Molly of Denali: Molly and the Great One
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Molly of Denali: Molly and the Great One
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Molly of Denali: Molly and the Great One is a move spin-off of the Molly of Denali series and shows many aspects of life for a native Alaskan family, including their language and customs. Molly, many of her friends and her family, are all Alaska Native peoples and one of her closest friends, Trini, is black, as are her parents. Both girls' mothers are pilots- Trini's mother flies helicopters as an active duty member of the military. The special centers on a detailed history lesson of the men who were the first to successfully climb Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, on June 7th, 1913. Positive messages include the importance of gratitude, preparation and perseverance, making responsible decisions, teamwork, and keeping your promises. At one point, Molly's father tells her she's not ready to climb Denali "yet".
There are a few instances when characters are in a sense of peril but each ends quickly. One of the climbers almost falls and there's a base camp fire during a flashback of the first crew to successfully climb Denali. When a storm comes through their base camp, Molly begins to worry but her Dad tells her, "I wouldn't have let you come if I didn't think you'd be safe". One of the climbers is injured on the mountain and the helicopter landing to rescue him brings a brief amount of tension, but quickly turns out to be successful.
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What's the Story?
In MOLLY OF DENALI: MOLLY AND THE GREAT ONE, 10-year old Alaska Native Molly Mabray learns about her Grandpa Nat's dream to reach the top of Denali, North America's highest mountain. She helps him and her father train and prepare for the expedition. Meanwhile, her friend Trini Mumford is busy getting ready for her military pilot mother's first visit to their home in Qyah.
Is It Any Good?
Full of fascinating historical facts and highlighting the contributions of the Native Alaska people in the first successful summit of Denali, the highest mountain in North America, this is educational entertainment at its finest. Through setbacks and a few scary moments, Molly and her grandfather successfully complete a monumental journey in Molly Denali: Molly and the Great One. Along the way her contagious enthusiasm makes it easy to root for her, and she learns a lot about the importance of gratitude, preparation and perseverance.
Young viewers will be captivated by Molly and her grandfather's journey and overjoyed by their success. They'll also laugh at the stories and antics of the extreme adventure influencer, Mac McFadden, who pops up to tag along. And while the show only playfully pokes at his tendency to exaggerate, and sometimes misstep, it serves to subtly point out his place as an outsider versus the Native Alaskans who have more skill and knowledge useful to the journey. A subtle nod to the essential roles native peoples have often played throughout history as the essential guides behind the white men grabbing the glory. The heart-warming tale wraps up with a satisfying ending that even adults will appreciate, followed by even more educational content narrated by a group of real life Alaskan kids. This is an adventure the whole family will learn from and love.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about integrity. Why is it important to keep our promises like Trini's mother tells her it is?
Point out the many times that the characters display gratitude. What is gratitude and why is it important. How does expressing gratitude make someone feel?
Ask your kids what they think about the Mac McFadden character. How is his attitude different from Molly's father and grandfather? How do his actions affect the team?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: June 7, 2021
- Cast: Sovereign Bell, Bethany Brown, Christian Campbell
- Studio: PBS
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Adventures
- Run time: 152 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- Last updated: July 25, 2022
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