenecks.  Ginny’s spunky and creative side is enhanced by her wearing vibrant colors, playful patterns, and big accessories. Mary’s quiet and soft side is represented by her wearing simple outfits, solid color tops and soft fabrics.

I adore all of the characters in this film, however my personal favorite is Nora. I relate to her because she’s very cautious before taking risks; she’s the logical thinker in the group, and she has a passion for science. Diane Keaton plays this role so well and I love her performance throughout the film. Lastly this movie was primarily filmed at Camp Pinnacle located in North Carolina and the location is gorgeous. The sky-high shots of the vast mountains and rolling hills captured by cinematographer Karsten Gopinath are truly breathtaking.

This film’s message is about the importance of having strong friendships and taking risks together. Be aware that the film does contain some cursing, inappropriate jokes, sexual themes, and some minor gore.

I give Summer Camp 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Look out for Summer Camp which releases in theaters May 31, 2024.

The Garfield Movie * Heartwarming Story Beautifully Animated, Great Pace And Laugh-Out-Loud Humor

Garfield (voiced by Chris Pratt), the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father – scruffy street cat Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) – Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Sydney S. comments, “The Garfield Movie is a heartwarming story with a great pace and humor that’s cleverly put together.” Carter P. adds, “The Garfield Movie is fun, heartwarming, has a great villain, stunning animation is stunning and an exceptional cast.” Alma K. comments, “I have always loved all things Garfield, so I was expecting to love The Garfield Movie—and I do! It remarkably captures the essence of Garfield, and I couldn’t think of a better movie to bring Garfield back to the big screen where he belongs.” Arjun N. adds, “The cast features an ensemble of Hollywood greats performing voice acting that prevails against the somewhat derivative heist plot and awkward humor that often plagues kids’ films.” Audrey S. wraps it up with, “The film’s message is that you should never judge others without knowing their full story. You may think that you know how something happened, but it’s important to get all the information.” See their full reviews below.

The Garfield Movie
By Sydney S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

The Garfield Movie is a heartwarming story with a great pace and humor. It’s cleverly put together with beautiful animation which makes it an engaging film.

The story follows the cat, Garfield (Chris Pratt), who has the dream life – a dog best friend, a nice house, and most importantly, access to an endless amount of food. Everything’s going perfectly until he reunites with his long-lost father. The animals have a perilous journey ahead of them, having to deal with the conflict between the father-son duo.

I really like this movie because it’s super funny but also has deep messages about relationships with important people in your life. Its main characters are Garfield, Vic (Samuel L. Jackson), Jon (Nicholas Hoult), Otto (Ving Rhames) and Jinx (Hannah Waddingham). The characters are unique and represent different emotions – Garfield represents anger, Jon represents anxiety, Vic represents regret, and Otto represents sadness and longing. It illustrates a positive message for the younger generation at the end of the movie. I really like the animation; it’s unique and a cool mix of 2D and 3-D awareness of space. There isn’t a dull moment in this film. It’s constantly engaging, like when they’re running from a nasty security guard or dodging ridiculously big cutting knives.

I like the pacing; it’s not too fast nor too slow. Plus, there are flashbacks to when Garfield was a young kitten, which gives the film a strong backstory. The background music helps set the mood. When it’s raining and young Garfield is abandoned, the music is slow and depressing. However, when Odie and Garfield are playing, the music lightens up. My favorite part of the movie is when Vic gets Garfield on the train by launching him off of a tree branch. Garfield bounces off trees, animals, rocks, and more, and it’s hilarious to watch.

The film’s message is about forgiveness and family. Garfield’s dad has a reason he left Garfield, which was actually to help him, rather than hurt him. Vic goes out searching for food and when he comes back, Garfield seems to be happy under Jon’s care. Garfield and Vic forgive each other, and become close again.

I give The Garfield Movie 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18. The Garfield Movie releases in theaters May 24, 2024.

The Garfield Movie
Carter P., KIDS FIRST!  Film Critic, age 12

I love The Garfield Movie. It is fun, heartwarming and has a great villain.  The animation is stunning and it has some heartfelt moments with an exceptional cast.  The film definitely kept me entertained from beginning to end and I was laughing out loud.

