 | 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. |
Little Spirit: Christmas in New York
- Review Date: December 8, 2008
- NR
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Boy's magical travels are holiday fun for the whole family.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this heartwarming holiday story is perfectly appropriate for the entire family. There's no worrisome content and plenty of adventure and Christmas spirit to be found in the main character's magical travels and encounters with friendly, caring strangers. At the heart of the story is a strong family headed by devoted parents who always put their son's feelings first.
What's the story?
In LITTLE SPIRIT: CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK, a friendly cab driver (voiced by Danny DeVito) entertains a pair of sisters with the story of a young boy named Leo (Michael Hall D'Addario) and his unexpected adventures in New York City. Leo and his parents move to Manhattan when his mom gets a promotion at work, and Leo is worried he'll never fit in in the Big Apple. But when his dog, Ramona (Fred Newman), gets lost, a magical creature named Little Spirit (also Newman) arrives to help Leo find his pet. His subsequent travels introduce Leo to some new friends who help him feel more at home in the big city.
Is it any good?
It's rare to find a holiday special that entertains both kids and their parents, but Little Spirit fits the bill: It's full of holiday cheer and joy that the whole family will love. Viewers will be drawn in to the story by the endearing characters, whose need for a little holiday magic comes from relatable, real-world issues like uncertainty over a major life change or worries about parents' troubled relationship.
The story's messages of hope and joy are heartwarming; viewers familiar with the Big Apple will be particularly entertained by the show's inclusion of landmark New York sights like crowded city streets, Central Park, Macy's, and the Rockettes. Even NBC newsman Brian Williams lends his voice to the story as roaming reporter Rock Granite.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the spirit of the holidays. How does the media affect our expectations of the holidays? Does seeing something on TV make you want it more? Why or why not?
What gifts did Leo receive from his adventures with Little Spirit? How
do you think they changed him? What holiday experiences have you had
that changed the way you look at your own situation?What does the
saying "It's better to give than to receive" mean to you? How might
society be different if we all acted on that thought?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Crass Commercialism At Its Worst!
Christmas in New York is the personification of gross consumption, materialism; and crass commercialism where prioritization is set on christmas depriving intrinsic worth out of a Macy's bag. In, short, the story is devoid of traditional holiday merriment in favor of consumerism; and processes involved in shopping to find the perfect expression of holiday sentiment.
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AGE
Sweet!
Great little story - Very NYC.
Great animation and soundtrack.
Charming telling of the story - how a lost dog is found with much more being found along the way.
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AGE
Why would anyone subject themselves to this?
This, by far, one of the worst holiday specials I have ever seen.
Let's start with the fact that it is little more than an hour-long commercial for Macy's - add to that the fact that we have two minutes worth of a story inflated to fill an hour's worth of air-time. An hour should be more than enough time to actually develop characters and/or a story line - somehow this special seems to be able to go a full hour without being able to tell a story or develop a character.
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AGE
New Christmas Favorite!
My family absolutely fell in love with little Spirit!!! It was adorable, the whole family enjoyed, it was nice to watch a holiday cartoon with my son & neither of us get bored! As far as the 'commercialism' in it, it's pretty true to life actually, it was nothing a kid doesn't see if you take the holiday shopping with you! We don't get into the 'commercialism' of Christmas, so we were able to look past it & see the adorable story of Spirit!! We can't wait for the holidays to come so we can watch it again!
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| Studio: | NBC Studios |
| Director: | Leopoldo Gout |
| Cast: | Danny DeVito, Lucy Liu, Michael Hall D'Addario |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 60 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 10, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | October 13, 2009 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
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