CHRONICLE | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"CHRONICLE"
(2012) (Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell) (PG-13)

QUICK TAKE:: Sci-Fi/Action: Three high school students must contend with their ever-increasing telekinetic powers.

PLOT:

Andrew Detmer (DANE DeHAAN) is a senior at a Seattle area high school with no real friends and a bad situation at home. With his mom, Karen (BO PETERSEN), terminally ill, his dad, Richard (MICHAEL KELLY), has become a bitter and abusive alcoholic toward Andrew. As a result, the teen has taken to recording his entire life on a video camera. That's something that his cousin, Matt Garetty (ALEX RUSSELL), not only thinks is odd, but also knows won't win Andrew any new friends, even if the girl who Matt likes, Casey (ASHLEY HINSHAW), also often carries around her videocam.

Andrew's camera is called into play by Matt and popular student Steve Montgomery (MICHAEL B. JORDAN), who's running for class president, after they've discovered a large hole in the ground outside a party. Going down into it, they encounter a strange glowing structure that ends up giving them telekinetic powers. At first, they think it's a fascinating development, and have fun playing around with their newfound abilities.

But as the days pass and their powers increase, Steve and especially Matt become concerned about Andrew and how he's started wielding his powers towards those who bother or abuse him.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Some teens might be drawn to the story that revolves around high school students, while those interested in stories about telekinesis might also want to see it.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13: For intense action and violence, thematic material, some language, sexual content and teen drinking.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:

DANE DeHAAN plays a teen who doesn't have a happy life. With few if any real friends, he's pretty much...

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