Yes Day

Parents can go along for the ride on this movie, which is sure to entertain younger kids and offer positive lessons for tweens and teens. Like Allison and Carlos, a lot of parents can probably relate to the feeling that they've lost their groove since they had kids, or that their kids have no idea who they were before they became parents. The film abbreviates that message for young viewers: Allison and Carlos didn't just have fun pre-parenthood, they jumped out of airplanes and scaled cliffs. The chaos of their "yes day" is similarly sketched in shorthand: The Torres family doesn't just say yes, they go nuts. Garner takes the cake in a couple of very physical scenes involving a high-stakes capture-the-flag challenge and a knock-down brawl at an amusement park. Ramirez balances her out as the family's accident-prone "good cop." Having him (and Garner) speak Spanish with the kids regularly adds a great touch that many viewers will appreciate.

Kids may find the Torres family's antics hilarious: Carlos' indigestion post-ice cream binge, a house filled with sudsy water and makeshift water slides, roller coasters, water balloon fights, and parent-free adventures. But at the end of the yes day, the kids also figure out that they really do want some boundaries ... and still ultimately need their parents. It's a message parents can get behind, and just in time for older viewers: No sane parent is going to let their new-ish family vehicle fill with soap and water at a car wash just for their kids' entertainment. The film seems to be suggesting that a healthier motto for parents and kids alike is "all things in moderation." Although the film doesn't take its own advice -- going overboard and eschewing any semblance of reality more often than not -- it does have worthy themes and entertainment value for families.