My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

Name: My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks
Item: My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks
Rating: 3
Author: Angela Zimmerman

Movie review by

Angela Zimmerman, Common Sense Media

My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks Movie Poster Image

Popular with kidsParents recommend

Common Sense says

age 6+

(i)

Friendship tale has positive messages; some sinister parts.

NR
2014
75 minutes

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Parents say

age 6+

Based on 9 reviews

Kids say

age 7+

Based on 30 reviews

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Official trailer

My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

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A lot or a little?

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

Educational Value

While this movie doesn't teach any specific skills or subjects, kids can learn about friendship, teamwork, forgiveness, and redemption.

Positive Messages

Messages about good winning over evil and how healthy behavior, friendship, and positivity can prevail in the face of darkness. Also positive takeaways about teamwork, friendship, communication, and forgiveness, plus strong messages about the negative impacts of bullying.

Positive Role Models & Representations

The Equestria Girls have their flaws (Rainbow Dash is selfish with a huge ego, Rarity is shallow and obsessed with clothes, Pinkie has no self-confidence, etc.), but through teamwork and communication they're able to move beyond their issues. And though Sunset Shimmer was the villain in the first Equestria Girls movie, she completely redeems herself by the end of this one and ends up saving the day. The strong and positive Princess Twilight Sparkle could be considered the glue for the group, even though she struggles with her own self-doubt.

Violence & Scariness

While none of the characters' behavior is explicitly violent, some of the bullying gets slightly physical, including a few shoves. One of The Rainbooms gets harassed during a performance by a classmate and is forced to crash into her bandmate.

Sexy Stuff

A crush between two characters -- Flash and Princess Sparkle -- but other than one awkward embrace, nothing romantic is shown.

Language

Consumerism

Like all movies and TV shows in the My Little Pony franchise, Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks is tied to the popular Hasbro toy line, which includes toys, apparel, DVDs, games, books, and accessories. There's a hint of another sequel toward the end of the movie.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks is the sequel to 2013's My Little Pony: Equestria Girls and follows the same group of ponies-turned-teenagers at Canterlot High School as they compete against their classmates in a battle of the bands and face off against a witchy trio called The Dazzlings. Though the movie is kid-friendly overall, there are a few sinister moments that could scare very young children, such as when The Dazzlings cast a dark and spooky spell over the entire school and turn into red-eyed, winged dragon creatures toward the end. And while the takeaway messages are overwhelmingly positive -- including valuable lessons about friendship, forgiveness, communication, teamwork, and redemption -- the characters do engage in a lot of mean, bullying behavior before the story reaches its resolution. And, of course, there's all of the tie-in merchandising associated with everything My Little Pony.

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Parent Written byXxConcernedParentXx April 29, 2015

age 3+

Hmmm

Im 13 and I do love mlp ( mostly just for pinkie pies upbeat attitude)

My 2 year old sister loved this I thought she wouldn't like it because she took no... Continue reading

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Adult Written byRarityfan July 7, 2018

age 7+

You rock

Of course lot of consumerism. Some crushes. Intense music duel climax.

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Teen, 17 years old Written byUrmom1234 January 5, 2020

age 6+

Honestly, I'm a teenager...and I love this movie.

It has a good plot, good characters, and a good message. The songs are catchy, and the role models show great morals that the audience could easily follow. Its... Continue reading

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Teen, 16 years old Written byYarael Poof July 11, 2016

age 10+

Really great!

Yes, I am very late. I didn't see this until recently.
ANYWAY...this movie is amazing. It is a welcome reward for those who had to live through the abomina... Continue reading

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What's the story?

All is well at Cantalot High in MY LITTLE PONY: EQUESTRIA GIRLS: RAINBOW ROCKS. Rainbow Dash, Applejack (both voiced by Ashleigh Ball), Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy (both voiced by Andrea Libman), and Rarity (Tabitha St. Germain) have forgiven the reformed Sunset Shimmer (Rebecca Shoichet) for her villainous ways -- and, like the rest of the students, the girls are getting ready for the school's upcoming musical showcase ("Mane Event"). They're excited to perform with their band, The Rainbooms. But when a trio of mysterious new students, The Dazzlings, shows up and turns the friendly showcase into a full-fledged competition, friends start to turn on each other, bickering and bullying and pulling out mean tricks. It soon becomes clear that The Dazzlings have cast a sinister spell on the student body using black magic, which feeds off the negative energy that's generated by the mean-spirited students in the competition. The Equestria Girls call on Princess Twilight (Tara Strong) to return to their world and use her "friendship magic" to break the spell -- but once Twilight sees what she's up against, she knows she can't do it on her own. Will the Equestria Girls band together and triumph over The Dazzlings' black magic before it consumes the entire school -- and even destroys their own friendships?

Is it any good?

Fans of My Little Pony will love the magical Equestria Girls and will enjoy watching them work together to prevail over the villainous, witchy Dazzlings. Kids new to all things Pony will be drawn to the colorful characters, the catchy music, the sweet and enduring friendships, and the fun the girls have together, whether they're taking selfies at a sleepover, working on a new song at band practice, or strategizing about how to break The Dazzlings' evil spell.

But Rainbow Rocks isn't all eye candy and squeaky-clean fun. The Dazzlings' ability to draw power from the students' negativity, creating strife simply by tapping into the dark side of competition, may resonate with older kids who've witnessed -- or taken part in -- group bullying or seen a healthy competition go sour. But the strong friendships between the Equestria Girls -- and the tools of communication, forgiveness, and collaboration they use to work through conflicts and challenges -- provide examples of positive behavior and resolution for kids of all ages to follow, and they're ultimately where the value in this My Little Pony tale lies.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the value of friendship and loyalty. What makes the friendship between the Equestria Girls special?
Why do you think Sunset Shimmer changed her ways in My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks? Can you think of a time you've forgiven a friend or sibling for something they've done? What does it mean to really forgive someone?
Have you ever been bullied or know someone who has? How did it make you feel? What are some ways you can stand up to bullying?
The Dazzlings become powerful and are able to cast their spell by soaking up the bad behavior and negative energy of the students at Canterlot High. What do you think it means to "feed" off the energy of someone else? Can you think of a time you've been affected by someone else's attitude or behavior?
How familiar are you with the My Little Pony characters and toys? Does seeing the movie make you want to get the associated toys? Would you have wanted to see the movie if you didn't already watch My Little Pony or have some of the ponies?