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The Aristocats

(1970, Rated G, Family and kids, Starring Phil Harris, Eva Gabor, Liz English)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 4; suggested age 4.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Jazz and hijinks make this Disney cat tale meow.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    A Siamese cat called "Chinese cat" is a negative Asian stereotype typical of movies made at the time, complete with buck teeth and stupid grin. The greedy butler Edgar drugs and abandons the cats, then gets his comeuppance.
  • Violence & scariness:

    Edgar spikes milk for the cats with sleeping pills. Kittens and their mom are kidnapped and abandoned in the country. A few prolonged chase scenes where it looks like animals and people could get harmed, especially when animals are chased with a pitch fork.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Lots of girl-cat eye-batting at O'Malley's flattery. More than a few giggly shots of Edgar the butler's underwear.
  • Language:

    "Hush your mouth" uttered by a dog.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    A goose exits a restaurant falling down drunk after being "marinated" by a chef -- played for many laughs.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Aristocats

Parents need to know that younger and sensitive kids may be upset by the drugging and abandonment of a mom cat and her three kittens. For a brief moment the kittens can't find their mom. In some slapstick chase scenes it looks like animals or people could be injured, especially when Edgar the butler wields a pitch fork. Plus played for laughs are shots of Edgar the butler's underwear and a drunk goose weaving down the street.

Read our full review by carriew

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Edgar the butler. He doesn't seem really mean like Cruella De Vil, but he's still not nice to Madame's cats. How come? Why does he go back to the country for his hat and umbrella? Where's Timbuktu?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 4.0

    As far as Disney movies go, this one is pretty mild. The negative elements of the movie are too complicated for a toddler - which involve the drugging of kittens so they will go "night night" and can be relocated to the country-side because the man who does this wants to become first inline to inherit his employer's fortune since the kittens precede him in the employer's will. Once this story line is established at the outset of the movie, the majority of the movie is about the cats' funny and quirky adventures in trying to get back home. When they eventually do return home, a physical fight ensues between the animals and the butler and a pitch fork gets thrown at a cat, but besides that there isn't much violence. The evil character is a goofy butler, who is not that scary compared to other Disney antagonists. For small children, this is a cute, relatively harmless movie.

  2. I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Very good.

    Haven't watched it in a while, but satiafactory.

  4. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    My review

    This movie was very cute, and colorful but parents should know that there is a bit of cartoonish violance that may be upsetting for sensitive, and younger kids. The butler tried to stab cats with a pitchfork, he drugs the mother cat Duchess and her kittens by putting sleeping pills in there milk. Then he kidnaps them and throws them into a swamp.

  6. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

  7. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

    Amazing!!!

    Watched it twice in row! I especially love the song, "Everyone Wants To Be A Cat" and Napoleon the dog's "I'm the Leader" speeches! When I watched this as a four-year-old though, I was terrified at the evil Edgar. Now though, I realize (obviously) the humor in his personality and his bad mathematics! Especially loved the ending!!!

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

    An old favorite

    I loved this movie when I was a kis, and was anxious to show it to my little girl when she was old enough. She was a little over 2 when she first saw it, and she loves it. Unfortunately, as usual with Disney, in their effort to appeal to broad age ranges, there is the standard conflict in this Disney movie that scares some little ones. Almost every Disney movie has it, which we are frustrated by. My daughter is almost 3 and loves to watch the movie, but we have to fast forward past the abduction, abandonment, and the brief moment when the kittens can't find their mother. Except for thos moments, it's great for the little ones.

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 3.0

    i miss this soooooo much

    i liked this when i was little, now im a bit too old for it

  10. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Nothing to scare sensitive toddlers

    My daughter is pretty easily frightened by concepts of loss and malice, like Bambi's mother getting shot or the wicked stepmother trying to poison Snow White. She loves this movie and nothing about it upsets her.

  11. Kid Reviewer Age 5
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

  12. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0

  13. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

  14. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title iffy for age 5 and give it 3.0

  15. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 2.0

  16. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0

  17. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Cute, fun, mostly mild

    My 3 year old loves this movie. I like it too. It's Disney back before the bad guys were really scary. Only 3 things make it not perfect entertainment for young ones: 1. The butler puts something in the cats milk, saying nitey- night. (over my 3's head-she can't read "sleeping pills" on bottle). Butler takes cats away from home so he can inherit their mistresses fortune. (Way over my 3's head).

    2. Brief appearance by Uncle Waldo, a top-hatted goose missing his tail feathers (you only know he's destined for dinner if you can read)and he's weaving & hiccuping (stereotypical drunk, but not explained.)

    3. Physical comedy/violence: Butler (trying to get rid of cats) is kicked in the air by horse, throws pitchfork at cat (pins, but doesn't hurt him) and tries to mail cats to timbuktu in a trunk. Oh, no, it has no educational value. Just lots of endearing appeal. Plot summary: Butler hears he's to inherit after cats (mom & 3 kits), so whisks them away to country so he'll get the fortune. Cats meet a charming alley cat who shows them back to Paris, with adventures along the way. Happy reunion in end. (But butler mailed to Timbuktu.)Animated.

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