 | 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. |
Because of Winn-Dixie
- Review Date: August 8, 2005
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
A girl and a dog educate a small southern town.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that beneath the heartwarming, often funny, story of a young girl's relationship with a lovable mutt, Because of Winn-Dixie deals with some significant life experiences, (abandonment, alcoholism, death of a loved one, and the difficulties that come with major change in a child's life). The issues are treated sensitively and gently, without too much detail. Multiple positive messages are either clearly stated or subtly integrated into the story and character arcs. The few action sequences are either comic (dog pulling down policeman's trousers, falls, chases) or mildly suspenseful (flashback of a bear, the dog catching and releasing a mouse, and the dog fearfully reacting to thunderstorms). There is one use of "hell," and a couple of insults ("booger-eater," "retard"); someone steps in some messy dog poop.
What's the story?
Opal (Annasophia Robb) and her worried, distracted preacher father (Jeff Daniels) have just moved to tiny Naomi, Florida. At the grocery store, Opal meets a troublemaking stray dog causing chaos, claims him as hers, and names him Winn-Dixie after the store. Her dad and the landlord say "No!" But Winn-Dixie wants to stay with Opal and help her make some new friends. Soon, Opal has a job working the pet store and befriends the town librarian (Eva Marie Saint), a reclusive woman (Cecily Tyson), and some local kids. As Opal becomes more confident, she finds the courage to ask the Preacher about her mother. Because of Winn-Dixie, she has developed the maturity to begin to understand the answers. And because of Winn-Dixie, the small town of Naomi becomes once again a place where people know each other's sorrows and reach out to each other.
Is it any good?
While appealing, this story is also heavy-handed and full of clichés, and characters with names like "Sweetie Pie" and "Dunlap Dewberry." Annasophia Robb turns in an uncertain performance as Opal, but strong appearances by top talent in the adult roles and graceful evocation of a gently rural community by director Wayne Wang keep it for the most part more sweet than sugary.
The best moments are not the revelations or the coming-of-age turning points or the dog-causes-trouble slapstick but the small, quiet scenes of people connecting to each other. The film is gently touching when Opal tells the librarian and the recluse that she wants to hear their stories and then listens attentively and when Otis plays his guitar for the animals. Those are the moments that truly convey the magic of Winn-Dixie.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about why Winn-Dixie was so important to Opal. They could also discuss the importance of the way Opal listens to the stories Miss Franny and Gloria tell her. If you had to choose ten things to describe each member of the family, what would they be? What do you think of Gloria's way of recognizing her mistakes? Why did Opal worry that it was her fault that her mother left? Why was it important that the candy was sweet and sad? Do the people in your community know each other's sorrows? How do you learn what your one important thing is?
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- Parents
- Teens & kids
Parent of 9 year old
April 9, 2008
AGE
closer to G than PG
My 6 year old loved this, and my 11 year old liked it (and probably would have admitted to more if he weren't concerned about appearing un-hip). I wept copiously. I thought the girl playing Opal was terrific. Lots of good message, and we had a great ride-home conversation.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
i laughed
This movie was cute opel is a good actress
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Kid, 11 years old
March 4, 2009
AGE
great book butchered in terrible movie!
I read this book thinking it was wonderful, and, expecting it to be as powerful and wallop-packing, set out to see the movie. Boy, was I wrong! The movie was TERRIBLE. The storyline was butchered into a watered down canned thing, therefore seeming in my mind like one of those "Christian movies", designed only to teach kids a lesson,so the story is barely there. Not to mention the acting was atrocious. I don't reccomend this movie to ANYONE!
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Kid, 10 years old
August 28, 2011
AGE
Great adaption of the book.
Greatest adaption of a book until Percy Jackson!
What other families should know:
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Kid, 11 years old
January 5, 2010
AGE
good for all kids
Cute but kind of boring if you watch it too many times
What other families should know:
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Kid, 10 years old
August 11, 2011
AGE
8 And Up
Some parts of this movie may scare little kids like when they meet the blind lady, or when the librarian tells the story of the bear breaking in. But over all it's a happy movie.
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Teen, 13 years old
August 23, 2010
AGE
"He's My Dog"-Opal
Wonderful Movie great actors nothing to complain about 5 out of 5
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Kid, 10 years old
August 6, 2010
AGE
Well Because of Winne-Dixxie -Opal
10 year old Opal is a new kid at some small town. She has no friends. Her dad is the precher there and that is why she moves many times, but one day she went to the market store that's call Winne-Dixxie. There she finds a dog that smiles? Yes Dear Winne-Dixxie. After finding Winne-Dixxie she learns 10 things about her mother that left when she was only 2 years old. She also finds many friends and learns also the true meaning of friend ship and life lesons. It is is a great movie! i loved it! READ THE BOOK FIRST BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME MISSING PARTS AND ITS BETTER!
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| Topics: | book characters, cats, dogs, and mice, friendship, great girl role models, misfits and underdogs |
| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | Wayne Wang |
| Cast: | AnnaSophia Robb, Harland Williams, Jeff Daniels |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 85 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | February 18, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | August 9, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | thematic elements and brief mild language. |
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