 | 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. |
Pete's Dragon
- Review Date: July 31, 2005
- G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 1977
Common Sense Media says
Offbeat live-action/animation mix with lots of drinking.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that several characters in this movie get quite drunk. There are some fight scenes (though they are mild) and a scene of a teacher hitting a student.
What's the story?
This Disney musical about a boy and his dragon centers on Pete, an orphan who has been sold to an abusive backwoods family. Pete is befriended by Elliott, a rotund, friendly, and often mischievous dragon. Together they run away to a small Maine town, where they meet Lampey the lighthouse keeper (Mickey Rooney) and his daughter Nora (Helen Reddy). Of course the bad backwoods family comes looking for Pete, and there is another complex subplot involving a quack doctor (Jim Dale) and his often-drunk sidekick (Red Buttons) who have their own plans for Elliott. There is a disastrous first day of school for Pete (in which his hands are hit with a stick by his teacher), many mishaps involving the mayor, and some wet cement that gets mucked up over and over again.
Is it any good?
The interaction of people and animation in PETE'S DRAGON is surprisingly good, but the movie itself falls rather flat. The biggest problem is the songs, which are utterly forgettable, which is not a great feature for a musical.
The story is a good one and there's a certain sweetness to the proceedings, but also a combination of predictability and noisy chaos that will make this better viewing for kids than for their parents. The message, about finding love and security in a crazy world, is a good one, and children will find this an entertaining and enjoyable viewing experience.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what they'd do with a dragon of their own.
Discuss Pete's situation and how sometimes people have to find their real families.
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AGE
Best movie ever!
I think some people here are being too sensitive. The drinking just doesn't affect the viewers. I've watched this movie since I was 1 or 2 years old, and I've never drank a drop of alcohol- I steer clear of it. And, the violence from Pete's teacher is normal, even in the 21st century. I'm in a private high school, and teachers have done that before (Of course, they've gotten fired for it, though).
The movie has great role models, notably Nora. She's all for protecting Pete and giving him love and support.
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AGE
Not what we want our kids (5,7) to see
Didn't really care for it - the scene of the teacher caning Pete's hands is inappropriate for this day and age. This is a movie that was OK in its time but not great now.
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AGE
I remember this movie from when I was young and I loved it. I rented it for my son, age 4 -- he loved it, although I had to fast forward thru quite a bit. Micky Rooney as the town drunk is no longer appropriate, the hillbilly family who purchased Pete was nasty and name-calling, the cruel teacher was over the top, and the con men bad guys were a little violent. Most of this went over his head, but I did not want him to see it anyway. also a little long for young children, so if you can skip through the inappropriate bits, it might be okay for slightly older children.
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AGE
I don't think my daughter even notices the drinking. The 'dirty people' scare her, but we talked about it and sometimes fast-forward. She loves the songs and Elliot
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, friendship, misfits and underdogs |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Director: | Don Chaffey |
| Cast: | Mickey Rooney, Sean Marshall, Shelley Winters |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 128 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 3, 1977 |
| DVD release date: | August 18, 2009 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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