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The Velveteen Rabbit (G, 2009)

common sense media says

Family film lacks frills but has sweet message for kids.

parents & educators say
  • 50% say there are positive messages
See all 9 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that although this engaging live-action/animated feature (based on the classic children's book) deals with some themes -- like neglect and death -- that may need explaining, it does so in a way that's gentle enough for young viewers. There are a couple of tense scenes involving a fire, and the main character's mother has died (it happened before the events shown in the movie). But ultimately this is a crowd-pleasing story with a heartwarming, family-centric message.

Positive messages: A father temporarily passess his young son off to a stern grandmother who at first seems more inconvenienced than overjoyed about her grandson's visit. But the main characters undergo a transition and in the end are the better for it.
Violence & scariness: Some intense scenes involving a fire and a noble act of self-sacrifice, but no violence.
Sexy stuff: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on The Velveteen Rabbit

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the movie's central question: What makes someone/something real? Is it love? If so, why? Why were Toby's father and grandmother so distant from each other? Are their reasons understandable? How do their actions -- and their relationship -- affect Toby? How would you feel in Toby's position? And what did Rabbit bring to Toby's life (and vice-versa)? Is the change that comes over the family believable?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Sent to spend Christmas with his grandmother -- who has little tolerance for messes, noises, and most anything associated with children -- while his workaholic father logs yet more time at the office, 10-year-old only child Toby Morgan (Matthew Harbour) finds solace in an attic filled with forgotten toys. Among them is a soft rabbit that comes to life -- along with his pals, Swan (Ellen Burstyn) and Horse (Tom Skerritt) -- and injects much-needed whimsy into Toby's daily existence by showing him a world of imagination. The animals believe that being loved will transform them into living, breathing creatures, and Rabbit is hopeful that he'll soon be hopping on all fours like bunnies are supposed to do. But trouble looms: Life feels so much more joyful in make-believe land that Toby starts to think he might not want to leave. A bout of scarlet fever might make this wish come true -- but then what will become of his grandmother, whose rough edges have softened during his stay, or his father, who may have realized a little too late that what matters most is (as Rabbit and his friends also discover) not just love, but loving?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Inspired by Margery Williams' classic children's book, this live-action/animated hybrid will please audiences of all ages. The animation is relatively rudimentary, but no matter: The story is full of heart. The animals pose the film's existential central question -- what makes you real? -- in a graceful way that younger audiences can understand but older viewers can contemplate, too. (That's a tricky feat.)

The cast is charming, especially Harbour, who manages to convey both childlike wonder and world weariness at the same time. His rapport with Una Kay, who plays his grandmother, is wonderful, transforming believably from distant to devoted as the story moves forward. Movies these days are often jaded or sardonic, so it's a treat to find a gem like THE VELVETEEN RABBIT that doesn't try too hard to be either. It's happy to just be.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Family1 Films
Director: Michael Landon Jr.
Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Jane Seymour, Tom Skerritt
Genre: Drama
Run time: 88 minutes
Theatrical release: February 27, 2009
DVD release: March 17, 2009
MPAA Rating: G
This review was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
 
 

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What parents & educators say

5
Based on 8 parent & educator reviews:
  • 50% say there are positive messages
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

grammar cat
parent of 6 year old
5
 
Very very sad
This is a nice movie, but so sad. My son cried big heaving sobs 2 times that he watched it. His Dad cried with him the second time, so my son felt better, I think! Yes, great animation/mix
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helped me decide (8) | had useful details (9) | read my mind (9)
babsboop
adult
3
 
Great for Entire Family
My grandaughter is 3 and it is her favorite movies. I always watch it with her and still love it. Great for the whole family.
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helped me decide (9) | had useful details (9) | read my mind (8)
Farbrent
parent
7
 
Too scary for little kids.
My 2.5 daughter didn't like it we stopped it because the fire scenes were scary. This is the last time I neglect to check a review before letting her watch something.
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helped me decide (8) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (7)
ourkids3
parent of and 4 , 5 , 9 year old
5
 
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helped me decide (5) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (9)
cisnero
adult
6
 
well done movie.Acting was good.
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helped me decide (7) | had useful details (8) | read my mind (5)
Spongebob Fan
kid, 13 years old
4
 
BORING MOVIE.
We watched this in my class and it is not good. It's boring for adults and kids. Skip it.
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helped me decide (5) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (9)
lendter
parent of 6 and 9 year old
5
 
Good for ages 4-7
The movie kept my kids watching with the plot and the imagination of the main character. Thye also liked the use of actors and animation.
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DocRon
parent of 8 year old
7
 
Simple animation mixed with an OK live-action story that could produce some anxiety.
I watched this with my 7 year old grandson. He had some questions about why the young child protagonist became ill (from Scarlet Fever, which was BTW, convincingly portrayed). I could tell he was anxious as to whether he could be taken ill with a potentially deadly illness and we stopped the movie and talked to him about it. Other than that, the very simple animation was serviceable but far from Pixar standards. The story is not realistic as people (both the grandmother and the father) completely change their attitudes within the space of days/hours. While teaching a lesson that "loving is what makes us real" it actually has more complex metaphysical issues that it touches on but barely explores. (Do our dreams & fantasies affect our real life?) There is no spiritual/religious component to the movie although parents could makes analogies to spiritual themes. Our 7 year old enjoyed it as he would a fairy tale other than for some trepidation about a boy (his age) nearly dying... both in the real world and his fantasy world. Consider this issue for younger children.
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mom2AnE
parent of 2 and 3 year old
4
 
Good message, but may be scary for little ones
It may be a little confusing in that it kept going back and forth with reality and imagination. However, the reality scenes are with real people and the imagination ones are animated. There are 2 dramatic scenes involving fire. In both scenes someone is harmed but the viewer doesn't know that the character survives until later. I discussed with my 3 year old how only 'stuff' was burned and not anything truely alive. My child was fine with it, but some children may be disturbed by the scenes.
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