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Secrets of the Furious Five

(2008, Rated NR, Family and kids, Starring Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Max Koch)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 4, age appropriate for kids over 6; suggested age 6.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Fun, lesson-rich short stars Kung Fu Panda gang.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 6 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Po the Panda explains to a class of eager kung fu students that virtues of patience, courage, confidence, controlling one's temper, and compassion are more important than "kicking butt."
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Plenty of martial arts action and a few big, scary characters like a gorilla warrior, an island of armed gators, and a big ox. As a cub, the Tigress lives in an orphanage where everyone fears her temper. The extras include kids teaching some basic martial arts moves.

  • Sexy stuff:

    A few pants-falling-down gags mixed with the action.

  • Language:

    "Jerk" is said once and "kicking butt" a few times.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Secrets of the Furious Five

Parents need to know that this is a cartoon short (only 24 minutes long) spun off of Kung Fu Panda. It also includes some basic instruction by kids on different fighting techniques (the kids demonstrate the motions alone, and the focus is on how each represents an animal). There's plenty of martial arts action in the cartoon short, and some scary characters for young viewers -- like the gorilla warrior and some mean gators. But the action is tempered with lessons that each member of the Furious Five learns on his or her path: patience, courage, confidence, controlling your temper, and compassion.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the lessons the members of the Furious Five learn. Are they easy lessons or hard ones? How did the preying mantis learn to be more patient? How did the crane gain confidence? How was the monkey reminded to be compassionate? Which lessons are you still working on?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Sanjay407
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    I like it!

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Parent Reviewer
    dsloanak
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0

    Its a cute movie.

    I personally like this movie. My family and I went to the theaters and seen it together and it was great fun. There was some mild adult humor in it but all in all it was a great movie.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Parent Reviewer
    JONES32
    Lives in Mississippi
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET

    HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET, HAVE ONLY SEEN REVIEWS

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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