Parents need to know that this CGI-animated movie ponders the existence of Santa Claus. The bad guys are an ice monster and his three evil snowmen sidekicks, and these characters, while silly and relatively harmless, threaten Santa Claus and make a lot of noise in the process. The youngest viewers might get upset by this. Also, the main characters -- a tween boy and girl -- have a mildly romantic relationship that results in a kiss on the cheek.
Positive messages:A mix of messages. The primary one is that science isn't always right and magic has an important place in childhood. Also, bullies are sometimes just people with problems -- in this case, the ice monster felt neglected by Santa and lashed out at him. But less positive are the confusing messages about junk food (Santa eats tons of donuts and hides his indulgences from his wife), women (Mrs. Claus is skinny, busty, and wears skin-tight clothes while cavorting provocatively), and friendship (Trevor locks his friend in a shed when she tries to get in his way).
Positive role models:Trevor is determined to prove his point. But he lies, mildly, to his parents in the process without repercussion. Santa shows generosity even to his enemies. The twin friends are nerdy stereotypes, but adorable, and their smarts are played up rather than made fun of.
Violence & scariness:The main villain is an ice monster with a menacing appearance. He shoots snow out of his hands, roars angrily, and threatens Santa and kids. But he doesn't hurt anyone, or destroy much, and in the end he turns out to be a sweet guy.
Sexy stuff:Very mild flirting between tween boy and girl. She kisses him on the cheek in the end. Parents snuggle.
Language:A few insults directed mostly at bad guys, like "ugly" and "pathetic."
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.