SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS

"LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS"
(2004) (Jim Carrey, Emily Browning) (PG)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Minor	Minor	*Extreme	*Heavy	Mild

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Moderate	Mild	Extreme	None	Minor

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
None	None	*Heavy	Heavy	*Moderate

QUICK TAKE:: Black comedy: Three recently orphaned siblings must deal with their nefarious and opportunistic relative who will do anything to get his hands on their large inheritance.

PLOT:

As told by our narrator, Lemony Snicket (voice of JUDE LAW), the Beaudelaire kids -- 14-year-old inventor Violet (EMILY BROWNING), her younger bibliophile brother Klaus (LIAM AIKEN) and their bite-crazy toddler sister Sunny (KARA AND SHELBY HOFFMAN) -- have just received some bad and sad news. Not only has their mansion burned down, but their parents also died in the blaze. As accompanied by Mr. Poe (TIMOTHY SPALL) they're taken to the foreboding manner inhabited by their distance cousin they've never met, Count Olaf (JIM CARREY).

Ever the opportunist, Olaf immediately puts them to work around the house, but then decides that they'd better serve him dead in that as their guardian he'd get their massive inheritance. The kids foil his devious and lethal scheme and are soon off to live with other relatives such as snake collector Uncle Monty (BILLY CONNOLLY) and then the neurotically fearful Aunt Josephine (MERYL STREEP) who lives in a precariously placed cliffside house.

During their stays, however, they soon realize that Count Olaf is still after them and their money, albeit now in various disguises, but can't convince the likes of the local Constable (CEDRID THE ENTERTAINER) or Justice Straus (CATHERINE O'HARA) that it's him. As Olaf hatches his most nefarious scheme yet, the kids do what they can to stay one step ahead of him.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: If they're fans of the Snicket books, Jim Carrey or anyone else in the cast, it's a good bet they will.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG: For thematic elements, scary situations and brief language.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: JIM CARREY plays the kids' distant cousin, an eccentric type who first uses them as slave labor and then decides to do what he can (including attempted murder) to get his hands on their large inheritance.
EMILY BROWNING plays a 14-year-old inventor who must not only deal with being orphaned, but also Count Olaf's attempts at getting her and her siblings' inheritance.
LIAM AIKEN plays her younger brother, an avid book reader who uses his knowledge to their advantage in dealing with Olaf.
KARA and SHELBY HOFFMAN play their younger sister, a toddler who's into biting and delivering various cut-down lines in baby talk (and subtitles).
MERYL STREEP plays the kids neurotically fearful aunt who lives in a cliffside house and fears that most anything in there might harm them.
BILLY CONNOLLY plays the kids' uncle and avid snake collector who takes them in as their guardian.
TIMOTHY SPALL plays the banker who gives the kids the bad news about their parents and then escorts them to their various new guardians.
JUDE LAW voices the film's cautionary narrator.; EMILY BROWNING plays a 14-year-old inventor who must not only deal with being orphaned, but also Count Olaf's attempts at getting her and her siblings' inheritance.
LIAM AIKEN plays her younger brother, an avid book reader who uses his knowledge to their advantage in dealing with Olaf.
KARA and SHELBY HOFFMAN play their younger sister, a toddler who's into biting and delivering various cut-down lines in baby talk (and subtitles).
MERYL STREEP plays the kids neurotically fearful aunt who lives in a cliffside house and fears that most anything in there might harm them.
BILLY CONNOLLY plays the kids' uncle and avid snake collector who takes them in as their guardian.
TIMOTHY SPALL plays the banker who gives the kids the bad news about their parents and then escorts them to their various new guardians.
JUDE LAW voices the film's cautionary narrator.; LIAM AIKEN plays her younger brother, an avid book reader who uses his knowledge to their advantage in dealing with Olaf.
KARA and SHELBY HOFFMAN play their younger sister, a toddler who's into biting and delivering various cut-down lines in baby talk (and subtitles).
MERYL STREEP plays the kids neurotically fearful aunt who lives in a cliffside house and fears that most anything in there might harm them.
BILLY CONNOLLY plays the kids' uncle and avid snake collector who takes them in as their guardian.
TIMOTHY SPALL plays the banker who gives the kids the bad news about their parents and then escorts them to their various new guardians.
JUDE LAW voices the film's cautionary narrator.; KARA and SHELBY HOFFMAN play their younger sister, a toddler who's into biting and delivering various cut-down lines in baby talk (and subtitles).
MERYL STREEP plays the kids neurotically fearful aunt who lives in a cliffside house and fears that most anything in there might harm them.
BILLY CONNOLLY plays the kids' uncle and avid snake collector who takes them in as their guardian.
TIMOTHY SPALL plays the banker who gives the kids the bad news about their parents and then escorts them to their various new guardians.
JUDE LAW voices the film's cautionary narrator.; MERYL STREEP plays the kids neurotically fearful aunt who lives in a cliffside house and fears that most anything in there might harm them.
BILLY CONNOLLY plays the kids' uncle and avid snake collector who takes them in as their guardian.
TIMOTHY SPALL plays the banker who gives the kids the bad news about their parents and then escorts them to their various new guardians.
JUDE LAW voices the film's cautionary narrator.; BILLY CONNOLLY plays the kids' uncle and avid snake collector who takes them in as their guardian.
TIMOTHY SPALL plays the banker who gives the kids the bad news about their parents and then escorts them to their various new guardians.
JUDE LAW voices the film's cautionary narrator.; TIMOTHY SPALL plays the banker who gives the kids the bad news about their parents and then escorts them to their various new guardians.
JUDE LAW voices the film's cautionary narrator.; JUDE LAW voices the film's cautionary narrator.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a quick look at the content found in this dark comedy that's been rated PG. Profanity consists of a handful of minor expletives, while some colorful phrases are also present, and other potentially imitative behavior (all of Jim Carrey's faces, voices and actions, etc.) occurs.

