Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun fairy tale "sequel" has intense villain and potty humor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
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Where to Watch
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Jack and the Beanstalk: After Ever After
What's the Story?
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK: AFTER EVER AFTER picks up the story from the classic fairy tale where Jack cut down the beanstalk, defeating the Giant in the process. It's revealed that rather than being killed, the Giant (David Walliams) was in fact only knocked out. Jack (Eddie Karanja) and the Giant become friends and together must avoid a legendary giant slayer as they try to return the Giant home.
Is It Any Good?
Actor and children's book author David Walliams delivers Jack and the Beanstalk: After Ever After -- a kind of re-imagined sequel to the classic fairy tale -- with cheeky energy and enthusiasm. Walliams wrote the story and stars as narrator and the Giant, so gets to revel in the slapstick, dark touches, and potty humor that makes this story a joy for kids who lean toward both fart jokes and menacing villains. Though in this story, rather than the villain of the piece being the Giant, it is a giant-killer called the Woman With No Name (Sheridan Smith), who has an uncompromising edge.
The movie successfully tackles some big themes in its short run time, too. Jack's complex dilemma of keeping his lie from the Giant when he becomes his true friend looms large over the action. Our sympathies are instantly with the Giant when the Woman With No Name turns up too, creating a nice shift from the original tale. The film's underlying message is one of inclusiveness, and how we should all try to get along, no matter our differences or backgrounds. It's a message it delivers triumphantly. Clearly a 2020 production, the topical mention of a "lockdown" and a socially-distanced cast might date it. But as a bolt-on to a timeless story, it's a fun, spiky, and cheeky "what if?" tale with its heart in the right place.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the potty humor in Jack and the Beanstalk: After Ever After. Is it funny or too crude? Why do so many movies for kids amp up that kind of joke?
Discuss the character of the Woman With No Name. Did you find her scary? How much "scary stuff" can my young kid handle?
How does the movie teach us that just because someone is different from you, it doesn't mean you can't get along? Discuss how did the Giant and the villagers put aside their differences and learned how to get on? Why is teamwork such an important character strength?
The cast is made of a diverse group of actors. Why is representation in media important?
What other classic fairy tales would you like to see be made? Can you dream up an idea for a sequel to another fairy tale?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : December 23, 2020
- Cast : David Walliams , Eddie Karanja , Sheridan Smith
- Director : David Sant
- Studio : Sky Studios
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 44 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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