Parents' Guide to

Donkey X

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Those unfamiliar with Don Quixote might get lost.

Movie PG 2009 127 minutes
Donkey X Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 5 parent reviews

Bobbyjoe123
Bobbyjoe123 Adult
May 3, 2015
age 18+

stupid movie that only focuses on the bad stuff

This movie had the worst animation I have ever seen and this movie was just the dumbest the movie also had some very inapropriate scenes if I were to rate movie I would give it R... This movie also uses the lords name in vain several times

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
moviefan1717
moviefan1717 Parent of 1 and 4-year-old
November 2, 2012
age 18+

Inappropriate

Not entertaining and certainly not appropriate for my 5 year old. There is no need to have all the sexual elements in a kid's film. Find something better for your kids to watch.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In the town of La Mancha lives a crazy loon named Don Quixote (voiced by Steve Salazar). He is at odds with his friend Sancho (James Phillips) after having had many adventures together. Sancho's donkey, Rucio (Joe Lewis), wants to get the adventures going again so that he can prove that he is no mere beast of burden. With the urging of a jealous bad guy, the two old friends decide to get back on their horses (or donkey, in the case of Sancho's beast Rucio) and chase the dream of finding Don Quixote's true love, Dulcinea. With the help of Rucio, Don Quixote finds himself fighting for the lady's honor. But whether or not he finds her is for the viewer to discover.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (2):

This is a noble effort to revive the legendary story of Don Quixote. However, the target viewers may find this tale too complicated to follow. The movie follows the format of the book, with chapter titles announcing parts of the journey. Yet the concepts of courtly love, justice versus law, and showing the world "how to live an exceptional life" are topics rather above the heads of most kids under ten.

However, this is an excellent example of CGI animation, with sensuous night skies and fine facial expressions illustrating the character's emotions. Fans of Cervantes can enjoy following the antics of the misfit Quixote and his loyal pal, Sancho. Moreover, the animal's-eye-view of the misadventure allows for some cartoonish fun. Plus, there's a happy ending that feels right, even if it is a tiny bit lost in translation. Rucio's final statement about living with Don Quixote: "I don't get paid much, but he does understand me."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the book on which this movie is based. Who was Don Quixote supposed to be a caricature of? Have we lost touch with the knightly precepts in this day and age? What does the word honor mean to you?

  • The women in this movie are portrayed as nagging or demanding. Why do you think that is?

  • Families may be inspired to read the book together after viewing the movie.

Movie Details

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