 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Babes in Toyland
- Review Date: February 6, 2012
- G
- Genre: Musical
- 2004
Common Sense Media says
Christmas musical retold as cartoon; some scary bits.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this animated version of the holiday classic Babes in Toyland is filled with upbeat song, but also includes scenes where kids are thrown into an attic by their wicked uncle, and demons are unleashed to ruin Christmas. Depending on your child's tolerance for peril and monsters, these scenes will either be exciting or scary. Cartoonish violence -- falling, fighting, chasing -- is common.
What's the story?
Jack (voiced by Joseph Ashton) and Jill (Lacey Chabert) are sent to Toyland, where they are to live with their curmudgeonly Uncle Barnaby (Christopher Plummer). Along the way, they meet Tom Piper and Mary Lamb, who work in a toy factory that has just received a very large shipment of toy soldiers. But Uncle Barnaby wants to shut down the factory and ruin Christmas, and so Jack and Jill must work with Tom and Mary to stop Uncle Barnaby's wicked plan.
Is it any good?
With trains, Santa, toys, Humpty Dumpty, strong female characters, adventurous male characters, cartoonish falling, goblins, and musical numbers, this version of BABES IN TOYLAND seems to have everything a child could possibly want in a Christmas movie.
While the songs from Victor Herbert's operetta will no doubt be enjoyed by kids who are discovering music, many of the more violent scenes -- as cartoonish as they may be -- demand a parent's discretion in determining if their child is mature enough to handle scenes with evil goblins and monsters. Still, all-in-all, Christopher Plummer brings a delightful menace as the voice of Uncle Barnaby, and the acting (and singing) as a whole is above the average children's fare.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the differences in behavior between the "good" characters in this movie and the "bad" characters. How do good characters treat those around them? What about the bad?
How do Jill, Mary, and Tom show examples of positive attitudes throughout the movie? Do you think their reactions are realistic? Does that matter?
How is this similar and different from other holiday movies you've seen?
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Parent
May 7, 2012
AGE
Thumbs up from a five-year-old.
My five-year-old granddaughter liked it. She watched it twice in one day and pretended to be scared when the goblins made their appearance. The animation is not up to the standards of a Disney film, but the musical score and acting is top notch. I enjoyed it almost as much as she did.
What other families should know:
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Adult
December 6, 2012
AGE
G Rating is good
Anyone can see this.
3 & Up can see this movie.
What other families should know:
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| Topics: | holidays |
| Studio: | MGM/UA |
| Director: | Paul Sabella |
| Cast: | Christopher Plummer, Joseph Ashton, Lacey Chabert |
| Genre: | Musical |
| Run time: | 74 minutes |
| DVD release date: | November 2, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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