 | 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. |
Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas
- Review Date: October 31, 2009
- NR
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Sweet, funny holiday fare with familiar, loveable monkey.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there is little to be concerned about in this holiday movie. George creates several messes and engages in semi-dangerous activities, like climbing to the top of a Christmas tree that then knocks down all the trees. In one scene, the Man in the Yellow Hat and his friend accidently start a fire and the fire truck arrives, but it's brief and treated lightly. George gets all the toys he wanted for Christmas. The previews include trailers (for two Barbie movies and a semi-violent Bionicle movie), and two commercials -- one for Sunmaid products and one for Chuck E. Cheese.
What's the story?
Curious George is looking forward to Christmas with all the anticipation of a young child. He wakes the Man in the Yellow Hat every morning at 5 a.m. to ask if today's the day. As the days pass, George and the Man prepare for Christmas by shopping for a tree, writing cards, buying a turkey and singing in a holiday pageant. The usual monkey antics ensue where George knocks down all the trees at the Christmas tree lot, and breaks the snow-maker at the museum, but his accidents are easily resolved. But as the holiday gets closer, both the monkey and the man worry about what to get for the other.
Is it any good?
Curious George might annoy some parents, with the squeaky monkey sounds and rather vanilla storylines, but kids get a kick out of the silly monkey no matter what. This movie is no exception -- there are plenty of giggly moments, like when George tries to make a tomato snowman to please the Man in the Yellow Hat, but ends up making a big ketchup-y mess, or when George's friend makes up funny songs to familiar Christmas carol tunes. It's hard not to like Curious George, even if his antics are predictable.
This George movie includes singing, which fits the holiday theme, but seems slightly out of place for some reason. Also, near the end of the movie the Man in the Yellow Hat falls asleep and has a Christmas Carol-esque vision where a dream-like man shows him scenes of George living alternate lives. It's meant to reassure the Man that he is a good "parent" for George, but it really doesn't fit with the story -- or make much sense.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about getting gifts on holidays. What have you found to be the best gifts to give? What are the best kind of gifts to receive? Have you ever made gifts instead of buying them? What about giving someone something like a song, like George's friend does for her aunt?
What's the difference between George and the dog in the lobby? How are their personailities different? How does the way they treat their Christmas trees illustrate their likes and dislikes? Who are you more like -- George or the lobby dog?
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AGE
Fine family show with a few weak points
As a big fan of the Curious George television program on PBS (5 stars), I had high hopes for this. The inclusion of a few original songs--seemingly gratuitous in Christmas specials--was jarringly out of place and even my four year old was looking at me with confusion. The man in the yellow hat has a harmless Scrooge-inspired dream sequence that lasts for quite a long time. This was a bit abstract for my four year old son; he understood that he was dreaming but the point was lost, disrupting an otherwise straightforward Curious George story. Nothing wrong with this show, it just doesn't measure up to the usual program quality. The overall message is good--that spending time together is better than any gift. Harmless and (mostly) fun for the holidays.
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AGE
Clean positive movie for young children.
Movie theater quality movie. Very positive movie. First time the man in the yellow hat admits his adoptive parental role as a "monkey parent". The father and son like love between the man in the yellow hat and George is so touching in this movie. The patience and understanding the man in the yellow hat has for George during a lot of the movie's events is an admirable model for parents of toddlers and young children to emulate. Loved the "It's a Wonderful Life" style dream the man in the yellow hat had with the clockmaker in the role of the angel. Loved the positive gift that George ultimately chooses to give the man in the yellow hat. My son loved it!
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AGE
Great holiday movie
My then 2 year old, now a 3 year old loved this movie from the beginning and still does, as do I. This is a fun, cute movie with very George-like mishaps and a very happy ending. If you love George, you should love this movie!
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AGE
Lovely safe movie for little kids with no scariness
I have been searching for a movie for my 3 and 5 year olds that is not too emotional or scary. This movie is the best one I have found. My kids watch it over and over. It has sweet music and my kids love the funny George-making-messes moments. It's so nice to finally find a move that doesn't take my kids on an emotional rollercoaster, but just makes them happy. No bad guys or 'getting lost' or sadness or worry. Just fun. I wish there were more movies like this.
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| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Cast: | Cathy Malkasian, Jeff McGrath, Scott Heming |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 58 minutes |
| DVD release date: | October 13, 2009 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
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