The critics are always unusually cruel to family friendly films. Have you noticed they judge these movies using the same parameters by which they determine their like or dislike of adult-oriented films? It seems to me that they should adjust their judgments based on the intended audience.

Have you ever read a review on a family friendly movie where the critic makes fun of the idealized society where the teenagers are focused on school work, extra curricular activities, and innocent relationships with the opposite gender? Have you ever read a review where the critic jabs the director for making a copacetic movie accusing them of selling out? Or even worse, have you read a review where the critic actually praises a film for its lack of morals? Yes, all of these scenarios have indeed happened time and time again. The critics do not care about the intended audience of the film and whether they would perceive it to be worth their ticket or rental money. Oh no, they seem intent on proving a self-motivated point. Often the points traipse around the critic’s own jaded perspective on life and how they must force it upon the movie-viewing public by only giving harsh movies good reviews.

Too often a critic’s distinctive personal likes and dislikes come across in their reviews. Some critics clearly prefer artsy films, perhaps in an attempt to portray themselves as an intellectual to the masses. Some critics find action and adventure appealing, trying to show off their macho side. Some may simply object to anything that has mass appeal, thinking it’s cool to go against the grain just for the sake of being different. Too frequently personal ulterior motives are conveyed through movie reviews. I know I’m guilty of it. I prefer family friendly films with good morals and ideally clever writing. But I do make it clear that these are my personal opinions on the movie and we all know personal opinions are tainted by preferences.

Is the movie-going population partially to blame? Partially, perhaps, but only to a small extent. It’s true that people in general watch all kinds of horrible movies and the makers of those movies are rich from it. It’s also true that movie reviewers in newspapers and television shows have too much power. But on the flip side, the critics try to fight against the mainstream but their critiques don’t seem to harm family friendly blockbusters. Simply put, this is a case of the customer is always right. What we pay money for is what we’ll get.

Perhaps not all of the critics are equally unfair, but in general, family friendly films seem to get a bad reputation among the professional reviews. Maybe it’s time for the elitist crowd of movie critics to be overthrown. But wait, they already are on their way out. With the internet making it to where anyone can express their opinion, user rating websites are a popular way to determine whether or not to see a movie. Furthermore, reading a niche website’s movie reviews can provide a perspective on a movie more like your own. For example: When you read a review on TotallyHer.com you are looking for a woman’s perspective.

So the best ways to battle the jaded “professional critics” are to seek out other qualified opinions from your preferred sources.

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(Original photo by Casey Fleser, used under Creative Commons license.)