Parents need to know that the main character has a stutter for which he is teased by a bully, but it becomes less noticeable around his friends and girlfriend. The same bully is a menace throughout the film, most disturbingly as he kidnaps the object of his romantic affection. When persuasion has failed, a character holds his breath to get his way. Depictions of animals roughly handled on the way to zoo captivity may trouble young animal lovers. Also, scenes of pursuit by leopard seals and killer whales are intense, probably more so than children under age 7 will want to watch.

Families can talk about the birds aboard the bad ship Misery. Do you think animals are better or worse off in zoos than in the wild? Can you think of any arguments that people on the opposing side of the debate might have? The movie highlights lots of different types of penguins -- make a trip to the library to learn more about their habitats and habits.