Feature Films for Families is a local company with a mission — to provide movie entertainment that parents don't need to worry about.
Unlike so-called "family movies" that come out of Hollywood, and which are often laced with profane and vulgar language, or which have stories that promote questionable values, each movie from Feature Films for Families is squeaky clean.
Though Feature Films started out releasing movies made by others, often editing them to meet the company's standards, these days most are home grown. Several new productions are filmed locally each year, though they are set elsewhere. (And some, like "Seasons of the Heart" and "Rigoletto" are quite good.)
The latest, "No More Baths," is getting a limited theatrical run, and its made-for-video roots are all too obvious. But it's a cute kids picture with a strong positive message and benefits from an occasional quirky sense of humor.
Set in a small Colorado town, the story has young children cutting through the property of a local eccentric named Jake each day on their way to school. Jake welcomes them with open arms, and they often spend afternoons playing there.
But when a couple of kids receive minor injuries in separate accidents on Jake's property, a local real-estate tycoon decides to force Jake out so he can develop the land. This prompts the kids to protest, following the example of "peaceful resistance" demonstrated by Martin Luther King, which they are studying in school.
In this case, they refuse to bathe until the matter is resolved.
There are some good performances (led by Jim Mapp as Jake), though others are mediocre; the script uneasily juxtaposes silly comedy and serious, preachy drama; and the climax is predictably sappy (especially when the villain miraculously reforms, as if he's Ebenezer Scrooge).
But there are some delightful compensatory moments, including Utah Jazz President Frank Layden in the role of a Larry King-type TV interviewer. Other familiar faces include KSL TV anchor Gretchen Carr — as a TV anchor — Sparky Mortimer, of "Late Show With David Letterman" and former "Saturday Night Live" star Victoria Jackson in a typically ditsy role.
Keep your expectations low and it's enjoyable lightweight fare.