Tense family and related thematic material involves three kids being orphaned and then set off to live with various distant relatives after their parents are killed off-camera in a fire. That material along with various perilous moments where the kids are put in harm's way and/or must escape from death may be unsettling, suspenseful or downright scary to younger kids (which will be exacerbated by the film's overall dark and foreboding tone).

The kids' one relative has a bad attitude for trying to kill them for their sizable inheritance, while another murder occurs off-camera, there's another suggested death, and some characters strike and/or attempt to harm others. Meanwhile, a few characters briefly drink.

If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, some of that briefly occurs in a room partially illuminated by lightning.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: Count Olaf asks Poe if he'd like to stay for some port, but the banker declines the offer.
An actress and actor appear to drink liquor (one from a flask, the other from a bottle in a paper bag).

BLOOD/GORE: The kids find many pests in Count Olaf's cupboards, including rats, worms, a cockroach and a bat. They then use a spittoon as a pot to cook pasta. The visual joke is that after Violet states they'll have to wash it twice, we see something being poured of it (which we're led to believe is old spit, etc.), but it's the freshly cooked pasta (all designed to evoke the "Ewww" reaction).

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: Count Olaf has a bad attitude for wanting to kill the orphans to collect their inheritance and apparently killing some of their relatives. He also later attempts to marry Violet covertly (for the money) and forces the kids to do all of the chores around his manor (all played for dark comedy).

FRIGHTENING SCENES: Many scenes in the movie are staged and filmed to appear dark and foreboding and younger kids may find them and the following as unsettling, suspenseful or even scary, while older kids will likely have little such reaction to the material.
The kids walk through the charred ruins of their decimated, burned-down house.
The kids find many pests in Count Olaf's cupboards, including rats, worms, a cockroach and a bat.
The kids realize that Count Olaf has parked his car (with them in it) on an active railroad track. With the doors locked (and no way to open them) and a train approaching, the kids panic and try to figure out what to do. They quickly devise a plan that works just in the nick of time, diverting the approaching train onto another track right before it hits their car.
It's possible that Count Olaf's wild-eyed and exaggerated appearance might be unsettling or even scary to some very young kids.
Count Olaf menacingly tells the kids that he's going to get them.
The sight of various snakes on the loose (and skeletons of huge ones) in Uncle Monty's manor might be unsettling or scary to some kids.
While the kids try to find a snake in a large cage (they're on the outside), the door slowly opens and the huge serpent suddenly lunges out (but everyone is okay as Uncle Monty catches it by the neck and puts it back inside the cage).
We see a shadowy figure approaching Uncle Monty from behind as lightning flashes in the room (we then see Uncle Monty's bluish hand, and then hear that he died from a poisonous snake bite).
The kids fear that Aunt Josephine is dead (and find a suicide note) when they see that her large window overlooking the huge lake is broken. They later find her alive and well.
The kids are in Aunt Josephine's cliff house that's precariously situated on the edge of a cliff (mostly on stilts/scaffolding), high above a huge lake. As the winds increase, the house starts to shift and we see boards coming loose from their nails. As the house shifts even more, a door flies by (nearly hitting the kids) and crashes out through an already broken window. The house then starts to collapse and tilt, with the kids trying to make their way up the now angled floor, all while avoiding household items (such as a fridge) that come sliding, tumbling or flying their way. A large canister nearly hits Klaus and the kids then discover that they're stranded on part of the house that's now precariously and barely attached to the rest. Violet then comes up with the plan to drop a huge anchor on the board holding the two pieces together. They do just that, with the now free house structure bending toward the remains of the cliff house. The kids scramble out just as both pieces fall into the huge lake.
Aunt Josephine states that her husband was eaten by leeches. Later, and while on the lake with the kids, she spots movement just under the surface that's moving toward them (and we hear the sound of them approaching). They then realize that it's the huge leeches that then attack the boat, punching holes in the bottom and sides, causing the small boat to start to sink. Count Olaf then arrives to "rescue" them, but he leaves Aunt Josephine on the sinking boat (and she's presumably eaten).
Count Olaf shows that he has Sunny locked in a small cage alongside a tall tower, with the threat that he'll have his man drop the cage if Violet doesn't go along with his plan. Klaus then nervously climbs up a rope to try to rescue Sunny (he briefly ends up dangling from the side when his umbrella anchor pulls away from the wall).
A man with hooks for hands swings them several times at Klaus, but ends up hanging from the bottom of a cage that's hung just off a tower.
In a quick montage, we see that Count Olaf is subjected to the terrors that the kids faced, including the shaky cliff house platform, leeches all over him, and his fearful expression of seeing a train approaching his car that's stopped on the railroad tracks (no impact is seen).

