Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Amusing adventure for fans of Jack Black and silly jokes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Gulliver's Travels
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 36 parent reviews
Based on 40 kid reviews
Kids say the movie has a mix of entertaining and inappropriate content, with many mentioning its funny moments but also criticizing the excessive potty humor and mild language, which may not be suitable for younger audiences. While some enjoyed the performances and found it suitable for older kids, others were disturbed by specific scenes and overall deemed it unworthy of viewing.
- inappropriate language
- potty humor
- mixed reviews
- entertaining moments
- suitable for older kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In this adaptation of Jonathan Swift's classic satire, Jack Black stars as Lemuel Gulliver, a mailroom clerk at a New York City newspaper, where he's worked for years nursing a crush on travel editor Darcy Silverman (Amanda Peet). When an ambitious new mailroom employee (T.J. Miller) is hired one day and promoted the next, Gulliver decides to approach Darcy for a date -- but instead he makes her think he's interested in becoming a travel writer. After he turns in a plagiarized writing sample, Darcy assigns Gulliver a feature story about the Bermuda Triangle, where he sails into a storm that lands him on the diminutive island kingdom of Lilliput. There, he proves himself a hero, befriends Horatio (Jason Segel) -- a commoner who's in love with Princess Mary (Emily Blunt) -- and proceeds to lie spectacularly about himself to the everyone, since, for once in his life, he's beloved. But everything's in jeopardy when the princess' betrothed, General Edward (Chris O'Dowd), starts to feel threatened.
Is It Any Good?
Whether you'll enjoy GULLIVER'S TRAVELS or not all boils down to how much you enjoy Black's brand of humor. For those who consider him an irresistible jokester, this is a slightly better-than-average comedy with loads of pop culture references and that signature Black comedy. Audiences who are lukewarm on Black's charm may be less amused by this adaptation, but there are enough silly laughs, talented supporting actors, and broad sight gags (such as the diminutive, fully made-up KISS band) to make this a decent family pick.
Even taking the scenery-chewing Black out of the picture, the Lilliputian cast is good, with Billy Connolly as the always entertaining king, Blunt as the beautiful princess who yearns for more than her status allows, and Segel as the commoner who yearns to woo her. But the stand-out performer is O'Dowd, an Irish actor best known for his work on British television (The IT Crowd). His uptight, self-righteous General Edward is just the right mix of pompous and insecure for what's otherwise a caricaturish character. This fish-out-of-water fantasy isn't necessarily a must-see film, but for Black devotees, it's yet another example of the comedian's Adam Sandler-like ability to remain essentially himself in every movie.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what the movie is saying about believing in yourself. What finally makes Gulliver do the right thing? Why is it easier for him lie about himself than admit the truth?
What do you expect from a Jack Black movie? Is it a given that you'll see him sing, dance, and make fun of his own body? What other film stars use a similar brand of comedy?
Who do you think this movie is meant to appeal to most? Does it succeed? Have you seen any other versions of this story? How does this one compare?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 25, 2010
- On DVD or streaming : April 19, 2011
- Cast : Amanda Peet , Emily Blunt , Jack Black , Jason Segel
- Director : Rob Letterman
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Adventures , Book Characters
- Run time : 85 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : brief rude humor, mild language and action
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate