Parents' Guide to

Level Up

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Fantasy-action flick is best for video game-savvy tweens.

Movie NR 2012 90 minutes
Level Up Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Tony632
Tony632 Adult
May 3, 2012
age 10+

Level Up!

Silly movie, with an even more ridiculous plot but its the pilot to a much less interesting tv series. The movie was good. But the show that follows is just plain dumb.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Critic child
Critic child Adult
April 27, 2012
age 15+

Games limit

I think that parents should reduce the time we spend on gaming. We see only the computer and forget about all our friends. That's not good. ________________ audio editor, Richard

This title has:

Great messages
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Wyatt (Gaelan Connell), Dante (Connor del Rio), and Lyle (Jessie T. Usher) are classmates whose social paths rarely cross in school, but by way of their avatars, they spend their evenings teaming up against the evil Maldark and his host of minions in the online video game Conquerer of All Worlds. Though the game's element of anonymity keeps the guys an arm's length from one another in the real world, a freak accident that opens a portal and lets the game's characters into their town changes all that. Suddenly these three guys -- along with their nosy classmate, Angie (Aimee Carrero) -- must look past their first impressions and learn to work as a team to save the world from Maldark's (George Faughnan) nefarious plot of world domination.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (7):

Thanks to modern animation, the visual effects are fairly impressive, even if the animated characters themselves are a bit cheesy. LEVEL UP is an action-filled adventure that reverses the standard relationship between reality and the virtual realm by transporting the game's villains into the players' real world. Since the story hinges on a battle over rights to the world, violence is a big factor in the plot, which makes it an iffy choice for young kids. What's more, if your kids aren't already immersed in the gaming world, they'll miss many of the inside jokes and jargon ("NPC," "expansion pack") that enhance the experience for viewers who are more in the know.

There are some positive qualities to the story that will resonate with tweens and please their parents. The very nature of the heroes' friendship challenges stereotypes and reminds viewers that first impressions are rarely a reliable basis for judgment of character. Although the story is hardly realistic, it's a good segue into discussions with your tweens about the nature of the Internet and the pitfalls of its anonymity. While you're at it, be sure to refresh your family's rules about online safety and talk to your kids about the importance of real-life relationships as opposed to those generated in the virtual world.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about heroes. How do you describe a hero? Who are some of your heroes? What qualities are important in one? What responsibilities do they have to those who admire them?

  • Tweens: What experience do you have with online games? Do your friends play? Which ones are favorites among your peers? Is there any benefit from games like the one in this movie?

  • How has the Internet changed the way we communicate and relate to other people? In what ways is modern-day communication an improvement on the past? Are there any drawbacks to this interconnectedness? Why must you have rules to keep you safe online?

Movie Details

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.

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