Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm
Bare animation, catchy tunes in tale of love and friendship.
Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm is an animated family movie musical. Lots of musical numbers feature singing and dancing animals and people. Some moments might scare younger viewers. A scary-looking witch often uses her magical cane to electrocute and zap her minions, two crows and three talking skulls, who all scream in pain when zapped. Sometimes they say things like "with a punch and a karate chop." Her castle sits on top of a large hill that also looks like a skull. Dark skies and lightning accompany the witch as well. A bear lost his mother when he was a baby. Lots of people laugh at a woman when she falls over. A witch casts a spell on lots of people. A bear is knocked unconscious. People are often shown crying. The main characters are all White. Language includes "idiot," "fool," and "bad guy."
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What's the Story?
In BONGEE BEAR AND THE KINGDOM OF RHYTHM, singing and dancing animals work to save a town from a magical spell that makes everyone unable to sing or dance! The king, queen, princess, and the princess's protector, Bongee Bear, set out to make things right. Will they save everyone from a life without singing and dancing?
Is It Any Good?
The story is easy to understand in this straightforward animated musical. Almost everything about Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm is straightforward and simple. Some of this plainness is a good thing, like the story, but some can at times make the movie feel too bare, with its stilted, basic, and recycled animations (cookie-cutter models and jerky movements), very standard color palette and general art design (nothing unique or striking), and people that all look very similar (aside from a few stereotypically composed characters like "the Italian" character). Also, the witch character is over-the-top and a bit unnecessary.
But the positive messages of love and friendship are strong, and everyone is incredibly helpful, supportive, and encouraging. While the story and animation don't offer anything new, many of the songs and singing performances are still quite good.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about music in family movies. Did you like the music in Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm? What was your favorite song?
How did you feel about the witch zapping her friends all the time? What could the friends have done to make the witch stop?
How did the princess save Bongee Bear? Who are some other princesses in movies that have saved the day?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 9, 2019
- On DVD or streaming: June 21, 2022
- Cast: Jeff Bennett, Rob Paulsen, Ruth Buzzi, Debi Derryberry
- Director: Brian Zemrak
- Studio: Level 33 Entertainment
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More, Arts and Dance, Music and Sing-Along
- Run time: 78 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: December 14, 2022
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