Son of the Mask

MPAA Rating: PG

Entertainment: +1

Content: -2 1/2

The mask has been lost, and Loki (Alan Cumming) the Nordic god of mischief, is charged by his father, Oden (Bob Hoskins), to find it. But Tim Avery (Jaime Kennedy), an aspiring cartoonist, accidentally comes across it. While Tim is wearing the mask, he and his wife (Traylor Howard) conceive a son, Alvin (Ryan and Liam Falconer). This child is the son of the mask and receives an endowment of powers from the mask. As Loki wreaks havoc in his search for the mask, Alvins unique abilities take their toll on the Avery household. When Tim is left alone to care for his toddler for a week, Alvins mean-spirited supernatural powers are unleashed on him and the family dog for comedic effect. Nobody in the audience laughs, and the Son of the Masks tragic plot proves to be a puny shadow of the movies predecessor.

Designed to appeal to children 10 and younger, this assault on moviegoers is an evil display of crude, suggestive humor and language to which no child should be exposed. While the dog licks Tims face, he tells the dog that he is becoming a better kisser. Tim later makes a deal with his dog that, if he brings him the mask, hell arrange a date with the female dog down the street that hes been wanting to jump. The Nordic god, Oden, is a wrathful and vindictive creature who demeans his own son, has a poor relationship with his mythical wife, and is far from being godly. The use of evil voices, spiritual inhabitations, incantations to the Nordic god, sadistically motivated pranks and demonic-like actions carried out by a toddler in a film aimed at young children makes Son of the Mask a deserving recipient of Previews unacceptable status.

Preview Reviewer: Brian Hughes
Distributor: New Line Cinema

Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.

Crude Language: Several (7) times mild (hell 3, damn 3); strong (b-tch 1)

Obscene Language: Many (15+) times mild (pee 2, poop 3, potty 1); moderate (cr-p 7, scr-w 2); other (fricken used many times)

Profanity: Several (5+) times moderate (OMG 2, OG 3); other (jeeze used many times)

Violence: Many times mild (preschool-aged boys beat each other with pillows and rubber items, preschool-aged boy head-butts a man in the groin, car chase, boxing match); moderate (gunshots, use of guns as a threat, use of dynamite, use of hand-grenade); strong (mans face is removed and placed in a display cabinet where the mask used to be, Nordic god uses lightening as a weapon, man tackles and hits a woman thinking that she is another character who has morphed, womans head is turned into a giant nose, baby gets evil ideas that he puts into action based on childhood cartoons, several instances where one character tries to make another character explode in cartoon fashion, baby urinates on father, evil character smashes the head of a police officer through a concrete sidewalk)

Sex: Few times mild (implied activity between husband and wife resulting in the arrival of a baby)

Nudity: Few times mild (woman in skimpy sleeping attire; women in tight-fitting dresses, bare midriffs and bra-style tops); moderate (man shows top of buttocks, i.e., plumbers crack; preoccupation in showing womens clothed buttocks and breasts)

Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: Few times mild (man mentions that his dog is improving in his kissing, man and woman discuss having children); moderate (man talks to his dog about jumping a female neighbor dog, background music in the movie talks about wanting to have a touch, baby urinates like a fountain onto his father, man touches his wifes clothed breasts)

Drugs: Once mild (cigar smoking in a cartoon)

Other: Nordic mythology is explained briefly at the beginning of the movie; Nordic god lashes out in anger, is able to be injured (with one eye missing), doesnt get along with his wife and is not all-knowing or all-powerful; evil deeds are glamorized; baby inflates his head like a balloon and spins it 360 degrees as in The Exorcist; positive family values briefly mentioned at the end as an afterthought; appropriate use of thank you God and thank you Lord)

Running Time: 86 minutes
Intended Audience: Children (unfortunately)

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