 | 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. |
Casper Meets Wendy
- Review Date: October 2, 2007
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 1998
Common Sense Media says
Hilary Duff's silly spook-fest is good tween fun.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that while no one is injured in this movie, there is a lot of falling, running, jumping, and tripping when people are scared by ghosts. While the tone is usually light, there are also several scenes where the ghosts do things that are scary -- like taking possession of people's bodies and sneaking up on them. Casper's uncles haunt Wendy and her family. In the final showdown, there's lots of screaming and peril and Wendy almost dies.
What's the story?
In her first film role, Hilary Duff stars as Wendy the Good Little Witch, who lives at home with her three aunts, Geri (Cathy Moriarty), Fanny (Teri Garr), and Gabby (Shelley Duvall). Like Casper (voiced by Jeremy Foley), Wendy gets no respect from her aunts, who don't appreciate her outgoing personality. When power-hungry warlock Desmond Spellman (George Hamilton) discovers that soon his power will be usurped by Wendy when "witches and spirits unite as friends," he sets out to destroy her. So Wendy and her family hide at a resort in the Catskills where -- surprise! -- Casper's family is also staying. When Wendy and Casper meet the fun really begins. But can they really harness their collective power to protect themselves from scary Desmond?
Is it any good?
A lot of Halloween stories are too scary for younger kids, filled with realistic violence or too much intensity. For them, consider CASPER MEETS WENDY, a movie that's as innocent as the two main characters and full of more silly moments than scary ones. While the plot seems to borrow from everything from Men in Black to Harry Potter, it's still a crazy campy delight that's generous with the puns and silly sight gags.
George Hamilton plays the evil warlock with comic perfection, and kids who like the sillier moments in the Harry Potter or Sabrina the Teenage Witch will love this. But silliness aside, sensitive kids may still have a tough time when Wendy's in danger near the end.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how Wendy and Casper are more powerful when they work together. How do they learn to share and work together? For kids just getting into scary movies: Do you like to be scared? What was too scary in this movie? What wasn't scary at all?
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AGE
great for all ages
i think its is a great little movie for the whole movie even older kids will enjoy it
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AGE
Cute
Aww, look at Hilary! She's so cute! Same as this movie. No issues whatsoever (a few scary moments for really little kids) Cute movie.
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AGE
Should really be rated G
This movie is rated PG, and I really have no idea why. I think the worst word used was "crud". It is certainly less scary than movies such as Beauty and the Beast or 101 Dalmatians.
In short, your kids will be fine to watch this movie. And they'll love it! Hillary Duff if charming in her first role.
Teaches great lessons about tolerance.
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AGE
its like a family film too
i love this film i used to watch it wen i was little but now im older i would still watch it its a good and funny film for all type of ages kids and some adults love it im tryim to look for the film now as ive missed it so much :)
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| Topics: | friendship, monsters, ghosts, and vampires |
| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | Sean McNamara |
| Cast: | Cathy Moriarty, Hilary Duff, Shelley Duvall, Teri Garr |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 94 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 2, 1998 |
| DVD release date: | September 3, 2002 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | mild scary scenes, some thematic elements and language. |
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