Miami International Film Festival Embraces Family-Friendly Films

By Fernie Ruano Jr.
Entering its 30^th year, the Miami International Film Festival, the annual piñata of Spanish and Latin American productions — long-established for satisfying the taste of all cinema enthusiasts – is rolling out the red carpet for the entire family and promises something for everyone, whether your child is still fumbling with Lego bricks, buried in The Diaries of Wimpy Kid or immersed in American Idol.

3D-animated adventure comedy The Croods

Intent on delivering an interactive, family-friendly festival for kids of all ages, festival organizers have revved up efforts on opening weekend so you don’t leave anybody behind when pulling out of the driveway.
“I want to open the door to all kids and give them an opportunity to come away with a deeper appreciation for everything that goes into the film industry and making a film,” said Jaie Laplante, executive director of the Miami International Film Festival.
And judging by this year’s kids series, which kicks off with The Croods, a 3D-animated trip back into the Stone Age, and The Boy Who Smells Like Fish, about a young boy’s search for a normal life while battling a medical condition, Laplante isn’t kidding.
Judd Ehrlich’s Magic Camp, a documentary shadowing the footsteps of trick-obsessed kids competing for a prestigious award, will also screen around scheduled Q&A sessions with filmmakers.
Star-studded The Croods explores family dynamics
At the forefront is Kirk De Micco and Chris Sanders’ (Disneytoon, Lilo & Stitch) star-studded, adventure-comedy ‘The Croods’ (1:30 p.m., March 2, Regal South Beach Cinemas), a 90-minute prehistoric tale that follows a caveman family’s epic journey of modernization and a new home (after their roof caves in, literally).

Belt, Guy and Eep in The Croods

Their discovery of the future and the concept of tomorrow (think The Flintstones meet The Simpsons) accelerates after a happening involving brainy and creative Guy, a wandering hunter-gatherer (Ryan Reynolds) who opens their eyes and aids their transition into modern age, not to mention keeps their pants up the help of his pet sloth, Belt. Along the way, the family is blindsided by generational clashes and unforeseen transitions, altering their outlook on life for forever.
While teasing an emotionally-charged complexity between parent and child in its trailer, much like Brave and Finding Nemo in recent years, The Croods appears to key in on the entire family dynamic, namely the all-conservative father (an-odd sounding Nicholas Cage) and rebellious daughter (a curvy and loud Emma Stone). Meanwhile, De Micco and Sanders attempt at all cost to retain the caveman’s way of thinking for the sake of comic relief, if not to keep the audience engaged even if the character designs of the animated-cave people look a bit out of focus.
But a colorful backdrop and scenery to go with Stone’s voice should make for a fun and adventurous transition from rocks to modernization.
Self-Esteem Themes in The Boy Who Smells Like Fish
Although centered on Mica (Douglas Smith), abandoned and stricken with a metabolic disease, the drama-laden The Boy Who Smells Like Fish ( 6:15 p.m., March 2, Olympia Theatre) leans on the power of perseverance and relationships while gingerly crossing paths between gender and age, all the while tugging at the heart.

Zoë Isabella Kravitz in The Boy Who Smells Like Fish

Directors Analeine Cal and Mayor play with the notion that dealing with his own self-esteem is the key to putting a young boy’s condition in the rear-view mirror and moving on with his life, but nothing comes easy.
With his father a non-presence since birth and his mother (Ariadna Gil) hardly around, the funky-smelling teenager (his doctors can’t seem to detect why the disease makes him reek of fish) spends most of his time guiding tours at a museum dedicated to Mexican crooner Guillermo Garibai and struggles to make friends despite the delicate care provided by his therapist (Carrie- Anne Moss).
Hardly anybody talks to him as he marches on with what would seemingly continue to be a bland and meaningless life – until he comes to face-to-face with the kind-hearted Laura, played by Zoe Kravitz, the daughter of Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet.
Magic Camp holds perseverance message for everyone
There’s a trick for everybody to appreciate in Ehrlich’s Magic Camp (1:30 p.m., March 3, Regal South Beach Cinema) as magic-consumed kids gather at Tannon’s, the most prestigious camp in the world, to deal with the pressures of having to grow up, all the while trying to etch their names on the same stage that once hosted renowned magicians Dave Copperfield and Dave Blaine.
But more than just mastering what’s behind making a card disappear, Ehrlich beautifully illustrates the picture of perseverance as the campers grow with age. “I have kids of my own and we live in such a fast environment that we forget to educate them on the most important of core values,” said Laplante. “There’s a message in these films for everyone.”

Scene from the documentary Magic Camp

“We are 100% committed to making sure Miami families are aware that the Miami International Film Festival welcomes them with open arms,” he said.
A $6 discount ticket code (FamilyMIFF) for Hispanicize, Latina Mom bloggers and Being Latino readers is available through phone and online advance orders.
Regular price is $12 for adults and $7 for kids under 16/students with ID. Seniors price is $11 and all Miami Dade College students (with ID) are admitted free of admission. Tickets can be purchased at (305)-405- MIFF (6433) or www.miamifilmfestival.com.
General inquiries can be made at (305)-237-FILM (3456) or info@miamifilmfestival.com.