Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Stop-motion comedy adventure with subtitles, a few curses.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
A Town Called Panic
What's the Story?
Three best friends -- Cowboy, Indian, and Horse -- share a home in an idyllic country village. On Horse's birthday, Cowboy and Indian want to surprise him with a barbeque, but their online order for bricks goes awry -- 50 million are delivered instead of 50. The bricks cause havoc and mayhem, and propel the three friends into a series of unconventional adventures filled with romance, danger, and some of the funniest creatures ever invented. They visit the core of the earth, the bottom of the ocean, and all points in between. A TOWN CALLED PANIC is a Belgian production based on a TV series, in French, with easy-to-read English subtitles.
Is It Any Good?
Quirky, creative, and very funny, this movie can be appreciated on multiple levels. Kids will laugh at the predicaments, the relationships, and the eccentrically original characters. For those who can read, it's a great introduction to subtitled movies. For adults it's a hilarious version of French language films that is both respectful and finds joy in self-parody (the spot-on rhythms of the characters' speech is priceless).
Some may find it absurd and shake their heads in disbelief, but given the onslaught of sophisticated 3-D, motion-capture, and computer-animated films in the marketplace, this film's dependence upon imagination, simplicity, and low-tech animation is a treat. A Town Called Panic is a little too long -- the pace is occasionally wearying and there may actually be too many adventures -- but the story is episodic so it could be viewed in parts.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the experience of watching this movie with subtitles. Did reading them make it harder for you to enjoy the movie? Did you get used to the process?
Seeing this movie makes us realize that the same things make us laugh, no matter what country we live in. What conclusions can you draw from this simple story about how Americans and people from other cultures are the same or different?
Part of the movie's humor comes from combining realistic elements with fantastical elements. What seemed "real" and what was "fantasy"?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 17, 2009
- On DVD or streaming : July 20, 2010
- Cast : Bruce Ellison , Stephane Aubier , Vincent Patar
- Directors : Stéphane Aubier , Vincent Patar
- Studio : La Parti Productions
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship , Animals
- Run time : 75 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate