Meerkat Manor: The Story Begins (NR)

Prequel is a gem, but more intense than series.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Weinstein Co.
  • Cast: Whoopi Goldberg
  • Running Time: 76 minutes
  • Release Date: 05/23/2008
  • Genre: Drama
  • MPAA Rating: NR

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this documentary prequel to the popular series Meerkat Manor isn't for the faint of heart, as it features upsetting scenes of meerkats being hunted and killed by predators and, in one case, being run over by a truck. In one emotional sequence, a baby meerkat is bitten by a cobra and suffers a sad, slow, labored death. Despite the voice-over narration, kids may be confused by the animal family's infighting. They may also have questions about the mating scenes (though they look more like cuddling than anything else) and resulting litters of pups. Overall, it's pretty intense for very young viewers, but for grade-school kids, it's a great introduction to the realities of life in the wild -- though you'll want to be ready to field queries about nature's "survival of the fittest."

Families can talk about the way things work in the wild. What daily struggles do the meerkats face? How do they work together to ensure the family's survival? How do their individual roles reflect their personal strengths? How does the movie make them seem more like real "characters" than a group of animals? Does that make what happens to them affect you more? Families can also discuss leadership. Why is it important to have leadership within a group? What happens when leadership dissolves? What qualities define a good leader?

Message

Social Behavior:

The movie offers an excellent opportunity for families to learn about the ups and downs of life in the wild.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Three prominent characters are killed during the movie, and the footage is both graphic and emotional. One meerkat is hit by a truck, a second is fatally wounded by a hawk (the injury isn't shown, but the death is), and a baby perishes from a snake bite after a drawn-out scene showing her struggling to breathe and crying for help. Meerkats also wage fairly violent battles against a rival gang.

Sex

Two scenes show meerkats mating (which looks more like cuddling than anything suggestive), and the narrator mentions adults' desires to find partners and start a family.

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Emily Ashby

Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, MEERKAT MANOR: THE STORY BEGINS is a prequel to Animal Planet's popular series Meerkat Manor and chronicles the rise of family matriarch Flower. It opens with underground scenes of Flower and her siblings not long after their birth and follows the future Whiskers family leader as she takes her first tentative steps into daylight, learns to forage for food, and discovers the wonders of the world around her. Cameras are there as Flower surrenders her home to a rival gang, suffers a haunting loss, finds love (and pays dire consequences for breaking the family's rules regarding romance), and finally steps up to the leadership role that seemed tailor-made for her.

Is it any good?

4
This story has it all -- family drama, neighborhood strife, illicit romance, emotional reunions, and the particular brand of humor reserved for human interpretations of animal behavior. Whether you're an established fan of the Whiskers clan or a newcomer to the Kalahari meerkat family, Meerkat Manor: The Story Begins is a captivating journey into the wild that will transport you from your living room to the desert to laugh, cry, and struggle alongside these irrepressible foot-tall desert dwellers.

That said, be careful about sharing it with young kids kids, since many scenes feature close-up views of battles between predators and prey, and there's uncensored footage of a few deaths (including one heart-wrenching one in which a baby dies slowly and painfully after a snake bite). Even kids old enough to handle the harsh facts of life in the wild may have follow-up questions about topics like mating rituals and "survival of the fittest," so be prepared. But if your kids are up for it, grab a box of tissues (you'll need them for all the ups and downs) and join them for the amazing journey that is everyday meerkat life.

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 4 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/10/08 by Twilight Kid contributor, age 16
5


Posted on 05/26/08 by Meerdog Kid contributor, age 10

Wonderful movie, a great tribute to Flower

This movie was truly a gem. Like the series, this movie was heart-warming and family-friendly. :) Deaths aren't shown, but injuries sometimes are. Meerkat mating is shown, but as stated, it looks more like cuddling than mating. My take on this movie: 10 stars. Aww, I can only give it five? I'll just give it 5 stars times 2. :)
5

Posted on 05/26/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

This is Amazing!

Its a really good show that shows how animals work together, fight, and become friends in thw wild. Its all true, and a show about nature. I do not have any concerns about younger kids watching it, because my 5 year old friend loves it!
5


Posted on 05/25/08 by pasha&brady Adult contributor

it was a good movie

All kids can wach Meerkat Manor it is a show about an animals life kids should now about how animals live

Adult Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

5


Posted on 05/25/08 by pasha&brady Adult contributor

it was a good movie

All kids can wach Meerkat Manor it is a show about an animals life kids should now about how animals live

Kids Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/10/08 by Twilight Kid contributor, age 16
5


Posted on 05/26/08 by Meerdog Kid contributor, age 10

Wonderful movie, a great tribute to Flower

This movie was truly a gem. Like the series, this movie was heart-warming and family-friendly. :) Deaths aren't shown, but injuries sometimes are. Meerkat mating is shown, but as stated, it looks more like cuddling than mating. My take on this movie: 10 stars. Aww, I can only give it five? I'll just give it 5 stars times 2. :)
5

Posted on 05/26/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

This is Amazing!

Its a really good show that shows how animals work together, fight, and become friends in thw wild. Its all true, and a show about nature. I do not have any concerns about younger kids watching it, because my 5 year old friend loves it!
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