Garfield (Chris Pratt), the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father, scruffy street cat Vic (Samuel L. Jackson), Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.  There is nothing not to love about Garfield.  He hates Mondays, loves lasagna, and is loyal to his best pals Jon and Odie.

I really love the animation in this film. It is extremely well done — the way the fur moves and how it looks on all the animals throughout the entire film is stunning.  When the fur moves during action sequences and when the heist plans are being made, they even switched the animation style which I thought was particularly cool. I really do not think they could have picked a better cast for this film.  Chris Pratt is perfect in the role of Garfield.  I love hearing Harvey Guillen as Odie, especially his different barks with different emotions expressed throughout the movie.  Hannah Waddingham voices Jinx, a cat who is the villain. She plays a fantastic villain — she is a little intense, but never too scary even for younger audiences.  I like that the plot is made simple so kids can easily understand it and the storyline is so funny.  This movie is rated PG; it is 1 hour and 41 minutes and it never drags.  I was completely entertained by the entire movie.  I left the theater wanting Italian food and a pet.

The film’s message is about teamwork, family, and friendship.  It shows how family will always be there for you, no matter what. The film shares the importance of doing what is right and being loyal to the people around you.

I give The Garfield Movie 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults.  The Garfield Movie opens in theaters May 24, 2024. Be sure to check it out!

The Garfield Movie 
By Audrey L., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 9 

The Garfield Movie is an entertaining animated film about a lovable tabby cat and his adventures. I like funny movies and this one definitely falls into that category. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt! This film isn’t all jokes though; there are many heartwarming moments as well. 

This film starts out by making sure the audience knows just how much Garfield (Chris Pratt) loves Italian food. While eating his morning snack, he begins to tell the story of how he met his owner Jon (Nicholas Hoult) after his own father Vic (Samuel L Jackson) seemingly abandons him. Jon takes Garfield in, and from there he has quite the luxurious life; he gets to sit around all day eating and watching cat videos on TV with his buddies. Unsuspectingly, Garfield is taken from his normal routine and forced to adjust to a world he is not prepared for. On this new journey, Garfield meets lots of new people and learns many new life lessons. With the help of his new friends and his dad, Garfield learns to be independent. Garfield eventually makes his way home to a new normal that he helps create. 

The Garfield Movie is an animated film that personifies everything from ordinary house pets to farm animals. The animation is very well done and the colors used are an iconic part of what makes Garfield, Garfield. The music used throughout this film really helps set the vibe at crucial moments, such as when Italian music plays at the local Italian restaurant and familiar “danger” music plays during action scenes. My favorite character is Garfield because he is hilarious, loves Italian food, and hates Mondays! The selection of voice actors for each character is also spot on. When Roland the dog (Brett Goldstein) fakes a British accent to make Jinx (Hannah Waddingham) more comfortable, then switches back to his New York accent at the end, the talent of this voice actor really shines through.

The film’s message is that you should never judge others without knowing their full story. You may think that you know how something happened, but it’s important to get all the information. This message is successfully delivered through the development of Garfield’s relationship with his father. Note that this film does contain some violence; although delivered in a funny way, some parents may be uncomfortable with their kids watching such aggressive behavior. 

I give The Garfield Movie 5 out of 5 stars, and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. It is available exclusively in movie theaters beginning May 24, 2024. Be sure to check it out. 

The Garfield Movie
By Alma K., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

I have always loved all things Garfield, so I was expecting to love The Garfield Movie—and I do! The film remarkably captures the essence of Garfield, and I couldn’t think of a better movie to bring Garfield back to the big screen where he belongs — and with a talented star-studded cast.

The story follows Garfield (Chris Pratt) who has an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father Vic (Samuel L. Jackson) when Jinx (Hannah Waddingham) — the movie’s crazy vengeful antagonist — kidnaps both Garfield and his fellow pet Odie (Harvey Guillén). Jinx forces the two of them from their perfect (marred only by Mondays), pampered, luxurious lives into joining Vic in a high-stakes heist as revenge against Garfield’s father. The plot is tied in with so much humor and so many plot twists overall making it a fun family comedy.

