The PG-13 Effect: Brett Ratner’s officially “blowing ‘em where the pampers is.” The Miami-born maverick tells MTV that his Beverly Hills Kindergarten Cop 4 will be out to impress kids who can’t get into PG-13 movies. Is there another franchise that has ever consisted of three R-rated films (two of which are really good) and then had a PG sequel?

“Ten-year-old kids, 12-year-old kids don’t really know the old Beverly Hills Cop. So it’s an opportunity to make it new for kids,” Ratner said. “The same way it felt for me watching Beverly Hills Cop when I was a kid, that’s what I want to do for kids today.”

The youth have gone wild on Avenue Crazy. Ratner doesn’t go out and say it will be PG, no, but he didn’t include 13-year-old kids in that above quote either. But let’s say it’s PG-13. What is going on? Terminators blow smaller bullet holes into revolting humans, John McClane can’t say his signature line anymore because it will corrupt Justin Long, and now Eddie Murphy’s Axel Foley, a DETROIT COP/wiseass won’t ratatat purpled language?

This trend of teening down makes me appreciate Rambo even more, and that’s not even possible. It’s silly to get mad about ratings, I agree with some of you in the comments, but damn, this is not what Ol’ Dirty Bastard meant when he said he did it “for the children.” Seth Rogen and a bag of weed can only do so much for moviegoers of rollercoaster height. Don’t worry, though, Ratner knows Foley…

“We’re trying to revitalize the franchise. He was one of my favorite movie characters of all-time, Axel Foley, by far the coolest movie character,” he said. “It’s an honor to be able to direct another Beverly Hills Cop film.”

At least he didn’t bring up The Dark Knight. Some people have emailed to say he might have been kidding, to which I replied, so he’s not Brett Ratner afterall?

Discuss: Will this be worse than Cop and 1/2? This is not really applicable in this situation, but who cares: Nuke the Fridge.