It’s mid-July, better known as the “I’m Bored” part of summer. The novelty of not going to school has worn off and playing outside in scorching heat doesn’t seem like an appealing option. This is what DVDs are made for.

You don’t need to me to tell you to rent films like Bolt or Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: most kids can quote them.  However, as the Editor of kids’ movie site KidsPickFlicks, I can direct you to some amazing and entertaining movies which were overlooked in the theaters. The following films are really worth seeing and, most importantly, will capture your kid’s attention while you drive to Yellowstone.

FOR CHILDREN:
The great thing about these three animated films is they’re really smart and don’t speak down to kids, so your older kids will enjoy them as well.

Flushed Away: The premise for Flushed Away sounds as low brow as its title: a mouse living in a mansion gets flushed down the toilet by an intruder mouse bent on stealing his rich existence. It’s a fish out of water story (or a drowned rat story, take your pick) as the privileged mouse realizes the life he’s been missing outside of his wealthy walls. Flushed Away could be the epitome of bathroom humor, but surprisingly, it doesn’t go there. Instead, it’s clever with Airplane-type visual gags about the value of friendship versus the value of money. Bonus:  singing slugs, who could ask for more?

Hoodwinked:  Hoodwinked cleverly re-examines a classic fairy tale “Law and Order” style. For the most part, the original versions of fairy tales are horrific examples of crimes, death, and destruction. Hoodwinked address this element with savvy and investigates what really happened to Little Red Riding Hood, taking the stories of each character to find the truth. It’s a great lesson on not jumping to conclusions or accepting rumor as fact.

Open Season: A story about a tame bear being released into the wild just as hunting season begins, Open Season finds the hilarity in showing the “sport” of hunting from the animals point of view. Also, Open Season subtly deals with substance abuse (candy addiction) and how races often segregate themselves which, if you choose, can open conversations.

FOR TWEENS AND TEENS:

Bandslam: Poor marketing led to almost no one seeing this fantastic gem of a film starring High School Musical’s Vanessa Hudgens and Aly Michalka of music group Aly & AJ. Set up around a city-wide school music competition, Bandslam is really The Breakfast Club in musician’s clothing, exploring the depth of teens beyond the labels inevitably slapped on them in high school. The geek, the popular girl, the goth…we see what makes them tick and how they cope with the pressure, loneliness and insecurity that come with trying to survive their stereotypes. Bandslam is both fun and serious but never inappropriate.

Stick It: Stick It is the anti-chick flick, a movie about a teen girl that boys can appreciate. A trouble-finding teen avoids Juvie by attending a boarding school for Olympics-bound gymnasts. Through its extreme attitude and rebellious soundtrack, the messages about second chances and cutting through catty competitiveness to achieve goals effectively “stick” as well. As you might expect from a film about a juvenile delinquent, Stick It does have some crass language.

FOR ALL AGES:
Surf’s Up: The perfect summer film for kids of all ages. “Shot” like an ESPN sports documentary, Surf’s Up tells the story of aspiring surfing champ Cody Maverick (a penguin). This animated film’s witty dialogue and perfect voice casting is about following your dream, believing in yourself, and realizing you can be just as great as your heroes. Plus, it makes kids want to get outside!

To see what KIDS think about these summer picks, go to www.KidsPickFlicks.com.