EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES is MY SISTER'S KEEPER-lite, and I think, better for kids. That doesn't mean I think you should take kids, I think the story overall isn't that interesting to kids; however, should you watch a kids-with-terminal illnesses film, I'd pick this one.

EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES is based on the true story of John Crowley (Brendan Fraser) whose two of three kids are dying from Pompe Disease, a rare, untreatable form of multiple sclerosis. With his children closing in on what doctors predict will be their last year of life, Crowley decides he has to be proactive in trying to find a cure. He leaves a high-paying job for a start-up venture in the quest to find a medicine to treat the disease before his children lose the battle.

Why this film is better for kids than MY SISTER'S KEEPER is that it's less cloying and more tempered when it comes to playing with your emotions. Terminal kids is always hard to watch but EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES makes you feel the pain of the Crowley's without manipulating tears. I, personally, appreciate that. My daughter is also a crier and she, too, appreciates a non-crying film. Additionally, it's an incredible, inspiring real story of an individual who overcomes all kinds of insurmountable obstacles to create a miracle. The knowledge that one person can make a difference in the lives of many is an important one.

Despite that, I don't think elementary age kids will particularly enjoy EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES. The film is told from the dad's point of view, the subject matter is mature, and the medical and scientific jargon is incredibly boring. On the flip side, as an adult, it's pretty educational and not always flattering to how pharmaceutical breakthroughs and medicines "come to market." A kid probably isn't really ready to absorb that type of info.

In the MPAA-rating department, EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES is rated PG which is for a handful of cursewords, most of which mean "poo," and one scene of mom and dad getting frisky.

EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES isn't chockful of stuff that will entertain kids, but for a dose of inspiring, it's certainly not bad medicine. For 9 and up.