Chris Pratt’s voice suits Garfield perfectly, and he brings the right attitude and edge to the character. Samuel L. Jackson wonderfully conveys emotion into his character, Vic (Garfield’s father) so as a viewer, you really end up feeling for his character. And Hannah Waddingham is outstanding as Jinx, Garfield’s antagonist. She voices Jinx as maniacal and flamboyant but she also brings heart and soul to Jinx, making viewers sympathize with Jinx’s motivations. Hannah Waddingham also has two songs in this movie:  An original called “I’m Back” which rolls over the end credits and a rendition of the French nursery rhyme “Alouette, Gentille Alouette”, the latter of the two occurring in my favorite Jinx scene. The Garfield Movie is really funny. I especially like the parts with Jon (Nicholas Hoult) in them. I do feel like there is a huge effort to make Garfield more modern in this movie… there are lots of pop culture references. In some cases it’s done very well, but the movie overdoes this. Garfield calls himself “G-money” and makes shark tank references. And The Garfield Movie has a huge fixation on mobile devices. The film loses out on a very important nostalgic aspect of the film by attempting to adjust Garfield to better match the present-day audience. Garfield is relatable to modern kids and loved by the modern audience not because he has a phone. As Garfield’s creator, Jim Davis says, “Garfield is a human being in a cat suit”. The film does flesh out his character and I really enjoy seeing it. Yes, his adventures are significantly wilder but that just makes them more fun to watch.

The message of The Garfield Movie revolves around the importance of family and connection. It explores themes of sacrifice, the unseen presence of love, how misunderstandings can change your whole worldview, and the deep (sometimes hidden) bonds that define family.
I give The Garfield Movie 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2-18, plus families as well as all fans of the lovable cat. Look out for The Garfield Movie, which opens in theaters May 24, 2024.

The Garfield Movie
By Arjun Nair, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 22

The Garfield Movie delivers a fun adventure while not fully delving into the signature deadpan humor that the Garfield comics are known for. While it underwhelms a bit, the film has a poignant hook with some heart to it. Families might have fun, and kids will adore the new chapter of the infamous Garfield’s life.

This film follows Garfield (Chris Pratt) after coming of age with his owner Jon (Nicholas Hoult) and dog Odie. Unfortunately, trouble in paradise occurs once a mysterious group of animals kidnaps Garfield and Odie for a milk heist helmed by a nefarious cat Jinx (Hannah Waddingham). The conspiracy gets deeper once Garfield is paired with his long-lost, deadbeat dad Vic (Samuel L. Jackson). Bitter emotions follow, but one thing remains certain – they must settle their beef and team up if they want to successfully survive the heist.

The cast features an ensemble of Hollywood greats performing voice acting that prevails against the somewhat derivative heist plot and awkward humor that often plagues kids’ films. Chris Pratt, as Garfield, presents a newfound emotional side to the character with his baggage regarding his dad Vic, while retaining the natural charm he’s known for. Unfortunately, the script never commits to the Garfield’s signature deadpan humor; so, it often feels like Chris Pratt is just playing a caricature of himself rather than of Garfield. Regardless, he maintains witty and despicable father-son banter with Vic. Samuel L. Jackson is a highlight as Vic by maintaining his redemption alongside a whimsical demeanor. He easily delivers the film’s funniest dialogue. The pack of criminals brings great stakes to the adventure at hand. Hannah Waddingham, as Jinx, overcomes her character’s generically nefarious intentions with her commanding presence. Although Jinx is disappointingly written, her lackeys hold some originality in their absurdity. Brett Goldstein, as Otto, especially maintains a menacing foil to Garfield and Odie as a hound with a mute dog partner named Nolan, but the film pinpoints a hidden, sweeter side to the sinister pair. Garfield and Vic are helped by the headstrong mascot bull Otto, played by Ving Rhames. Otto is a great mentor to the two amidst their beef, and helps them out on their milk heist to get back at the farm and reunite with his “cow lover” who’s detained there. Nicolas Hoult, as Jon, is sidelined by the overarching heist plot, but his yearning for his lost pets showcases a side to the character that pet owners will immediately relate with. Finally, Snoop Dogg makes a colorful cameo as Snoop Catt. Mark Dindal directs the film alongside vibrant, colorful animation. Despite some originality found here, too many pop culture references oversaturate the film.

