Parents' Guide to

Bands on the Run

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Issue-free animated adventure might stretch your patience.

Movie NR 2011 43 minutes
Bands on the Run Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 2+

Based on 2 parent reviews

SpiderNonsense ..
SpiderNonsense .. Adult
June 9, 2018
age 2+

Good

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH STOP STOP STOP THE SUFFERING AAHHH STOP IT DONT LET YOUR KIDS SEE THIS IS IS NOT FOR KIDS

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Bobby J.
Bobby J. Parent of 0 and 2-year-old
June 9, 2018
age 2+

Amazing Movie, probably the best family friendly movie I've seen in a while that doesn't have questionable jokes that I don't want my kids to hear thank you

Thank you for this insightful and beautiful movie. This movie shows how anyone that tries to do something will succeed. The witty lines of the rubber bands always make my child laugh even though he doesn't understand them. This is one of the first times we (me and my kids, my wife left me) could spend quality time together without my kids starting the next world war or screaming about how they want more toys and that they miss mommy. This movie animation is very unique, and instead of being detailed, it is simplistic, and it is able to entertain my kids while I go work. They love the movie! They will sometimes watch it 7 or 8 times a day (but they really don't have a choice). Personally, my favorite part is at 13 minutes and 3 seconds where there is a dead body inside a dumpster. Whenever it comes up, I tell my kids that this is why you think before you do something. I do have a complaint about the end of the movie where the box driver slaps the other driver. DO NOT ENCOURAHE VIOLENCE IN KIDS THIS IS WHY WE HAVE THOSE STORIES ON THE NEWS ABOUT MURDERS. IF YOU THINK THIS IS OKAY TO DO, THEN YOU HAVE PROBLEMS AND NEED TO GO TO A THERAPIST BECAUSE IT ISN'T OKAY THAT YOU THINK IT IS OKAY WHEN IT ISN'T OKAY. In general I thought this is a great movie and there should be a 2020 remake of it. You should work at Pixar. I wish it was longer, but since it is short I guess it is ok. Make sure you trademark it however because someone is going to steal it and copy it and sell it to Hollywood or something. Thank you for this movie, I don't have to parent my kids if I don't want to anymore. I would go on about this movie but my kids just knocked over the tv somehow so I have to go. Now i have to parent then because they will not be watching this movie tomorrow because the tv will be broken lol! Jason will be afraid.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When a delivery truck swerves out of control to avoid hitting a rabbit in the middle of a desert road, it spills a box filled with rubber band bracelets en route to a "big box superstore." When the truck pulls away, it leaves behind five rubber band bracelets -- a rock star, a light bulb, an airplane, a TV, and a flower -- who must work together to get to the "big box superstore" so kids will buy them and wear them on their wrists. Along the way, they meet a round drill sergeant of a rubber band bracelet, who helps on their adventure through garbage cans, gas stations, and playgrounds.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (2):

Luckily, they kept BANDS ON THE RUN in the 40-minute range; not a whole lot happens even in those few minutes, but much longer and it would be unbearable. The characters are as one-dimensional as they come -- which may be helpful for younger viewers -- but for the rest of the family, it should be pretty easy to guess what each character will say.

The action plods along as much as the computer animation. There is so little personality to the characters, it's difficult for anyone to root for them as they try to get to the department store vending machine where they hope a child will wear them and love them. While the movie was supposedly inspired by the recent rubber band bracelet trend, it's hard to imagine anyone -- even those wrapped up in this alleged craze -- feeling engaged in this story.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the six different main characters and how they stand apart from each other. Who are they, and what do they do?

  • Why do you think this movie was created? Who is the market? Is the movie designed to sell bracelets? What other movies have been made about consumer trends?

Movie Details

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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 suggesting a diversity update.

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