Common Sense Media Review
By Grace Montgomery
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Weird Noah's ark tale has dark themes, lots of suspense.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
All Creatures Big and Small
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 12 parent reviews
Parents say this movie offers a good mix of entertainment and life lessons, particularly emphasizing teamwork and friendship, making it suitable for children while also enjoyable for adults. Despite some intense moments, the overall message is positive, appealing to families with young kids who appreciate cute animation and a heartwarming story.
- wholesome entertainment
- family-friendly
- teamwork message
- beautiful animation
- suitable for children
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 3 kid reviews
What's the Story?
Word begins to spread that a huge flood is coming, so Nestrians Dave and his son Finny head to the ark to be saved with the other animals. Unfortunately, Nestrians doesn't make the cut, and the duo are kicked off. With a little involuntary help from Grymps Hazel and Leah, who are determined only to look after themselves, father and son board the ark and are ready to be saved. But when Finny and Leah fall off, they must work together to get back to the boat and stay safe from two trailing griffins who are determined to make them their next meal while their parents try to turn the ark around.
Is It Any Good?
ALL CREATURES BIG AND SMALL is a weird film that mostly manages to leave a bad taste in your mouth. Many of the characters are unlikable (such as the Grymps), and the likable ones are so one-dimensional they get old fast (such as Finny). There also are a lot of strange details that at the very least are in poor taste (the character named "Obesey") and at most are disturbing (Dave puppeteering the unconscious king like a marionette). And though the end message is that everyone has a place, it's mostly lost in the plot points that emphasize discrimination and exclusion. Kids may love some of the imaginary animals, but with so many other fun animal and fantasy movies out there, this is one you can definitely skip.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the Noah's ark story. Do you know it? How is All Creatures Big and Small different from the traditional story? How is it the same?
Hazel tells her daughter Leah that Grymps need to look out for themselves to survive. How did that lesson backfire on Leah? Why do you think it was important for her to learn to trust Finny and others?
Why do you think the filmmakers chose to call a character "Obesey"? Do you think it's a funny name? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : July 17, 2015
- Cast : Martin Sheen , Callum Maloney , Amy Grant
- Directors : Toby Genkel , Sean McCormack
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Entertainment One
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Run time : 80 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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