 | 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. |
Yes, Virginia
- Review Date: December 10, 2009
- NR
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2010
Common Sense Media says
Sweet holiday tale inspires with messages of goodwill.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this family-friendly holiday tale has excellent messages about generosity, respect, and one person's power to inspire change. Virginia and Scraggly Santa epitomize the meaning of Christmas with their unselfish responses to strangers in need, and Virginia’s idealistic excitement over the holiday is sure to get you in a festive mood. With no iffy content whatsoever, this is a great story for the entire family to enjoy together.
What's the story?
In YES, VIRGINIA, eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon’s (voiced by Beatrice Miller) fervent faith in Santa’s existence is shaken when a playground bully named Charlotte (Julian Franco) tells her that it’s “infantile” to believe in him. Determined to find out the truth, Virginia and her friend Ollie (Kieran Patrick Campbell) enlist the help of everyone from her quirky father (Neil Patrick Harris) to the local sidewalk Santa (Michael Buscemi) -- a.k.a. “Scraggly Santa. But when Virginia can’t find a reliable answer, she turns to the most trustworthy information source she knows: The New York Sun newspaper. At first her plea for a final answer falls on deaf ears, but with a little encouragement from Scraggly Santa, the paper’s grumpy editor (Alfred Molina) takes a fresh look at Virginia’s pressing question.
Is it any good?
This delightful CGI special is based on the real-life story that inspired one of the most famous editorials in journalistic history -- “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” Set in the late 1800s, the sweet, simple tale is unencumbered by modern holiday trappings like shopping, presents, and hustle and bustle.
Virginia’s fear over Santa’s potential nonexistence isn’t that there won’t be gifts for her on Christmas morning, but that his absence means he won’t inspire the spirit of giving in others. The show’s heartwarming messages about generosity, unselfishness, and respect will inspire viewers of all ages and remind them that small acts of kindness really can change the world.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the media’s commercial influence. Kids: What shows or movies have you seen that are tied to merchandise? How do advertisers influence your desires for toys and games? Does seeing something on TV make you want it more? Why or why not?
Kids: What does Christmas mean to you? What are some of your family's holiday traditions? How does Christmas inspire you to make the world a better place?
How can your family help others during the holiday season? How can you help raise funds or supplies for charities that help people in need? Why is it important to help others?
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- Parents
- Teens & kids
Parent of 5 year old
December 20, 2010
AGE
Good for tweens and older, terrible for toddlers and little kids.
This movie is a terrible film for children to watch. The animation is wonderful, but the content is not at all what the parents of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10-year-olds want their children to watch. The entire film provides only proof that Santa doesn't exist. That is NOT the idea I want to perpetuate. The idea behind the film; that the spirit of Christmas and Santa lives in the good deeds and good will exhibited by all, is a good one. However, it in not a concept that young children can grasp and all they walk away with is a lot of proof that there is no Santa. Even the father hems and haws to try to fashion an answer for little Virginia. This film is better reserved for pre-teens and older.
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Kid, 11 years old
December 20, 2010
AGE
All family movie
A perfect holiday movie special.
What other families should know:
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Parent of 11 year old
November 18, 2010
AGE
Perfect for the entire family!
Love it. Very heartwarming. Perfect for the entire family!
What other families should know:
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Adult
August 6, 2010
AGE
i cried
the best cristmas speical ever it made me cry
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Parent of 1 and 5 year old
December 8, 2012
AGE
Great show, just be prepared to defend Santa...
My 5-year-old loved it. It's a very short show, with a nice message. Though, you should be aware that there are parts where a big kid is trying to convince the little kids that Santa doesn't exist. My daughter immediately turned to me for confirmation that he does exist... which is uncomfortable. She WANTS to believe in Santa.
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| Studio: | New Video Group |
| Director: | Pete Circuitt |
| Cast: | Beatrice Miller, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Neil Patrick Harris |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 30 minutes |
| DVD release date: | October 26, 2010 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
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