 | 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. |
Barbie Presents Thumbelina
- Review Date: March 11, 2009
- NR
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Eco-friendly story unrelated to real Thumbelina story.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this Barbie vehicle bears virtually no resemblance to the fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson, aside from the name of the main character. Repeated scenes of spoiled and materialistic kids and clueless parents are intended to set the stage for transformation. Corporate sabotage in the name of saving a patch of forest is depicted repeatedly. Predictable, safe family fare.
What's the story?
Though it shares its name with a famous fairy tale, BARBIE PRESENTS THUMBELINA has virtually nothing else in common with the Hans Christian Andersen story. In this version, Thumbelina is the greatest of the Twillerbees, a tiny race of magical creatures who have the power to make plants grow. Their hidden forest enclave is threatened by development, and Thumbelina has only one way to save them: convincing spoiled little rich girl Makena to talk her cell phone-wielding business owner parents into stopping the bulldozers that will obliterate the Twillerbees forever.
Is it any good?
The Barbie franchise has hit on a consistent movie formula and stuck with it: a main character, either fairy or princess, who must overcome various forms of evil with the help of animal sidekicks, determination, and some good old-fashioned grrrl power. This DVD is no different, providing eye candy in the form of the richly hued animation of flowers, trees, and a posh glass penthouse. The evil is threefold: modern corporate development at the expense of the ecosystem, shallow friendships, and clueless, overindulgent parents. Never fear, Thumbelina has them all covered (thanks to an assist by Twillerbee girl friends and a smiling dog.)
Good, positive messages are given about the true meaning of friendship in a materialistic world, the virtue of saving nature, and the ability for small people to accomplish big things -- always a nice message in a movie aimed at children. Unfortunately, the movie is so predictable from the opening scene that even the youngest viewers are unlikely to wonder about its outcome, and older kids will grow quickly bored.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the Twillerbees' contention that you can do anything you want to and that size is not a constraint. What does that mean in your life -- what are the causes that you're willing to try to make a difference over?
What does this story have in common with the original Thumbelina fairy tale? Which do you like better?
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- Teens & kids
Kid, 10 years old
April 20, 2011
AGE
What other families should know:
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Kid, 8 years old
June 22, 2009
AGE
Fan
I watched this movie and im a fan of barbie. I think its a good movie. Theres nothing bad about it.
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Adult
April 19, 2009
AGE
It's cute
It's a cute movie. My 4 yr old knows that the girl's behavior in the movie is not good. She is more into the twillerbee babies! She asked me if there were any living in our flowers!
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Kid, 9 years old
June 9, 2009
AGE
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Adult
April 11, 2009
AGE
Not a good message for the little ones
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Kid, 10 years old
July 14, 2009
AGE
Ages 2+
Very Cute.
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Teen, 16 years old
April 6, 2010
AGE
OFF FOR ANYONE!
Barbie is superficial and ew
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Kid, 10 years old
February 12, 2011
AGE
Scary
WHAT IS THIS???
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Parent of 3 and 7 year old
March 1, 2010
AGE
The human girls in this behave horridly. They are materialistic, rude, competitive, and just plain mean. True, the heroine has a turn around and learns about true friendship, but there's so much of the bad behavior some of the sassy tone is bound to work it's way into the vocabulary. This is especially true of very little ones who don't necessarily get all of the plot line and mimic the behavior without understanding completely that the movie's message is that this is what you should NOT do. So, for little ones, the movie completely backfires. Skip it for little ones. Frankly, there was so much ungly whining in it, I'd skip it altogether.
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Parent of 10 year old
September 7, 2009
AGE
Great for any kid!
I gave this movie to my 8 year old for christmas . He loved it , he watches it everyday and is a huge barbie fan!
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, princesses and fairies |
| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | Conrad Helten |
| Cast: | Anna Cummer, Kelly Metzger, Kelly Sheridan |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 75 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 17, 2009 |
| DVD release date: | March 17, 2009 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
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