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The Wind in the Willows: A Tale of Two Toads
- Review Date: April 5, 2006
- NR
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2006
Common Sense Media says
Simple story for kids based on the classic books.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the plot of this story involves an adult toad being kidnapped by weasels. There is some minor physical violence as well as name-calling. The story also features duplicity and dishonesty.
What's the story?
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS: A TALE OF TWO TOADS begins with Toad driving (and crashing) his boat, while drinking what is either wine or champagne. (Though this isn't emphasized, it does seem oddly placed in a movie for children, but remember that the original stories were written in a very different time.) After this brief introduction to Toad and his friends, the story shifts to a look-alike Toad who is in cahoots with the mean and nasty weasels. Together they plan to kidnap Toad and take his home, Toad Hall, for their own. The weasels kidnap Toad during the night by throwing a sack over his head and shoving him in the back of his car. Toad, Badger, Mole, and Rat work together to triumph over the weasels, and the quartet's strong friendship is the central theme of the story.
Is it any good?
Anyone looking for a respite from the droves of overproduced kid movies will find a breath of fresh air with The Wind in the Willows: A Tale of Two Toads. Most of the characters in this stop-motion animated movie speak intelligibly and politely, there are no references to contemporary pop culture, and there are no hip-hop/rap/rock-n-roll dance sequences. True to the story and characters created by Kenneth Grahame, the tale may seem a little quiet and slow when compared to the loud, raucous characters in many recent animated films, but its simplicity is no less engaging.
The kidnapping scene is a bit scary, as is a later scene in which the look-alike Toad, driving recklessly, nearly runs down a group of animal kids. The young ones are frightened and saddened, and there is some crying. Very minor negatives aside, this is, all in all, a fun romp through the English countryside. Good prevails over bad, and does so without being tasteless, sappy or maudlin.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about friendship and loyalty. How can we tell who our friends are? What do our friends do that makes us feel good? What do they do that makes us feel bad? How do we know who we can and can't trust?
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Kid, 12 years old
January 30, 2011
AGE
ages 6 and up
oh my god a movie about two toads!
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AGE
Great, stop-motion adaptation...
Ignore the review below. I doubt he even watched it. Anyways, the movie follows Kenneth Grahame's beloved characters from The Wind in the Willows. If you're not familiar, it's a classic children's book from 1908. This time, we find Toad off on his usual business, but he's suddenly kidnapped by none other than the weasels. He's then replaced by a new "Toad" and the weasels trap him in a secret chamber below Toad Hall. The weasels and the new Toad take charge of the real Toad's house. When Mole, Rat, and Badger notice something fishy they begin to investigate and discover the truth. The movie really teaches a lesson in loyalty. The animals come to save their friend and pretty much another happy ending. If you liked this one, I recommend you try the rest of the series.
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| Studio: | A&E Home Video |
| Director: | Mark Hall |
| Cast: | David Jason, Peter Sallis, Richard Pearson |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 55 minutes |
| DVD release date: | March 28, 2006 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
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