Common Sense Note
Parents should know that Babe's separation from his mother, mirrored in a later scene in which a mother dog watches her pups being given away, can be disturbing to children who have had similar experiences. A scene of wild dogs attacking a herd of sheep is surprisingly strong. Nods to the reality of farm life (that animals are eaten by humans) don't fit well with the otherwise fanciful nature of the movie.
Families can talk about what life on a farm might really be like. Which animals live on farms? Do you think they interact with each other the way the animals do here? What other movies have talking farm animals?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: M. Faust
"This is a tale," a narrator tells us, "of an unprejudiced heart," perfectly setting the tone for what is probably the best-loved family movie of the 1990s.
BABE is filled from beginning to end with marvelous images: the animals who can talk (to each other, not to humans) in subtle mouth movements and well-cast voices; the never-never land of Hoggett's farm, a realistic setting with just a touch of magic; and endless surprising details, like the trio of singing mice who introduce scenes but are otherwise relinquished to small corners of the screen, the more to delight sharp-eyed viewers on the lookout for them.
But BABE is not merely a treat for the eyes. The story of this spunky little pig, who seems to have no future but to eat and be eaten, will inspire every viewer. It's a tale about making a place for yourself in the world. While BABE occasionally seems unnecessarily harsh in letting the real world seep into its fairy tale story, children seem to take it in stride; a 3-year-old and 5-year-old were only briefly saddened by moments like a dog's puppies being given away. The biggest worry a parent can have about showing BABE to kids is that, like the 5-year-old, they will insist on asking for a pet pig.
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