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KidScore Movie Ratings
A Prairie Home Companion

Rated PG-13

The Basics
Title: A Prairie Home Companion
Rating: PG-13

Overall rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Best for Ages
15+

Ages 3 - 7: Red
Ages 8 - 12: Red
Ages 13 - 17: Yellow
Violence Amount: Green
Violence Portrayal: Green
Fear: Green
Illegal / Harmful: Green
Language: Yellow
Nudity: Green
Sex: Green

Review:
Based on Garrison Keillor’s long-running radio show, this movie captures all the essence of its characters and then some. The Fitzgerald Theatre, where the radio show is produced, has been bought out and this is the last performance of “A Prairie Home Companion”. Keillor plays himself as a detached bystander, a sentimental commentator. Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin play sisters who have been on the show for years (they actually sing together.) Streep has a daughter (Lindsay Lohan) who also sings and writes songs (all about suicide.) Dusty (Woody Harrelson) and Lefty (John C. Reilly) are two singing cowboys who tell bad off-color jokes. The woman in the white raincoat (Virginia Madsen) turns out to be the “angel of death”, but it’s not clear who she is waiting for. Everyone on the show is aging and Lindsay Lohan represents the future. The movie has many layered meanings and if you are not familiar with the radio show, I think it might move very slowly for you. I do not think that children would appreciate the movie unless they listen to the show also. I would recommend this movie for viewers 15 and older. If you remember any old radio shows you used to listen to, describe the experience to your children.

Linda ThomasLinda Thomas is a native Minnesotan. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a double major in sociology and psychology. Married with a family, she has remained in the Minneapolis area.

Linda has been a lover of movies since she was a small child. This love of film eventually brought her to the point in life where she is now, a film critic. She was featured on WCCO radio for three years on the “Dark in the Morning” show with Dark Star.

In December of 2001, Linda became the film critic for the syndicated “Ruth Koscielak Show”.

Linda sees over 150 movies a year and has had the opportunity to interview a number of directors and actors when they are in town. She has also appeared on a public access show called the "Cinema Judge" and has ventured into writing for "Cinestar" magazine in September 2002. The Twin Cities movie magazine is available, for free, at most local Blockbuster's and local movie cheaters.

Her website is: www.lindathomasmovies.com

As one of the few female reviewers in the Twin Cities area, she brings a unique point of view to her reviews. Linda has raised two children, a boy and a girl, and knows what they like in movies and what is appropriate. Hopefully, her reviews will help your family in choosing where to next spend your movie-going dollar.

©2006 National Institute on Media and the Family.