Parents' Guide to

As Dreamers Do: The Amazing Life of Walt Disney

By Tracy Moore, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Unauthorized, overacted Disney biopic falls flat.

Movie NR 2014 90 minutes
As Dreamers Do: The Amazing Life of Walt Disney Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 5+

Based on 1 parent review

Kdc.wood
Kdc.wood Parent of 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13-year-old
July 1, 2022
age 5+

So sweet, great for the whole fam.

I am so disappointed in the expert review. I thought that the acting was lovely and the movie was very entertaining. I get that it doesn't seem realistic, but I disagree. If you are willing to watch soap operas, sit coms, or pretty much anything else that is coming out these days, this is many times better. Ruth and Walt are so cute and I liked how they showed Walt as he grew up. Really inspiring for blooming artists and overall just a cute family movie. The "expert" who wrote the review in my opinion, was completely and totally wrong as well as misdirecting. There are mild depictions of alcohol and tobacco, but nothing too serious. Someone dies but not violently and it's not scary. I love this movie.
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What's the Story?

Track the growing artistry of legend Walt Disney from his childhood in Missouri to his outsize life as an animator, and look at the people and ideas that influenced him along the way.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (1):

AS DREAMERS DO: THE AMAZING LIFE OF WALT DISNEY has a fascinating subject at its core: A legendary American artist whose work still touches nearly every Western child's life in some way or another. So it's disappointing that this biopic is so poorly done. It's shot well, and Olan Rogers as Walt Disney is the best the film has to offer, not to mention the sweet tale of Disney's optimism and perseverance. But here, every character he meets has a big message about life and art, and Walt Disney is precocious in every scene, always willing to absorb every good idea and lesson about being grateful and perfectly prepared to do whatever it takes. This gives the feeling of a story written very much in reverse and meant to paint every moment with hushed reverence.

What we miss is something that feels realistic and flawed, and instead another shrine is resurrected. There are positive messages about the work it takes to be an artist and an interesting, all-too-brief section about how animation works, but there's too much sheen here for it to feel like an authentic portrait.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the fascination with Walt Disney's life. Why do you think his cartoons and characters are so popular?

  • Does this biopic feel like a realistic portrayal of Disney's work or life? Why, or why not?

  • Inspiration comes from mysterious places. What inspires you?

Movie Details

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