 | 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 Worst Witch
- Review Date: October 16, 2007
- G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 1986
Common Sense Media says
Slow-paced magic adventure for the pre-Potter set.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that though there is no swearing and the violence is hardly believable, there are some scenes that may frighten young or particularly sensitive children. The witches cackle into the screen and threaten to hurt Mildred. And Agatha aims gunfire-like spells at Mildred, causing explosions all around her. Ethel also bullies Mildred.
What's the story?
Mildred Hubble (Fairuza Balk) is the worst witch at Miss Cackle's International School for Witches. She can't balance her kitten on her broom. She fails a potion-making quiz when she turns herself invisible instead of making a laughing potion. And she's plagued with doubt because, after all, her mother wanted to be a witch but "didn't have the gift." Add to that the competitive bullying nemesis Ethel Hallow (Anna Kipling) and a disastrous performance in front of the Grand Wizard, and you get a very hopeless witch indeed. But when she discovers a plot to take over the school by some mean witches, she may just get the chance she needs to prove herself.
Is it any good?
This 1980s witch fable based on the popular young reader books by Jill Murphy is no Harry Potter, but harmless enough for a Halloween special.
While the special effects are laughably cheap and the musical numbers are atrocious, that's part of the charm of this DVD. Parents of a certain age will appreciate the kitschiness of Balk as an innocent witch, in her pre-crazy-goth-lady days, and will love Facts of Life den mother Charlotte Rae as both the sweet-as-pie Miss Cackle and as her inexplicably Southern-accented evil twin Agatha. These are milder scares for kids not ready for the magic of the Harry Potter world. But there are still some moments of cackling witchiness and exploding spells that aren't for the very young or sensitive.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about how children can overcome their shyness and insecurity to share their special gifts with the world. How does Mildred learn that her skills are valuable? Why does she doubt herself? When do you doubt yourself? If you've read the books, how do they compare?
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, book characters |
| Studio: | BFS Entertainment |
| Director: | Robert Young |
| Cast: | Charlotte Rae, Diana Rigg, Fairuza Balk, Tim Curry |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 70 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 16, 1986 |
| DVD release date: | August 24, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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