GUNS/WEAPONS: Count Olaf, in the guise of another character, stabs a large knife into a door to prevent Violet and Klaus from closing it.
We see a photo of Aunt Josephine's late husband as he holds a hunting rifle.
While doing a theatrical play, Count Olaf uses a prop sword to behead a mannequin (no blood and played for comedy) and then proceeds to attack the dummy, breaking it apart.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "What a schmuck," "Your hideous primate" (how Count Olaf talks to Violet and Kraus about Sunny), "Back off, parrot face," "You're nuts," "Someone's been to crazy town," "She's the mayor of crazy town," "A face like a hen's arse," "Jeez," "Look it up, bookworm" and "You unspeakable cad."
All of Count Olaf's actions, mannerisms, voices and more may be enticing for some kids to imitate.
We see Sunny hanging on the edge of a table by just her mouth (she's bitten the table top's edge).
Sunny squeals and laughs with delight as she plays with a huge snake (that's acting like a puppy around her).
Klaus uses a large "magnifying glass" to focus the sun's rays and catch a document on fire.

JUMP SCENES: While the kids try to find a snake in a large cage (they're on the outside), the door slowly opens and the huge serpent suddenly lunges out (but everyone is okay as Uncle Monty catches it by the neck and puts it back inside the cage).

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): An extreme amount of ominous and suspenseful music plays in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): None.

PROFANITY: At least 2 asses (said as "arse"), 1 damn, 2 uses of "Oh my God" and 1 use of "Oh God."

SEX/NUDITY: None.

SMOKING: None.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: The kids receive the news that their parents were killed in a fire that also destroyed their mansion, leaving them as homeless orphans (the kids appear distraught, but there isn't a great deal of grief -- that's not being cold on their part, it's just the way the film proceeds).
The kids later walk through the charred ruins of their decimated, burned-down house.
Upset about how things have turned out, Klaus angrily asks Violet how their parents could have "done this" to them (meaning having no plan in the event of their untimely death).
All the kids have left of their parents is a double picture frame that shows the silhouettes of where the parents' photos/paintings once were before the fire.
Uncle Monty states that he also lost his family (wife and kids) in a fire in the past.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: Losing one's parents.
We see an actor who has two hooks in place of his hands.
Upset about how things have turned out, Klaus angrily asks Violet how their parents could have "done this" to them (meaning having no plan in the event of their untimely death).
The concept of milking a snake (for its venom).
In a theatrical play, we see a person dressed as a man on one side of the body, and a woman on the other.

VIOLENCE: Two never-seen characters (the parents) are killed off-camera in a fire (that we later learn was purposefully caused).
Count Olaf strikes Klaus.
Sunny bites Count Olaf on the foot or leg (not seen) and then threatens to bite somewhere higher next time (read in subtitles).
Count Olaf tries to kill the three kids by leaving them in a locked car stopped on railroad tracks with a train approaching (but they manage to divert it at the last moment).
We see a shadowy figure approaching Uncle Monty from behind as lightning flashes in the room (we then see Uncle Monty's bluish hand, and then hear that he died from a poisonous snake bite, presumably caused by that figure).
Trying to prove that Count Olaf is a sailor in disguise, Klaus knocks him to the ground to expose his leg (looking for a tattoo).
Aunt Josephine states that her husband was eaten by leeches. Later, and while on the lake with the kids, she spots movement just under the surface that's moving toward them (and we hear the sound of them approaching). They then realize that it's the huge leeches that then attack the boat, punching holes in the bottom and sides, causing the small boat to start to sink. Count Olaf then arrives to "rescue" them, but he leaves Aunt Josephine on the sinking boat (and she's presumably eaten).
Count Olaf holds Klaus' head over the edge of a boat under water (to make it seem like he's just saved him from the killer leeches).
While doing a theatrical play, Count Olaf uses a prop sword to behead a mannequin (no blood and played for comedy) and then proceeds to attack the dummy, breaking it apart.
Klaus uses a large "magnifying glass" to focus the sun's rays and catch a document on fire.
A man with hooks for hands swings them several times at Klaus, but ends up hanging from the bottom of a cage that's hung just off a tower.

Reviewed December 11, 2004/ Posted December 17, 2004

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