Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Courage, teamwork help save the day in feel-good movie.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
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Dragons: Rescue Riders: Secrets of the Songwing
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 13 parent reviews
Parents say this is a charming children's movie that features LGBTQ representation and positive themes such as courage and self-belief. While some found elements like mind control creepy, the catchy songs and heartwarming ending, which includes a same-sex couple, made it enjoyable for both kids and parents alike.
- LGBT representation
- positive themes
- catchy songs
- suitable for kids
- heartwarming ending
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 6 kid reviews
What's the Story?
In DRAGONS: RESCUE RIDERS: SECRETS OF THE SONGWING, trouble befalls the dragon residents of Huttsgalor when a Songwing beckons them to a distant island and hypnotizes them with her tuneful voice. When Rescue Riders Leyla (voiced by Brennley Brown) and Dak (Nicolas Cantu) and their dragon friends realize what the beautiful Melodia (Renee Elise Goldsberry) is doing, they set out to break her spell over their friends and free them from her grasp, but it's more difficult than they imagined. Only by teaming up with an unlikely partner and overcoming one of her greatest fears can Leyla hope to help her friends and, possibly, Melodia herself.
Is It Any Good?
As villains go, Melodia is a fairly benign presence. She's beautiful in a tropical-bird-dragon-combo kind of way, and her voice is so glorious that it's easy to imagine both the humans and dragons of Dragons: Rescue Riders: Secrets of the Songwing becoming bewitched. But she never comes across as even remotely evil, even when her true intentions are still in doubt, and as Leyla and Dak try everything to free their friends, viewers will find her increasingly sympathetic, which makes the heartwarming end that much sweeter.
Secrets of the Songwing opens with lovely music, and it never really stops as the story unfolds. Despite the fact that the movie suggests the music is used as a weapon of sorts, the songs are very good, and music also proves to be the Huttsgalor community's saving grace in a way. As Leyla comes to find and share her own voice, youngsters will recognize the importance of overcoming fears and cultivating talent in this sweet tale of kindness and courage.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether or not Melodia is a villain in Dragons: Rescue Riders: Secrets of the Songwing. Does she mean to harm her subjects? Is she scary? What drives her desire to control them? When the truth is revealed, how does knowing it help Leyla and Dak help her?
In what ways does Leyla demonstrate courage in this story? Is it difficult to overcome your own fears? How does it feel to do so? How does overcoming your fears benefit you?
Do you enjoy this story's music? Do you like to sing? How do different styles of music make you feel? How is music both a curse and a cure in this story?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : July 24, 2020
- Cast : Renee Elise Goldsberry , Nicolas Cantu , Brennley Brown
- Directors : Greg Rankin , T.J. Sullivan
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Character Strengths : Courage
- Run time : 46 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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