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Tinker Bell

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 2, age appropriate for kids over 4; suggested age 4.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Sweet, simple story is best for young Tink fans.

updated 09.28.09

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Tinkerbell must learn to appreciate the fairy talent she has rather than attempting to change it. 
  • Role models:

    Tinker Bell tries very hard to have a different fairy talent and eventually accepts and appreciates what she's best at. Her talent as an inventor and fixer goes against girl stereotypes. A mean-spirited fairy gets her comeuppance.

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    A hawk swoops down menacingly on the fairies, cornering two in a tree and snapping its jaws. Some slapstick humor when things fall apart and animals get bonked. Renegade thistles destroy a section of Pixie Hollow, but no one gets hurt.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Tinker Bell gets ogled briefly by her fellow tinkers when she dresses in her very short dress for the first time.
  • Language:

    "Tushie" is the most you'll hear.
  • Consumerism:

    There's a whole line of Pixie Hollow products (dolls, toys such as a Talking Cafe), a Web site, a video game, a book series, and even a magazine. Most things are highlighted in the booklet insert, along with food and airline offers and more Disney DVDs.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Tinker Bell was written by Anne Louise Bannon

Parents need to know that the Fast Play feature that lets you start the DVD without the remote also pushes you to four previews for Disney movies and an ad for Disney Rewards. It would actually be faster to go to the menu and hit "play." There's also plenty for sale in the Tinker Bell line: dolls, toys, books, a magazine, a video game, and more. This simple story is mild on violence -- only one scene with a hawk snapping its jaws at fairies may be frightening -- and has a few good lessons about accepting and enjoying your own talents.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about how Tinker Bell learns to accept her talent, even if it isn't as glamorous as what the other fairies do.
  • Why is Tinker Bell's talent so important to all fairies?
  • Do you like to invent or fix things?
  • Would it be more fun to you than pollinating flowers or making dew drops on spider webs?
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More on Tinker Bell

What’s the Story?

TINKER BELL tells the fairy's story from her creation after a baby's first laugh (as in the Peter Pan book by J. M. Barrie) to her first adventure. After landing in Pixie Hollow, Tink (voiced by Mae Whitman) finds that she's a tinker fairy -- one who builds and fixes things for the other fairies to use as they change the seasons. When she finds out that this means she doesn't get to go to the real world with the other fairies, she decides she doesn't want to be a tinker and tries to find a new talent, with disastrous results. Only by embracing her original talent can springtime be saved.

Is It Any Good?

This sweet and simple straight-to-DVD story is geared especially to kids of the age most likely to clap their hands and exclaim "I believe in fairies!" It does a lovely job of introducing the world of Pixie Hollow with some lush animation and a dreamy, Celtic-infused soundtrack featuring Loreena McKennitt.

But the story is a little too simplistic and mild for older kids who love the world of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. Tinker Bell makes a mistake, learns a simple lesson, and saves the day. Her sidekick fairy friends -- all voiced by some great talent -- will doubtless do more for doll sales than they do for this story; except for the "mean one" Vidia (Pamela Adlon), their personalities aren't very fleshed out. Of course with another DVD in the series already advertised for fall 2009, there's always a chance for fairy fans to get to know them better.

Movie Details

Studio: Disney, Director: Bradley Raymond
Run time: 78 minutes
Theatrical release: 10/22/2008, DVD release: 10/27/2008
MPAA Rating: G

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 4.0

  2. I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    very good animation , great movie ! highly recommended

    great movie , both my sons 2 years old and 5 years old liked it . parents guidance might be needed to explain about the fairy girls,

  3. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Great Family Movie

    My kids (and I) LOVE this movie! Even my two year old can sit through most of it. It is action packed, and the animation is great. It's SO nice to see a female Disney character who is not dumbed down, who can do things independently, can recover from mistakes made, and who is not dependent on a male character to "save" her! There is some name calling and at one point, Tinker Bell says being a tinker is "stupid". This generated a good discussion in our household about that word and how it can be hurtful. I really liked the message of the movie too, that everyone has a purpose and that every individual person has value and worth.

  4. I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    great movie

    All of my kids like this movie! my two year old twins my three year old and my four year old love it

  5. I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive consumerism
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Good for older children, not really for 2 to 3 year olds into Disney princesses

    My 2 and half year old is in love with Tinkerbell, and she loves to see images of Tinkerbell. However, this movie is too long for her attention span. It's definitely geared toward older viewers. I don't have anything against it except Disney's blatant marketing and commercialism. (But it made Christmas easy, lol.)

  6. I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Not only does this movie send a positive message to girls about being yourself and being proud of who you are, but the animation is beautiful. It was a joy to watch b/c of the story but also the beauty.

  7. I rate this title iffy for age 3 and give it 2.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Excessive consumerism
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Another disney movie

    Meh...

  8. I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    Watched again and again

    Our two girls, ages 3 and 5, love this movie and both a very sensitive to anything sad or scary. The first time they were initially nervous about the sprinting thistles but there was nothing super scary like we've seen in other popular kids movies (e.g. sharks eating mom fish, etc.) and now they are fine with the thistles too. The music makes it enjoyable to have on too.

  9. I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

  10. I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Good role models

    One of the best Disney has managed to churn out in the last several years

    I really like this movie, Disney actually did good. I was a little worried they'd dumb it down, but instead they managed to keep it simple without being condescending. Yes, there is a lot of marketing based around it, but seriously people - it's toys and t-shirts. I'd rather see little ones playing with fairy toys than plastic guns, and I would think it's much easier to clothes-shop for kids when they have something to relate to. Tweens and teens might get embarassed to say they like it, but my whole family (me, mom, dad, and a 12-yr old boy) all love it enough to get the sequel.

  11. I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    best from Disney since...ever!

    I never gave much thought to the female protagonists in Disney animated movies until I had children. Since then, it's hard to believe it took THIS LONG for Disney to develop a strong, admirable female lead for their animation franchise. When our family first watched this film, I thought it was a little cheesy, but, by the second viewing, really loved the film. The writers don't dumb things down for their audience, which I appreciate (my girls know what "elucidate" means because of this movie!) and the overall theme is really wonderful for girls of any age, but especially preschoolers. Tinker Bell is hardworking, creative, strong-willed, and a true inventor. There's a brief lovey moment with a boy fairy, Terrance, but this is a girl-centric Disney movie with NO ROMANCE! It is fantastic! There's no prince to rescue her, no damsel-in-distress scenario here -- Tinker Bell can figure things out for herself, and, happily, does.

  12. I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive consumerism
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Cute, cute, cute

    My kids (girl age 2, boy age 5) really like this movie. Sure, Disney has tons of marketing surrounding this movie, but at least you have an idea for Christmas and Birthday presents. Tink is much sweeter in this movie than in Peter Pan.

  13. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Wisconsin
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 3.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

  14. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    so cute

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Tennessee
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive consumerism
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    My only concern is all the advertisement! T-shirts, bags, shoes, etc., but other than that the movie is very cute and is sending the message to follow your heart.

  16. I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive consumerism
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    i notice the commercialism 2! my 3 year old would just wanna get more and more tinker bell stuff now

  17. I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    good movie for girls tinker bell all girls love

  18. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Good.

    Good. I don't see anything innapropiate

  19. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 4.0

    Heart warming movie

    Wonderful values about appreciating your talents and the talents of others. Love the wonderful colours of this movie.

  20. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    Lives in South Carolina
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    One of the best Disney movies ever!

    I was really dying to watch this movie & then I got it for Christmas. I loved it! Tinkerbell is my favorite Disney character.

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