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Lucky Duck
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Cute movie uses mild bullying to promote self-esteem.
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Lucky Duck
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Based on 4 parent reviews
18+ film!!!!!!!
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Mishmash of themes
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What's the Story?
LUCKY DUCK is the story of an indomitable rubber duck named Lucky (voiced by Christian Borle) who embarks on a grand adventure to find a place to call home. A fortunate turn of events saves the squeakless duck from the "Rejects" pile at the toy factory, but stormy weather sends him and an entire crateful of tub toys from the cargo ship overboard into the ocean. Lucky and his new friends -- Snap (Tom Cavanagh), a turtle who can't squirt, and Flo (Megan Hilty), a hippo with differently colored eyes -- set out to find a kid who needs them. Meanwhile, Danny (Gage Munroe) and his father (Dan Chameroy) set sail on their boat to locate the missing toys and claim a reward that will change their lives, which leads to a chance encounter between the boy and the trio of one-of-a-kind tub toys.
Is It Any Good?
It's impossible to overlook any of the many positive messages in this TV movie, what with the characters' constant affirmations. ("Different is good," "You're beautiful because you're different," and "There's only one of me," for example) and a handful of catchy tunes that reinforce the same themes. It does the trick for the younger crowd, even if it gets to be a bit sugary for the grown-ups who watch alongside them. But there's never any harm done in a sweet story about liking yourself and embracing the qualities that make you unique.
The movie's creators took a thoughtful approach to presenting the issue of bullying to a young audience, and doing so through a cast of adorable bathtub toys helps them ease into content in a nonthreatening way. Even so, kids will feel for Lucky, Snap, and Flo as they're teased and shut out by peers for being what the toys call "rejects" because of small differences such as non-conforming eye color and a malfunctioning squeaker. But, with your help, little kids can make the connection between the characters' experiences and the movie's broader message of embracing diversity.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why the toys tease Lucky, Snap, and Flo in Lucky Duck. Does doing so make them feel better about themselves in some way? Kids: Have you ever made fun of someone because he or she looked or sounded different from you? How did it make you feel to do so?
What are your kids' favorite qualities about themselves? What are their special talents? Why is being unique something that should be celebrated?
Lucky is on a quest to find a home. Kids: What defines a home for you? What about it gives you a sense of belonging to that place and the people in your family?
How do the characters in Lucky Duck demonstrate courage, integrity, and perseverance? Why are those important character strengths?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: June 6, 2014
- Cast: Tom Cavanagh , Megan Hilty , Christian Borle
- Studio: Disney Junior
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Courage , Integrity , Perseverance
- Run time: 43 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 26, 2022
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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