Moomins on the Riviera

Name: Moomins on the Riviera
Item: Moomins on the Riviera
Rating: 3
Author: Sandie Angulo Chen

Movie review by

Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media

Moomins on the Riviera Movie Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 6+

(i)

Popular Nordic characters star in amusing family adventure.

NR
2015
80 minutes

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Educational Value

Kids will be introduced to the popular Nordic comic characters. They'll also learn that, yes, you must pay when you say in a hotel or resort.

Positive Messages

Sweet messages about friendship and love transcending class and how you shouldn't judge others based on how much money you think they do or don't have.

Positive Role Models & Representations

The Moomins are all sweet, earnest, and kind. Snorkmaiden is vain and materialistic, but she also cares about Moomin and his family. Little My is honest and funny.

Violence & Scariness

Slapstick: Woman is hurt by a chair that folds; young man steps on an urchin-like sea animal that sticks in his foot; a girl needs to be rescued from the sea.

Sexy Stuff

Flirting, hugging, hand-holding, cuddling, and jealousy between Moomin and Snorkmaiden. Snorkmaiden wears a bikini and entices a rich suitor to ask her to dinner, even though she's supposed to be "with" Moomin.

Language

Consumerism

Moomins aren't a huge brand in the United States, but they are in other countries, with all of the associated merchandise.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Characters drink what looks like wine, whiskey, martinis, champagne, etc. at dinners and parties at the resort and a friend's house.

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Moomins on the Riviera is based on Finnish cartoonist Tove Jansson's beloved Nordic comic/book/TV characters that have been popular in Europe since 1945. In the movie, the Moomin trolls are a family of eccentric and naive hippo-like creatures who have little adventures. Originally recorded in Swedish, the movie has been dubbed by an English-speaking cast, but American audiences may be unfamiliar with the characters. There's more drinking than is usually featured in Hollywood animated tales, with the Moomins and other resort goers drinking wine, champagne, and even hard liquor like whiskey. There's no strong language or violence beyond a few moments of slapstick, but there is some flirting and jealousy as Moomin's girlfriend, Snorkmaiden, accepts advances and a date from a rich suitor.

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What's the story?

MOOMINS ON THE RIVIERA follows the Moomin family: Moomin (voiced by Russell Tovey); his parents, Moominmamma (Tracy-Ann Oberman) and Momminpappa (Nathaniel Parker); his girlfriend, Snorkmaiden (Stephanie Winiecki); and Little My (Ruth Gibson), a snarky little human girl. The group ends up on an unintended vacation in the Riviera; once they arrive at a fancy resort, they mistakenly believe that being hotel "guests" means their stay is free. Taking up residence in the hotel's poshest suite, the Moomin family is referred to as the "De Moomins," suggesting aristocracy, and befriends a few upper-crust guests who believe the Moomins are bohemian eccentrics -- rather than a broke and naive lot.

Is it any good?

Those unfamiliar with the Moomin comic (sort of the Peanuts of Northern/Western Europe), may not be as enchanted with the gentle and naive characters as those who feel nostalgic about them. While there are definitely some sweet and funny moments in the film -- particularly those featuring Moominmamma, who resists the glitz and glamour of the Riviera by spending time on the beach and attempting to grow her own food in their penthouse suite -- some of the other characters frustrate more than they entertain. Snorkmaiden in particular is hard to root for as she gambles for the sake of buying a black bikini and other fashions a la mode.

The movie's funnier scenes involve an aristocrat who takes a shine to Moominpappa and the family because he's secretly an artist who wishes he could shed the golden shackles of his blue-blood upbringing. Little My is hilariously mischievous, causing trouble and making blunt, matter-of-fact comments that prove that while she may be the youngest, she's certainly the most knowing character of the bunch. This is a modestly charming story that families who enjoy Japanese and European animation will want to check out but that those who "need" more Disney-fied characters, musical numbers, and heartwarming adventure plots may find a stretch for Moomin-uninitiated kids.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the differences between the Moomin clan and popular American cartoon or comic characters. Do you have to be familiar with characters to enjoy their movies?
The resort goers think the Moomins are so rich that they're eccentric; how does others' perception of them change when they realize the Moomins have no fortune? What message does that send?
What role does drinking play in the story? Is it glamorized in anyway, or incidental? How does it compare to what you've seen in American animated movies?
Does the movie make you curious about the Moomin comics, books, and TV serires? Do you want to read/see more about the Moomin trolls?