A Plumm Summer

Review

Common Sense Media says

Coming-of-age tale set in 1960s Montana.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that although the plot revolves around the characters in a little kid's television show, the movie centers on a 13-year-old boy's changing relationship with his family and the world around him, and will work best for that age range. An alcoholic, remote father and a mother who seems to cede all the care of the youngest son to his older brother are not model parents, but love of family helps them cope. A boy is bullied by his peers for being a coward, and there are suspenseful scenes of a near drowning.

  • Positive messages3
    Imperfect family is held together by copious amounts of love and good intentions. Mother encourages oldest son's ambitions when alcoholic father seems unable to. Older brother undertakes a quest on behalf of his little brother, and the two consider each other best friends despite their age difference. Forgiveness, redemption, and "going the distance" are major themes in the story. There are a few farting frog jokes.
  • Violence3
    A boy is punched in a fight and gets a bloodied nose. One character nearly drowns.
  • Sex0
    Hugs, kisses, and slight innuendo between a married couple; very mild flirtation between young teens.
  • Language0
    Lots of name calling between brothers and by the town bully who calls Elliot "a retard."
  • Consumerism3
    Froggy-Doo was a real children's show in 1960s Montana, and the real Happy Herb has a book and fan club and was involved in the movie's production. Both Hardy Boys and Trixie Belden books are used to research the criminal's possible motivations.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    Father's constant drinking and frequenting of the local bar shown tearing the family asunder. A worried clown drinks to cope with the pressure of being the only kid's show on the air after Froggy-Doo is kidnapped, about the most pathetic sight a child could witness. Little boy buys candy cigarettes and rolls them into his shirt sleeve like a teen rebel.
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What's the story?

In A PLUM SUMMER, 13-year-old Elliott Plumm (Chris J. Kelly) has his hands full with an alcoholic father stuck in his high school glory days (William Baldwin), a distracted mother (Lisa Guerrero), and a younger brother Rocky (Owen Pearce) who is obsessed with Froggy Doo, the biggest children's TV hit in the state. When Froggy Doo is kidnapped, Rocky's anguish compels his big brother to pair up with the new girl in town to solve the mystery of the missing amphibian marionette, while gaining the confidence he needs to confront the problems facing his family.

Is it any good?

 

The movie hits some wonderful grace notes about the power of love to overcome problems, as well as the importance of forgiveness and redemption. Elliott is a likable kid from the start, and the audience will be rooting for him to find his way as he pedals madly through town trailed by the girl he is too shy to admit he likes, and an almost excruciatingly cute younger brother. The culprits are revealed to the audience before they are revealed to the kids, but that's a minor disappointment in an otherwise sweet tale.

The filmmakers use lush cinematography and a mix of original and oldies music to capture the feel of 1968 small-town Montana. Moments of humor and absurdity, usually in the guise of the two FBI agents assigned to locate Froggy Doo, keep the movie moving at a brisk pace. The relatively benign troubles and triumphs of these country kids, not to mention that the children spend virtually the entire movie outdoors and in action, offer a counterpoint to modern childhood that would be interesting to contrast with kids.

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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the fact that this movie is based on a true story. If a major children's television character were kidnapped today, how do you think the reaction would differ from that in Montana in 1968? Why do you think it's so important to Rocky that Froggy Doo be found?

This review was written by Nancy Davis Kho
Kid, 11 years old
October 31, 2011
AGE
7
 
Not so good
Not such a good movie.
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Helped me decide (6) | Had useful details (6) | Read my mind (6)
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Teen, 16 years old
July 6, 2010
AGE
14
 
Teens only.
Swearing and plenty of drinking and violent.
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Helped me decide (5) | Had useful details (9) | Read my mind (4)
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
 
Great Family Film
This was a great family movie that was interesting and kept you interested from beginning to end. This movie was surprisingly good compared to my expectations. Great for adults and kids.
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Helped me decide (7) | Had useful details (3) | Read my mind (6)
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Adult
March 12, 2011
AGE
6
 
Kids 6 and older embraced it in screenings
Love it. While the film has a few mature themes (Dad drinks, some name calling), these things serve a purpose and a lesson in the film. The movie won awards from the Parents Television Council, Heartland Film Fest, Austin Film Festival, Int'l Family Film Festival, and I believe one other as well... I'm the film's producer so I should remember...
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Helped me decide (4) | Had useful details (5) | Read my mind (4)
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This review was written by Nancy Davis Kho
Topics:book characters, brothers and sisters
Studio:Fair Play Pictures
Director:Catherine Zelder
Cast:Chris J. Kelly, Lisa Guerrero, William Baldwin
Genre:Family and Kids
Run time:99 minutes
Theatrical release date:April 25, 2008
DVD release date:May 5, 2009
MPAA rating:PG
MPAA explanation:thematic elements and some mild rude language
This review was written by Nancy Davis Kho
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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