Parents' Guide to Into the Woods

Movie PG 2014 124 minutes
Into the Woods Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

S. Jhoanna Robledo By S. Jhoanna Robledo , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 10+

Sondheim's fairy tale musical is dark, complex, sublime.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 10+?

Any Positive Content?

  • :59
  • Into the Woods Trailer

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 90 parent reviews

 

 

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age 10+

Based on 124 kid reviews

Kids say this movie is entertaining but not suitable for younger viewers due to its dark themes and violent scenes, including implied fantasy violence and adult issues like infidelity and death. While some appreciate the catchy music and star-studded cast, many argue that its inappropriate content and disjointed storylines render it unsuitable for children.

  • family-friendly concerns
  • dark themes
  • mixed reviews
  • catchy music
  • not for young kids
Summarized with AI
 

 

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What's the Story?

In a magical kingdom far, far away lives a baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt). Unable to have children, they strike a bargain with the witch next door (Meryl Streep), who sends them on a mission to find a handful of objects that will help them break a curse. Meanwhile, Cinderella (Anna Kendrick) desperately wants to go to the ball hosted by the prince (Chris Pine), and a young girl in a red cape (Lilla Crawford) is on her way to her grandmother's house when she encounters the Big Bad Wolf (Johnny Depp). Then there's young Jack (Daniel Huttlestone), who has to sell his cow and winds up trading her not for money but for magic beans, which ultimately leads to a big problem for the whole kingdom. They all converge as they head INTO THE WOODS.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 90 ):
Kids say ( 124 ):

Fans of Stephen Sondheim's beloved musical have nothing to fear from this finely tuned and beautifully rendered cinematic version. The set will draw you in; the music, as expected, will leave you at once melancholy and thoughtful; and the acting will surprise and please. The weakest link, if he can be called that, is actually Depp, who could have benefited from a touch of understatement. But almost everyone else is a delight: Streep, especially -- despite having been in scores of memorable movies for decades -- reminds us that she has the power to morph into something we've yet to see. She amazes. And Pine proves he has a gift for comedy in the hilarious song "Agony."

But best of all is Sondheim's music: It's complicated and compelling. This is no run-of-the-mill children's musical. Though it may sport a stylized (and gorgeously rendered) set, the music grounds Into the Woods in a truly human -- and humane -- scale. Musicals don't often teach nuanced life lessons. But if, as one song goes, "children will listen," they'll hear plenty of words to guide them here.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about fairy tales. How does Into the Woods play with the standard formula? Do any of the characters actually live happily ever after? Is that OK?

  • What audience do you think this movie is intended for? It's about fairy tale characters, but is it for kids? Do you think young children can understand the nuances of Sondheim?

  • Are the characters role models? Can you relate to their dilemmas and problems? What do they learn over the course of the movie? What choices and mistakes do they make, and how does that affect their story?

  • How are parents depicted? Are the mothers and fathers in the movie good parents? What does it take to be a good parent?

Movie Details

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