Sun Dogs

Parents need to know that Sun Dogs is a movie about a compelling young man with learning issues as he searches for his place in the world. Jennifer Morrison (a leading actor in the TV series Once Upon a Time, directing her first feature-length film) has assembled a strong cast to tell this unconventional tale about someone with considerable limitations who nonetheless makes an impact in others' lives. Action includes some fantasy sequences with Ned in wartime, on a battlefield with gunfire and explosions in the background. The hero intervenes when he believes a girl is in danger, taking the assailant down. Expect profanity throughout, including "ass," "son of a bitch," "damn," "get in your pants," "Jesus Christ," "virgin," "hell," "retard," and one "f--k." It's implied that a young woman is paid for sex. There's occasional social drinking but no drunkenness. While there are many subtly comic moments, and some amusing characterizations, there are also some scenes that deal with death and sadness. The movie tells the story of ordinary Americans struggling to find their way in a chaotic world -- where terror and terrorists live somewhere just beyond their peripheral vision -- and the complex relationships they create to find meaning. Fine for teens and as a shared family experience.