FernGully 2: The Magical Rescue
Common Sense says
- G
- 1998
- 75 minutes
Parents say
Kids say
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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 FernGully 2: The Magical Rescue is a 1998 animated feature in which creatures from the rainforest venture into human civilization to rescue their animal friends from the poachers who have captured them. Poachers kidnap baby animals and set fire to a rainforest. The poachers violently throw the animals into cages, and violently club their dogs into submission. The film conveys pro-conservationist and anti-animal testing messages. The fairies and animals in the rainforest care passionately for the environment, and this comes through in song and example. It's worth mentioning that this was a direct-to-video sequel that has none of the star voices that were in the original, 1992's FernGully: The Last Rainforest.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
were they on drugs when they made this?
^This.
not so sequel :L
Good, but...
Why!??!
What's the story?
The cuddly creatures from the animated hit FernGully: The Last Rainforest return for more environmental swashbuckling in this direct-to-video sequel. In FERNGULLY 2, two poachers set fire to the rainforest and capture three baby animals who are under the care of a fairy named Crysta. Crysta's boyfriend, Pips, goes into town to rescue the babies, accompanied by a bat named Batty Koda and a group of insects called The Beetle Boys.
Is it any good?
This sequel was produced on a more modest scale than the original, and unfortunately lacks Robin Williams's and Tim Curry's verbal antics. Without Williams's wit and a villain whom kids love to hate, the sequel will seem bland to sophisticated older kids. However, younger kids should enjoy watching the cute rainforest dwellers thwart some greedy poachers. FernGully: The Last Rainforest offered top-notch animation and a celebrity voice-cast. This sequel is a pleasant if uninspired follow-up to that critical and commercial success. It contains some visual treats, even though the animation is comparatively simple.
Fortunately, younger kids will probably not notice the shortcomings of the cast. Instead, they'll delight in the heroic adventures of the rainforest creatures, including iguanas, kangaroos, and wombats. The movie places these animals in lush rainforest backgrounds with bright, eye-catching colors. The artwork conveys a deep appreciation of nature.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about sequels. Were you inspired to watch this sequel because you enjoyed the first movie so much? Did it live up to your expectations? Why do sequels, especially cartoon sequels, so often disappoint?
These movies were based on published stories. What would be the challenges in adapting stories into film?
How does the movie convey its pro-environment message?
Movie details
- In theaters: March 17, 1998
- On DVD or streaming: March 17, 1998
- Cast: Erik Bergmann, Holly Conner, Laura Erlich
- Directors: Dave Marshall, Phil Robinson
- Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Wild Animals
- Run time: 75 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- Last updated: April 23, 2020
Themes & Topics
For kids who love the environment
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
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