While watching The Boxtrolls, I found myself thinking about celebrities who subject themselves to quite a bit of plastic surgery. I’m no psychologist, but I’d venture to guess all that work they have done is related to the ambition to be a household name again – you gotta look good in high def. The result, though, is that these people become greater targets for ridicule than the reality shows they star in.

So how does this relate to Boxtrolls? In the movie, subterranean trolls are being wiped out due to the ambition of the town exterminator, Archibald Snatcher. Snatcher wants so desperately to be one of the powerful lords ruling over his British town of Cheesebridge that he will doing anything to get it and to feel like he is a part of that posh lifestyle. He even hosts mock cheese tastings available only to the Cheesebridge royalty.  One problem, though: Snatcher has horrendous cheese allergies. With one fromage-filled bite, his skin reacts and his face swells. But he is so blinded by his desire to be someone important, he’s oblivious to how it has festered into something truly ugly.

We tell kids “Dream big!” and “You can become anything!” That’s good advice, but kids should also understand that those who are focused only on fame and fortune can easily lose their way -- even talented people who have done great things in the past. That’s one valuable story element of The Boxtrolls.

Kids can look at the altered faces of famous people and see that in the pursuit of a superficial goal, it’s easy to lose sight of deeper values, just as aspiring politicians and businessmen like Snatcher sometimes trade in their integrity for status and attention.

Here are three movies to see with your family this weekend:

The Boxtrolls. The Kindergarten set is buzzing about these mischievous creatures, but be warned: it’s dark and a tad scary for those under seven.

The Maze Runner. Teens will jump out of their seats while watching this twisty-turny suspense film about kids being treated like mice in a labyrinth.

Dolphin Tale 2. This multigenerational pleaser turns a story about coping with death and depression into an uplifting, inspiring and empowering film.

Read Tara’s parent reviews at ThatWasSomething.com. Find out what kids think about these films at KidsPickFlicks.com, where all kids are movie critics!