![]() ![]() “ Home Sweet Home Alone” has a lot of comic violence. Strong language is frequent but, apart from one use of “f-ers,” doesn’t get stronger than “a-hole.” Although the movie doesn’t dive into the political and religious intricacies of Northern Ireland, it does a great job of highlighting the seriousness of the situation while remaining accessible to younger viewers. But there’s also sadness, with a beloved character dying from an unspecified illness and Buddy’s parents (Jamie Dornan and Caitriona Balfe) having to decide whether to leave their home to start another life. Despite the danger, there’s plenty of humor, particularly involving scenes with Buddy and his grandparents (Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds). A mother and son are briefly held at gunpoint. Firebombs are thrown, cars are set alight and windows are smashed. Catholics are bullied out of their homes by intimidation and violence. Though there are moments of violence as Protestants and Catholics clash, the movie is also warm and tender, since much of it is seen through the eyes of innocent schoolboy Buddy (Jude Hill). “ Belfast” is writer/director Kenneth Branagh’s captivating drama about a young boy growing up in the 1960s during the religious conflict in Northern Ireland (a time commonly referred to as the “Troubles”). The movie deals with issues related to class and isolation while most main characters are White, Emily’s neighbors are diverse, as you’d expect in a city tale, and her one good friend is Asian. Insult language includes “freak,” “food stamps,” “nobody” and more. (Clifford’s huge size makes his toots, pee and poop supersized, too). Emily and her 10-foot canine proceed to have outsize adventures that include collateral damage and a bit of action (a brief brawl, a chase, the use of a Taser, a group of angry and protective neighbors), threats from a villain who wants Clifford for himself and occasional bathroom humor. ![]() ![]() After attending an animal-rescue event, Emily ends up with a cute little red puppy, who quickly grows into a massive dog. In this adaptation, Emily (Darby Camp) is a lonely New York City middle-schooler who’s left in the care of her immature Uncle Casey (Jack Whitehall) while her mom is out of town. “ Clifford the Big Red Dog” is, like the animated TV show, based on the classic children’s book series about an oversized red pup and his sweet human friend, Emily Elizabeth. ![]()
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