Mr. Frog
Kids say
Based on 1 review
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Mr. Frog
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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 Mr. Frog is a mostly lighthearted Dutch (with English subtitles) family fantasy comedy with occasional moments of peril. Based on the book Meester Kikker, the main character is Sita (Yenthe Bos), a tween who feels like her veterinarian single mother is always more preoccupied with work than with spending time at home. When Sita and best friend Wouter (Bobby van Vleuten) discover that their teacher, Mr. Franz (Jeroen Spitzenberger), has the ability to turn into a frog, the movie's various storylines ignite into several chaotic situations. The kids show extraordinary care and thoughtfulness, and zero ridicule to the situations they find themselves in. But danger lurks in the form of Principal Stork (Paul Kooij), a stern by-the-books new teacher who also has the ability to turn into an animal, in his case a stork. This leads to some situations of tense peril. For example, Principal Stork tries to eat Mr. Franz when they are both in animal form. But there is no actual violence. With its fantasy elements, the movie builds an atmosphere that may spark some fun and interesting questions among families.
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What's the Story?
In MR. FROG (also known as MEESTER KIKKER), Sita (Yenthe Bos) and best friend Wouter (Bobby van Vleuten) discover their teacher, Mr. Franz (Jeroen Spitzenberger), has the ability to turn into a frog. But Sita and Wouter have their work cut out in order to protect their teacher from the new principal, Principal Stork (Paul Kooij), who can also turn into an animal that may threaten Mr. Franz's very existence.
Is It Any Good?
With its main storyline being a character who has the ability to turn into a frog, this Dutch fantasy adventure (with English subtitles) has hijinks at every turn. But it soon becomes clear that Mr. Franz is not the only character in Mr. Frog who can transform into an animal. Based on a book, this family-friendly movie creates a multi-layered world where the lines between animals and humans are blurred. But the large amount of storylines and themes is where the movie, at times, loses itself -- becoming confusing both in tone and plot.
Mr. Frog's sudden hops (pun intended) from tone to tone and plot to plot might prove difficult for younger viewers to keep track. In addition, some of the characters are also quite flat and underdeveloped. For example, Suzan (Wine Dierickx) is restricted to Mr. Franz's love interest, while Principal Stork comes across as just being mean. But these issues aside, there's no doubt Mr. Frog succeeds in bringing a sense of magic and adventure to proceedings.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the fantasy elements in Mr. Frog. How believable were they? Was this down to the special effects, acting, or both? How did the movie compare to other fantasy movies you might have seen?
The movie has examples of empathy, compassion, and teamwork. Why are these such important character strengths to have?
Discuss the relationship between Sita and her mother. How did it change throughout the movie? How did it compare to your own relationship with a parent or guardian?
The movie is set in a Dutch town. How familiar are you with the Netherlands? Did you learn anything about the country you didn't already know?
If Dutch is not a language you speak, how did you find the subtitles? Were they distracting or did you get used to them quickly? What other international movies have you seen, and how did this one compare?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: July 28, 2016
- Cast: Yenthe Bos, Bobby van Vleuten, Jeroen Spitzenberger
- Director: Anna van der Heide
- Studio: Attraction Distribution
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Book Characters, Friendship
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Empathy, Teamwork
- Run time: 86 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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For kids who love fantasy adventures
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