Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Ocean tale should amuse, educate young kids about sea life.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 11 parent reviews
Parents say the film presents beautiful animation and an environmental message but contains overwhelming intensity and themes of danger that may be too much for younger audiences. While some children enjoyed the entertainment and adventure, many parents expressed concerns about the heavy-handed portrayal of human impact on marine life and the focus on romantic elements, which could lead to discomfort or confusion for little ones.
- environmental message
- overwhelming intensity
- inappropriate for preschoolers
- romantic focus
- beautiful animation
- danger themes
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 5 kid reviews
What's the Story?
An elderly sea turtle named Sammy tells the story of life from a wee little hatchling trying to escape predatory seagulls to a juvenile turtle (Yuri Lowenthal) who along with his best friend Ray (Anthony Anderson) attempt to survive the current and find a mate. Along the way, Sammy remains steadfast to finding Shelly, the female turtle who saved him as a baby. Despite several adventures that take him away from Ray, Sammy wants nothing more than to reunite with his friends. As he grows older, Sammy realizes that humans and pollution and global warming are all destructive forces that sea animals must face.
Is It Any Good?
A TURTLE'S TALE is a noticeable improvement to Ben Stassen's other historical drama Fly Me to the Moon. The story is considerably more accessible to kids, the characters are better developed, and the messages aren't as preachy. Kids familiar with Finding Nemo (and loved the segment with Crush the sea turtle and his family) will be particularly interested in a movie dedicated to the life of a sea turtle, one of the ocean's longest-living animals.
Part coming-of-age tale, part environmental lesson, the movie should teach children about the importance of ocean preservation and the life of sea turtles while also entertain them with silly characters (Ray is the classic goofball best friend) and a series of adventures that teach Sammy about being a responsible citizen of the sea as well as a good friend. It may not be Pixar, but it's a surprisingly educational pick for younger kids with a curiosity about the sea.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's environmental message concerning the sea. How does pollution affect the underwater animals? Are all humans portrayed as "bad for the sea," however?
How does the movie compare to other underwater adventures like Finding Nemo? What are some similar themes shared between the movies?
The movie chronicles several decades of Sammy's life. How are the different decades portrayed?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : April 3, 2012
- Cast : Anthony Anderson , Melanie Griffith , Tim Curry
- Director : Ben Stassen
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Studio Canal
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Friendship , Animals ( Ocean Creatures )
- Run time : 85 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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