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The Secret of the Magic Gourd

(2007, Rated G, Family and kids, Starring Corbin Bleu, Gigi Leung, Peisi Chen)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 3, age appropriate for kids over 4; suggested age 5.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Magical tale teaches moral lesson.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 5 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The gourd promises to grant Raymond everything his heart desires. Raymond, consequently, gets spoiled and behaves badly. But because this is a story with a moral, he learns his lesson in the end. Raymond's family exhibits traditional values, where Grandma cooks and cleans and cares for the children, though both parents work.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Raymond throws rocks at the gourd. Some frightening scenes of a giant dinosaur and the magic gourd as a monster might be overwhelming for the youngest viewers.

  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Raymond is not polite to Bailey, demanding that he does something and that he must "do it now!"

  • Consumerism:

    Everything Raymond could want is given to him. This includes a recognizable box of McDonald's fries, cakes, cookies, hot dogs, and ramen noodles. An army of robots, dinosaurs, toy cars, and military toys marches into his life. Because he is taught a lesson about what is appropriate, these items are used as examples of a greedy lifestyle, but they do entice Raymond initially.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Secret of the Magic Gourd

Parents need to know that kids will be interested in this movie because it features the voice of High School Musical star Corbin Bleu. There's no real questionable content to worry about. This is a moral tale from China, where gourds hold special mythological power. The main character cheats and lies, while the magic gourd helps him get ahead in sports, school, and home life. Lessons learned, however, prove that hard work is the highest path to success.

Read our full review by Joly Herman

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what happiness means. If you were given everything your heart desires, as Raymond is in this film, would you be happy? What things do you wish for? Would your life improve if you got them right now? How can you work to get what you want?
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