 | 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. |
The Road to El Dorado
- Review Date: May 19, 2003
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2000
Common Sense Media says
Outstanding family movie, with a lackluster score.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this isn't a Disney movie. It's rated PG for a couple of mild words, some brief nudity and suggestiveness, and some tense moments. Some families may object to Cortes' reference to the disciples or to his calling Tzekel-Kan a "lying heathen."
What's the story?
THE ROAD TO EL DORADO is set in 1519, as Cortes is planning "to conquer the new world for Spain, for glory and for gold." Miguel (voiced by Kenneth Branaugh) and Tulio (voiced by Kevin Kline) accidentally stow away, along with their one possession, a map to El Dorado, the legendary land of gold. They escape in a rowboat and land on a coast that looks just like the one in their map. They follow the map to the city of gold, to be welcomed as gods by the friendly chief (voice of Edward James Olmos) and his less friendly priest Tzekel-Kan (voice of Armand Assante). They are also welcomed by Chell (voice of Rosie Perez), who knows they are con men, but promises to help them if they will take her with them when they go. As they struggle to behave like gods, Miguel and Tulio begin to care about what happens to the people of El Dorado as Tzekel-Kan and Cortes try to grab what they want. Friendly rivalry turns hostile as Miguel thinks of staying behind and Tulio and Chell fall in love. The final conflict forces them to find out what their priorities really are.
Is it any good?
Dreamworks SKG steps up to the Disney gold standard with this sensationally entertaining animated adventure. Kevin Kline and Kenneth Branaugh were in the same room when recording their dialogue, and it paid off. Kline and Branaugh, both classically trained and both masters of improvisation, brought humor and spontaneity to the relationship of the two characters that adds life and electricity to a medium that can often seem too staid. Think Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid crossed with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.
It is no coincidence that the "Road to" title and one of the best gags in the movie pay loving tribute to the Hope/Crosby series. The animation is terrific. The biggest challenge -- making the character's faces expressive without being caricatures -- is especially well done. El Dorado itself is suitably magical, and the scenes with humor and tension are expertly handled, especially a high stakes basketball-style game and the climactic escape. Aside from the lackluster Elton John/Tim Rice score, this is an outstanding family movie.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how the characters decide what is important to them and how they decide what to do. When Miguel and Tulio think they are dying, they thank each other for their friendship and talk about what they most wanted in life –- adventure, gold, being remembered. How do their actions later on reflect these goals? Tulio says, "You know that voice that tells people to quit when they're ahead? Miguel, you don't have one." What does that mean? Why does Miguel take risks that Tulio thinks are not wise? Talk about Tzekel-Kan's view of people as disgusting and his statement that "people will not respect you unless they fear you." Why does he think that? How does thinking that make him behave differently? Keep in mind that Tulio and Miguel are small-time con men, and ask kids if they think the end was fair, and whether Tulio and Miguel will continue to cheat people in the future.
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AGE
Totally inappropriate movie for children
I was stunned by the blatant sensuality and the language in this film. I couldn't get past either of these issues, and we turned the movie off and threw it away (it had been a gift).
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Kid, 12 years old
March 13, 2010
AGE
Good for 10+
This movie is very great, just a little bit sexual sometimes.
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AGE
I'm listening to "Its tough to be a God" right now!
We watched it in Social Studies, I was laughing so hard, it was embrarressing! Everyone was complaining "its just a stupid kids movie" (YOUR a stupid kids movie!-jk) Anyway, I LOVED it, always had, always will. They are funny as a team, they are con people, but its meant for comedy, and its usually to those that deserve it. They con an intire city into thinking they're Gods so they can get gold, but it was funny seeing them 'attempted' that. It can be scary to younger kids with the voodo dude. There IS bad words, I definetly remember that, but they would usually slip through your ears, the sex scene, I don't think it was EXACTLY that, but it would appear that way, but no clothes were taken off, and it wasn't long, like five seconds until it was interupted. One nudity scene was when the monkeys stole their clothes, but that was funny, and nothing really grafic was shown, maybe a butt, I can't remember. And by the way, it IS NOT a Disney movie, sorry, its a Dreamworks, it is said at the bottom of the movie, and its on the list of Dreamwork animations. Plus, the songs are AWESOME. They get you dancing sooner or later, you will see.
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AGE
Erk
I think this one is a misfire by Common Sense. It's not so terrible, though, so I give it a pause. But this movie is rife with risque behavior. It includes using deceit to get ahead, a sex scene that's not graphic but you get the point, butt shot nudity, and nudge-wink allusions to swear words. However the villains aren't all terribly scary, and at the end, the heroes learn good lessons. It's just not all terribly funny even when you don't consider all these messages.
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AGE
An OK Movie
It was OK. We saw this in school because we learned about how the Spanish conquered the Aztecs in Mexico and this movie was about that. it's a bit boring, but it's good.
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Kid, 12 years old
May 23, 2010
AGE
Ouch!
I remember seeing this on the flicks on cartoon network.
Some outfits were skimpy, in one scene, a ball hits a guy in the face with blood, kind of like when I got hit in the face with a dodgeball.
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Kid, 12 years old
September 20, 2009
AGE
Good for ages 8+
Hi,
I'm ten years old and I think this is a great film! Some parts may be a little scary to kids that aren't used to dramatic illustrations, in some parts there is a little flirting but over all a great and funny family film!
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Kid, 11 years old
June 14, 2011
AGE
El Dorado
There is profanity sometimes. There is a part that could have been left out and woudve made the movie alot better and that's when 2 main characters keep massaging each other and stuff you know what I mean there is violence like people being whipped and sacrificed but it's a good movie if your at least 6 7
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AGE
Family movie, for 8 or 9+
I LOVED this movie so much!!! But I think little kids shouldn't watch it or if things pass over their heads, then let them. In two clips, a male and female make out for only a second. Two, it's "mild sex" though they never say it, and it's never seen and they do it with clothes on. A child would think they're just rolling on the floor and wonder why you can't see them. A teen would not. There is two h-ll words used. Viloence isn't a big issue. The role models an really good and the humor is great, too. Very good family movie!!
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| Topics: | adventures, friendship |
| Studio: | DreamWorks |
| Director: | Eric Bibo Bergeron |
| Cast: | Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Kline, Rosie Perez |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 89 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 31, 2000 |
| DVD release date: | December 12, 2000 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | mild thematic material and language |
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