Common Sense Media Review
By Grace Montgomery
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dinosaur helps kids use their imaginations and be confident.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 2+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Barney: Let's Go to the Moon
What's the Story?
Riff (Michaela Dietz) wants to build a rocket ship and fly to the moon. Barney (Dean Wendt) isn't sure that Riff will make it but encourages him to just keep trying and to use his imagination. While everyone starts thinking about the moon, Barney reads the kids "Once Upon a Moon," which reminds Baby Bop (Julie Johnson) that she's good friends with the moon. But to her dismay, the moon is broken and she can only see a little piece of him. Barney assures her that the moon is OK and takes the kids on a rocket ship to meet the man on the moon, who teaches them about the different phases the moon goes through. When they come back to Earth, B.J., otherwise known as Captain Pickles, brags to his friends that he can jump all the way to the moon. Realizing that maybe he can't actually jump that high, B.J. tells Barney about his troubles, who tells him the best thing you can do is to be honest with your friends.
Is It Any Good?
This probably won't appeal to anyone but the preschool crowd. But Barney does a great job encouraging kids to be confident and use their imaginations with silly songs (a mix of old favorites and new numbers) that are easy to sing along to. BARNEY: LET'S GO TO THE MOON also does a great job of showing some uncomfortable situations (such as getting stuck in a lie) and how to gracefully find your way out of them in a way that's understandable and relatable to very young kids.
Young space aficionados may be disappointed that the movie really doesn't have a whole lot about space in it beyond the short-lived rocket trip and a lot of talk about the moon, but they'll most likely be encouraged to imagine their own rocket trips to space. And parents will love the message that you can accomplish anything if you just keep trying.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about superheroes. Can both boys and girls be superheroes? What characteristics do superheroes have?
Why is bragging bad? What negative consequences can it have?
How do you use your imagination?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : January 8, 2013
- Cast : Dean Wendt , Julie Johnson , Jeff Ayers
- Director : Fred Holmes
- Studio : Lyons Group
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Run time : 66 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : November 2, 2019
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