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Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus (NR)

common sense media says

Barbie's fantasy journey has some dark elements.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there are some dark fantasy elements and scenes of threats and peril in this Barbie movie. Aidan fights a griffin and is tossed over a cliff and left for dead. Wenlock mistreats women and turns the inhabitants of a village to stone. And, contrary to the title, there's no character named Pegasus in this movie -- although there are flying horses.

Educational value: Vague cliches about the value of courage.
Positive messages: Themes of guys saving girls and girls having no choice about who they get to marry are dominant here. "Maybe this time I'll have a wife who doesn't disappoint me," says evil wizard Wenlock to Annika (Barbie). This subtext -- that women can be threatened into marriage and then turned into virtual slaves -- sets a queasy tone for this Barbie fantasy. Granted, Barbie generally behaves in a defiant manner when confronted by any threats, but Wenlock's comments makes about how "annoying" she and his wives are wander into the realm of domestic quarrel.
Positive role models: Barbie's can-do attitude might inspire young viewers. Brietta's passive behavior, on the other hand, is far less inspiring.
Violence & scariness: For a Barbie movie, there are a number of threatening and perilous scenes. Wenlock the Wizard turns Annika's family to stone and later buries Annika in an avalanche of snow. He threatens Annika and her sister when they refuse to marry him. He also calls his wives "annoying" and has turned them into ogres. There are also perilous falls from great heights. 
Sexy stuff: Barbie gets extra dolled up when Aidan shows interest in her; she also apparently feels comfortable wearing a spaghetti strap dress in the dead of winter.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Lots of product tie-ins. This is a Barbie vehicle, after all. A character purposefully places charms on a horse's mane -- which kids will also want to do when they see the winged horse and the jewels on the shelves of the store.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

  • Families can talk about fantasy stories. When is fantasy play healthy for young kids, and when do kids go too deep into their own heads? How does your family keep a foot rooted in reality?

  • This movie is targeted toward kindergarten-age kids, though preschoolers might also be watching. Do you think it's appropriate for both age groups? Why or why not?

  • As much as viewers may love Barbie in these movies, the goal is ultimately to sell her as a product. Check out our advice for parents about how to minimize the effects of advertising on young viewers.

What's the story?

What's the story?

Barbie plays Princess Annika (voiced by Kelly Sheridan), a wonderful ice-skater who enjoys being outdoors more than anything. Her parents are very protective of her -- which she discovers is because her sister was kidnapped by an evil wizard named Wenlock (Colin Murdock). When Annika refuses Wenlock's marriage proposal, she watches as her family is turned to stone. She's rescued by a flying horse named Brietta (Kathleen Barr), who takes Annika to Cloud Kingdom ... where she discovers that Brietta is actually her sister, who was turned to a flying horse by Wenlock when she, too, refused to marry him. At Cloud Kingdom, Annika gets the help she needs to undergo the journey that will ultimately save her parents and defeat Wenlock. Along the way, she meets a handsome craftsman named Aidan, and sparks fly.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

With its strong fantasy elements, BARBIE AND THE MAGIC OF PEGASUS targets fans of flying horses, magic spells, and wizards. But there's an eyebrow-raising subtext here: that females can be threatened into relationships that they don't want. The movie's best scenes are those in which Annika is ice skating or frolicking outdoors. Meanwhile, the scary scenes set in the Forbidden Forest might be too much for the youngest viewers.

And although Annika is brave, she still requires the help of a man to get her out of trouble. In short, true Barbie fans will enjoy this whimsical tale, but there are other better fantasy movies out there for young kids.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Lionsgate
Director: Greg Richardson
Cast: Colin Murdock, Kathleen Barr, Kelly Sheridan
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 83 minutes
DVD release: January 5, 2010
MPAA Rating: NR
This review was written by Joly Herman
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

tangled
teen, 14 years old
4
 
OK for barbie fans, but one annoying thing...
As in alot of princess movies, the princess character is totally dependent of one person-the prince or "love interest". This has changed recently, with movies like Shrek (sorta) Princess and the Frog (well, the prince is there, but the princess does all the work,) and even Beauty and the Beast (princess refuses proposal from handsome man and falls for real prince which is a beast) ANYWAY, I also hate how the wizard gets to marry any woman he wants just by blackmailing the poor women just because of their beauty. Thats sorta stupid and steriotypical...
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jennifer7
parent
6
 
My kids love it
my kids watch barbie everyday
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helped me decide (5) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (5)
Beckstar
adult
9
 
fine
I really liked this one. It had a nice story, not a very educational and inspiring one, but I still loved it. It's very well animated. Every Barbie film has a tad of violence, but very mild. So it shouldn't be an issue
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annika-zaysha
kid, 12 years old
5
 
Good movie for kids aged 5-6 and above.
I think that this movie is pretty good and has an excellent theme.
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whaleoh4060
teen, 14 years old
17
 
This barbie movie has way too many drugs.
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99IsMyLuckyNumber
teen, 15 years old
17
 
i love it.
I LEARNED THAT PINK PONIES FLY. ALSO, I BROKE MY CAMERA. ANNIKA FIGURE SKATES LIKE ME YAY. BUT SHE FAT. LIKE A COOKIE. AND LIK, I BET SHE EATS THOSE ALOT TOO. SHE SHUD BUY MEH GIRL SCOUT COOKIES. THEN I WULDNT CARE IF SHE AS FAT AS A CAKE. ALSO SHE EATS CAKE TOO. ALSO, I SAW WINGED PONY IN STORE. AND PRINCE UGLY. HE HAS NO BUTT. AND ALSO, BARBIE NEEDS A HAIRCUT AND SPRAYTAN DID U KNOW SQUARES ARE RECTANGLES, TOO? AND U UGLEE. OH AND BARBEE HAS PERTY JEWELS AND I DONT MOOOOMMMMMYYY! .
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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
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