Parents' Guide to

Alakazam the Great!

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Early Japanese animation teaches positive lessons on virtue.

Movie NR 1961 84 minutes
Alakazam the Great! Poster Image

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Kids say (1):

While the musical numbers drag down the story at times and don't seem to really fit in, the cool (if dated) animation and central message make this film a worthwhile experience for the entire family. Positive lessons on the importance of humility, mercy, and virtue are preached throughout, but are never done so in a preachy or heavy-handed manner. Kids can see firsthand the results of Alakazam's bratty behavior for much of the movie before he learns these lessons, and should inspire discussion on why good behavior matters in the world.

The biggest element keeping this film from being five stars is that some of the translation into English from the original turns the movie into less of a spiritual quest and more of an unusual pilgrimage with antagonists with names like "Sir Quigley Brokenbottom." Still, the overlying message trumps the shortcomings.

Movie Details

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