Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Runaway finds courage in colorful cartoon fantasy adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
My Father's Dragon
What's the Story?
Adapted from the 1948 Newbery Medal-winning children's book by Ruth Stiles Gannett, MY FATHER'S DRAGON follows a boy named Elmer Elevator (voiced by Jacob Tremblay), a young runaway who travels to Wild Island in search of a captive dragon. But when his rescue mission doesn't go as planned, he must find another solution to save Boris the dragon (Gaten Matarazzo), himself, and the sinking island. Whoopi Goldberg, Ian McShane, and Judy Greer also voice characters.
Is It Any Good?
It's sometimes a bit confusing, but this colorful dragon fantasy is likely to entertain younger viewers. That said, the film's setup -- a child runs away from a loving parent, trusts a stranger's outlandish promise, and gets aboard transport to be taken to a remote location, where he forms a friendship with a magical dragon -- paints an awfully pretty picture of running away from home.
What's more, the story can be hard to follow and has some uneven messages about solving problems. After being encouragingly labeled "answer boy" when Elmer does use observation and logic to come up with a solution for how to solve the island's problem, it turns out that he's wrong: The solution is magic. And both Elmer and Boris have to blindly choose to do something that looks quite dangerous to achieve a positive outcome. Overall, the film feels less like a continuous journey and more a series of scenes that begin with a shout and are solved by food, candy, or a convenient occurrence. But Elmer and Boris forge a strong friendship and learn to trust both themselves and each other, and the animation is lovely, if perhaps not quite as impressive as previous Cartoon Saloon films like Song of the Sea and Wolfwalkers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's message that life's scary moments are less scary with a friend or loved one. Do you agree? What helps you when you're afraid?
What is an odyssey? How can long, fantastic journeys help characters learn big lessons?
Do you think what Elmer experienced in My Father's Dragon was "real," or do you think he imagined it?
Talk about "stranger danger" and how the cat tricked Elmer. What would you have done if you were Elmer?
How does Elmer show courage? Why is this an important life skill?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 4, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : November 11, 2022
- Cast : Jacob Tremblay , Gaten Matarazzo , Ian McShane , Chris O'Dowd , Whoopi Goldberg
- Director : Nora Twomey
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some peril
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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