Barbie Presents Thumbelina

Movie review by Nancy Davis Kho, Common Sense Media
Barbie Presents Thumbelina Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 4+

Eco-friendly story unrelated to real Thumbelina story.

NR 2009 75 minutes
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Parents say

age 4+

Based on 8 reviews

Kids say

age 5+

Based on 14 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

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What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this Barbie vehicle bears virtually no resemblance to the fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson, aside from the name of the main character. Repeated scenes of spoiled and materialistic kids and clueless parents are intended to set the stage for transformation. Corporate sabotage in the name of saving a patch of forest is depicted repeatedly. Predictable, safe family fare.

Community Reviews

tash 29
tash 29 Adult
July 18, 2020
age 2+

Barbie as Thumbellina

This is such a great animated film for the kids. It is aimed at younger kids to promote self-belief (even small people can make a difference) and to introduce the importance of the environment. I particularly like how it satirises the mom's exaggerated reaction to bugs. Also barbie is in it, she is the teacher/carer that tells the story to the kids. Great messages about true friendship and appeals to kids love of fairies and condemns consumerism. Love Love Love this film!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Beckstar
Beckstar Adult
October 31, 2011
age 8+

Disappointing

I was VERY disappointed in this film. Barbie wasn't in it, but this disappointing 'Thumbelina' which has a sort-of ugly looking face. It was supposed to have a good message about saving the earth. Which was WONDERFUL, but no Barbie in it made it unenjoyable and the characters weren't too nice to look at. I also know the true Thumbelina tale and it put shame on the orginal. It had NOTHING To do with the true Thumbelina by the way

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
See all 8 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Though it shares its name with a famous fairy tale, BARBIE PRESENTS THUMBELINA has virtually nothing else in common with the Hans Christian Andersen story. In this version, Thumbelina is the greatest of the Twillerbees, a tiny race of magical creatures who have the power to make plants grow. Their hidden forest enclave is threatened by development, and Thumbelina has only one way to save them: convincing spoiled little rich girl Makena to talk her cell phone-wielding business owner parents into stopping the bulldozers that will obliterate the Twillerbees forever.

Is It Any Good?

Definitely some fun eye candy here, in the form of the richly hued animation of flowers, trees, and a posh glass penthouse. The Barbie franchise has hit on a consistent movie formula and stuck with it: a main character, either fairy or princess, who must overcome various forms of evil with the help of animal sidekicks, determination, and some good old-fashioned grrrl power. This DVD is no different. The evil is threefold: modern corporate development at the expense of the ecosystem, shallow friendships, and clueless, overindulgent parents. Never fear, Thumbelina has them all covered (thanks to an assist by Twillerbee girl friends and a smiling dog.)

Good, positive messages are given about the true meaning of friendship in a materialistic world, the virtue of saving nature, and the ability for small people to accomplish big things -- always a nice message in a movie aimed at children. Unfortunately, the movie is so predictable from the opening scene that even the youngest viewers are unlikely to wonder about its outcome, and older kids will grow quickly bored.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the Twillerbees' contention that you can do anything you want to and that size is not a constraint. What does that mean in your life -- what are the causes that you're willing to try to make a difference over?

  • What does this story have in common with the original Thumbelina fairy tale? Which do you like better?

Movie Details

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