Oddball
dir. Stuart McDonald (2015)
Family fun prevails in this gratifying Australian film based on the true story of an idiosyncratic grandfather and his aptly named oddball dog, who team up to save the local colony of fairy penguins. SF aficionados will appreciate Alan Tudyk’s supporting role.
Jumanji
dir. Joe Johnston (1995)
Although not so magically captivating as The Never-Ending Story, this family adventure fantasy concocts a certain chaotic wonder out of a board game that brings the jungle to predatory life in suburbia. Stars Robin Williams and cutting-edge (at the time) special effects.