The film holds a great message about the importance of fatherhood. Although Vic left Garfield, it’s his realization that Jon would bring a decent upbringing for Garfield that redeemed his character. It proves that Vic has the best of intentions, but there remains a lesson in the importance of communication. Similar to Tom and Jerry, the film features slapstick action and rude humor that never overstay their welcome for a younger audience.

I give The Garfield Movie 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. The film releases on May 24, 2024 in theaters. Be sure to check it out in theaters.

Roku Original The Great American Baking Show is the American version of the most beloved baking show on the planet, bringing together passionate, talented bakers from around the country to see who will be named America’s Best Amateur Baker. 

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Eshaan M. comments, “Season 2 of The Great American Baking Show is soon to arrive, in an attempt to capture the magic of its counterpart across the pond…and it succeeds beautifully. The Great American Baking Show is as fluffy and sweet as its bakers’ treats, and it replicates the British show’s format without feeling like a knock-off.” See his full review and interviews below.

The Great American Baking Show: Season 2
By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 18

Watching nine contestants bake in a tent in the British countryside became an international pastime with the release of the Great British Baking Show. Season 2 of The Great American Baking Show is soon to arrive, in an attempt to capture the magic of its counterpart across the pond…and it succeeds beautifully.

The Great American Baking Show is as fluffy and sweet as its bakers’ treats, and it replicates the British show’s format without feeling like a knock-off – though it is a bit corny at times.

The premise of the Great American Baking Show is simple: nine bakers from across the US, who each have expertise in different areas of baking, are assembled and brought to a white tent in the British countryside where they’re tasked with making increasingly difficult items. Each episode deals with one type of baked goods — week one is cake week, for example — and the bakers face three challenges to test their creativity and their mastery of baking in a time crunch and without a formal recipe. Their baked goods are judged by renowned chefs Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, who winnow down the pool of bakers by eliminating one each episode and, in the end, crown one baker as the winner. 

The Great American Baking Show Season 2 is, by leaps and bounds, superior to the most recent seasons of its British counterpart (and its first season, which had a tough run). That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have issues, but it’s almost at the level of the first few seasons of the Great British Baking Show. The bakers are judged by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, both of whom lean into the characters they’ve carved out for themselves in the British version. Paul is the exacting master baker whose handshakes seem to be worth more than the lottery (and whose striking good looks are a source of near-constant discussion among the ladies). And Prue is the endearing British dame, providing periodic, measured compliments and pearl-clutching comments about calories. The show’s hosts, comedian Zach Cherry and actress Ellie Kemper, have, essentially, one job: pull silly, cheesy stunts, motivate the bakers and mug for the camera while mournfully calling out time checks.

In the first few episodes, they seem a bit awkward together, with some of their jokes working and others falling flat, but they soon find their beat. I did miss seeing Noel Fielding in the tent, but I will say that Cherry and Kemper’s chats with the bakers are fun and help the show move along. The contestants are a sweet, supremely talented, but somewhat unremarkable batch, likely due to the editing which, as in last season, doesn’t allow viewers to understand the bakers’ back-stories very well. There are other rough moments in the editing of this show, like some jerky cutaways, shaky footage of bakers running from place to place and clearly artificial, over-the-top reactions to the technical bake judging.

Also to be noted, the items on this list were present in the first season of the American show too, so perhaps it’s an artistic choice. The actual content of the show is pleasant, though. The British version of the show has seen its challenges grow more and more wild over time, and the Great American Baking Show follows suit. I also think it was a smart move to make the show more “American” so that both viewers and bakers would have an easier time relating to the show.

And, my final note — I love how wholesome the energy in the tent is throughout the show. Even in the midst of heated competition, the bakers smile and encourage each other. It appears that the kindest cross-section of America got its own TV show, which is nice to see in this age of discord and infighting. 

The Great American Baking Show promotes healthy competition, exploration, creativity and the enjoyment of simple joys in life like food. 

Great American Baking Show: Season 2 gets 5 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It will be available on The Roku Channel beginning May 24, 2024.