Parents' Guide to

Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George's Creators

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Warmhearted docu of monkey's creators; some wartime footage.

Movie NR 2017 81 minutes
Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George's Creators Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Hans and Margret Rey are the subjects of MONKEY BUSINESS: THE ADVENTURES OF CURIOUS GEORGE'S CREATORS. Both born into affluent Jewish families in Germany and having lived an adventurous young adulthood that took them to France, Brazil, and back again to Paris, Hans and Margret made a desperate escape on bicycles to safety in early 1940. Having fled from the scourge of Nazism, the devoted husband and wife, who had no children of their own, ultimately made their way to the United States. There, Curious George became their "son." Filmmaker Ema Ryan Yamazaki's research, interviews with the Reys' longtime Waterville, New Hampshire, neighbors, and lots of footage of Hans and Margret themselves celebrates the couple, their courage, and their uniqueness. A loving, guileless genius, Hans opened his arms to the children of Waterville and those children, now well into adulthood, have wondrous memories of him. Margret, who was far less warm and fuzzy, but no less accomplished, is remembered for her feistiness, her devotion to Hans, and her savvy. The two lived long, prosperous, and creatively satisfying lives. This movie, which is narrated with spirit and warmth by Sam Waterston, commemorates those lives.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (4):

This gentle, celebratory documentary about the Reys, two talented and unique author-artists, includes wonderful animation to make even a scary wartime escape accessible for older kids and teens. Yamazaki's extensive research, creative filmmaking, and thoughtful, upbeat interviews with those who knew Hans and Margret well keep the story compelling. But it's the genius of integrating Jacob Kafka's charming animation, perfectly suited to the style of Curious George and the Man with the Yellow Hat, that makes Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George's Creators extra special.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the innovative way the filmmakers chose to tell the story of Hans and Margret Rey. How did the addition of the cartoon Hans and Margret enrich Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George's Creators? Ironically, did Jacob Kafka's animation make the Reys more "alive" for you? Was that unexpected?

  • Hans and Margret were both gifted and lucky. How did Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George's Creators illustrate their courage and perseverance?

  • Curious George is a character who gets into mischief, then gets himself out and learns from his mistakes. Do you think that may be at least part of the reason the monkey is so well loved? Do curious kids sometimes get into mischief? Why is it a good thing to be "curious"?

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.

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