Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Family movie night? There's an app for that

Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

Jack and the Beanstalk

By Tracy Moore, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Silly live-action twist on classic fairy tale is goofy fun.

Movie G 2010 94 minutes
Jack and the Beanstalk Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 7+

Based on 7 parent reviews

Crustle
Crustle Parent of 6-year-old
September 20, 2021
age 9+

Cringe

Opens with a young girl - like, 9 years old - handcuffed in fur-lined cuffs with her arms above her head, wearing a short skirt, biting her lip seductively.  It's absurd, and sexist, and off-putting.  The whole movie continues in this fashion: women and girls pouting, finding themselves in provocative poses.  This is supposed to be self-aware and funny, but, like the numerous allusions to other movies peppered throughout the film, it comes off as clumsy and unsettling instead of clever.  Also, for unfathomable reasons, multiple characters speak in fake British accents.  A deeply cringe-worthy movie. Terrible gender messages.
whitebuddha
whitebuddha Adult
June 14, 2020
age 9+

Couldn't even finish it

After the opening scene with the exaggerated swooning of Chloe Grace, the flashy smile and cheesy over acted flirting between them.... Combined with the scene in the classroom relegating males to being prince's, hero's and charming, /females to being princesses, Damsels in distress, ingenues or ugly stepsisters... We couldn't continue. Even if this is sarcastic or resolves later on, it's hard for younger children to understand. We got about 30 minutes in and no one was interested in continuing.
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

This live-action take on Jack and the Beanstalk begins when Jack (Colin Ford) discovers he won't pass fairy tale school without a better grade in heroism. When he sacrifices his computer for a few magic beans he tosses out the window, the adventure sprouts, and it's up the beanstalk with sidekick Grayson the Goose (Gilbert Gottfried) and friend Jillian (Chloe Moretz) to prove his heroism, battle a giant (James Earl Jones), and learn a few important lessons about perseverance.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7 ):
Kids say (4 ):

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK is not a home run, but it offers some decent fun for a slow afternoon. For younger kids, the silly antics and wisecracks of a golden-egg-laying goose, a gold-hoarding giant, and a mysteriously sky-bound beanstalk will be a big hit. Jack's desire to make a name for himself, prove his heroism, and make his daydreams come true are relatable.

Parents may find the effort a little underwhelming -- the acting doesn't always soar, the all-star cast isn't always put to good use, the plot is a little clunky -- but for a fun afternoon, there's enough family-friendly comedy here interspersed with winking jokes aimed at adults to enjoy in this old fairy tale with a new twist.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the notion of heroism discussed in the film. Jack wants to prove he's a hero by sacrificing something important, his beloved video game. Have you ever given up something for a greater good? What was it? What happened?

  • Learn more about the history of fairy tales and how they came to be.

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

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.

See how we rate