Planes: Fire & Rescue

  • Review Date: July 17, 2014
  • Rated: PG
  • Genre: Family and Kids
  • Release Year: 2014
  • Running Time: 83 minutes

Common Sense Media says

Much-improved 3D sequel has some intense fire scenes.
  • Review Date: July 17, 2014
  • Rated: PG
  • Genre: Family and Kids
  • Release Year: 2014
  • Running Time: 83 minutes

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Quality(i)

 
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What parents need to know

Educational value

Planes: Fire and Rescue gives kids a glimpse of what it’s like to be a firefighter or smokejumper. They also learn a bit about fire safety and what it means to dedicate your life to other people.

Positive messages

Planes: Fire and Rescue is about the sacrifice that firefighters make every day. They put their lives at risk so others can be safe and are heroes not because they have special powers but because they do their jobs and cooperate with the team. There's also a strong emphasis on community and working together, as well as accepting the consequences of your mistakes and learning from them.

Positive role models

The firefighting planes put their lives at risk to keep people safe and protect the national park. Dusty realizes that sometimes life doesn’t work out as planned, and he has to think of others over himself. The firefighters are determined to fight fires and save those in danger, no matter what the personal cost. Blade Ranger, who leads the firefighting team, teaches Dusty the value of being prepared, safe, and aware of others. Dusty's friends at home are as supportive of him as ever. On the other hand, while there aren’t as many stereotypes as there were in Planes, there are a few. Windlifter is a wise, strong, unflappable Native American helicopter, and hauler plane Lil' Dipper -- the sole major female character in the sequel -- instantly becomes obsessed with Dusty (making a few inappropriate comments that will likely go over younger kids’ head). A shiny SUV that runs the new lodge is focused on status and attention. He puts his everyone's lives in danger in order to save the lodge building -- but his actions are clearly presented as selfish and wrong, and he suffers the consequences.

Violence & scariness

Frequent scenes of peril, mostly due to scary wildfires. (Possible spoiler alerts ahead!) Many different vehicle characters are in peril at different times; two are in particular danger when they're trapped on a bridge and surrounded by fire (they make a harrowing escape in the nick of time). The firefighter planes repeatedly fly into smoke and burning embers; the smokejumper vehicles are temporarily trapped in one instance. Dusty crashes into the river (and is caught up in the rapids approaching a waterfall) and a lake, getting extremely banged up in the process. Dusty and Blade become trapped in an old mine while the fire rages around them, and they fear they might suffocate; Blade sustains serious damage from heat and debris. There's a wall with pictures of planes that have crashed; viewers find out that includes a friend of Blade’s that died years earlier. Early in the movie, Dusty flies off angrily and has a rough, near-crash landing that ends up causing a fire in Propwash Junction; some moments of tension as he and his friends work on putting it out.

Sexy stuff

Lil' Dipper forms an aggressive crush on Dusty and often talks about going on dates with him. She makes a few other mildly suggestive comments ("they're real" in reference to a couple of her parts, etc.), and when they go to a party at the park's lodge, she talks about sharing a room with Dusty and the children they'd have together. During a flashback scene, Blade Ranger is seen in a TV show called CHoPs where he and his partner helicopter pick up two "twin" cars. A "pickup truck" tries to hit on another car in a bar. An older motor home couple discusses their romance and engagement.

Language

A few phrases meant to suggest swearing -- like "oh, Chevy" and "I kicked Aston-Martin." Also "shut the hangar door" and a couple of insults, including "dumb" and "bumper kisser." Also a little crude, gas-related humor.

Consumerism

While there are no actual brands in the movie, there are many off screen tie-ins, from toys to clothes to games to food. Some of the movie's brands are meant to suggest real-life equivalents -- like "Honkers" bar, the TV show CHoPS, the movie Howard the Truck, etc.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking

The planes socialize in a bar-like hanger and at a swanky lodge, drinking from from cans of motor oil, which they sometimes buy for each other like drinks. Reference to a "motor-jito."

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Planes: Fire and Rescue is the superior 3D sequel to Planes. There are several perilous firefighting/rescue scenes (including one in which the heroes are boxed in by a fire and fear they might suffocate) that could upset younger children, especially when viewed in 3D. The firefighters routinely put their lives at risk as they swoop into the raging wildfires, and there's mention that some don’t make it back (late in the movie, one specific sad death is referred to). There are a few stereotypes, including a boy-crazy female firefighter plane who borders on stalking Dusty (and makes some mildly suggestive comments -- i.e. "they're real" in reference to some of her parts) and a wise, strong Native American helicopter, but cultural stereotypes aren't as prevalent as they were in the original Planes. Essentially, the movie is a beautifully animated tribute to the men and women who put their lives at risk to keep the national parks safe.

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What's the story?

Racing champion and former crop duster Dusy Crophopper (voiced by Dane Cook) is training for his next race when he discovers that his gearbox is damaged. The replacement part is out of production, which means he might not be able to race anymore. In a fit of self-pity, Dusty accidentally starts a fire that closes down the Propwash Junction airport. In order to fix his mess, he must go to firefighter training at Piston Peak National Park. There he's trained by the reluctant Blade Ranger (Ed Harris), a helicopter who isn't impressed by the racing champ. Blade's crew includes smokejumpers, an air tanker, a cargo plane, and a military helicopter. Dusty works hard, and when a wildfire rages through the park, he and the crew must come together to save Piston Peak and its tourists.

Is it any good?

QUALITY
 

PLANES: FIRE AND RESCUE is notably better than Planes. The animation (now in 3D) is drastically improved, the characters are likeable and interesting, and the action is intense, with a lot at stake. Kids will find the story and visuals exciting, and parents won’t be bored -- especially during the incredible scenes set in Piston Peak National Park, which appears to be a cross between Yosemite and Yellowstone.

The story is also better, and the characters are more compelling (with fewer stereotypes) than in the first movie. The planes are out there to do good work, not just win a race. There are cute pop culture references, too: like the show that Blade Ranger used to star in, called CHoPs, and the use of a classic AC/DC song during a firefighting scene. 

Families can talk about...

  • Families can talk about Planes: Fire and Rescue's message. What does Dusty learn this time around? How does it compare to what he learned in the first Planes?

  • Discuss the training, determination, and discipline required to become a firefighter. Did you realize what it takes?

  • Dusty had a dream of long career as a champion racer. When that changed, it took him a while to accept that he might need to alter his plans. What would you do if you couldn’t follow your dream?

  • Disney has licensed lots of Planes toys, clothes, and games. Does seeing merchandise in stores make you want to see a particular movie?

Movie details

Theatrical release date:July 18, 2014
DVD release date:November 4, 2014
Cast:Dane Cook, Julie Bowen, Ed Harris
Director:Roberts Gannaway
Studio:Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Genre:Family and Kids
Topics:Friendship
Run time:83 minutes
MPAA rating:PG
MPAA explanation:action and some peril

This review of Planes: Fire & Rescue was written by

Yvonne Condes

About our rating system

  • ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
  • OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids of any age.

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Quality

Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Learning ratings

  • Best: Really engaging, great learning approach.
  • Very Good: Engaging, good learning approach.
  • Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
  • Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
  • Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
  • Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

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Kid, 11 years old November 8, 2014
AGE
6
QUALITY
 

Cute adventure tweens okay but might be a little scary for young kids

Although this is a good movie it has some scenes that might scare young kids.Such as when Blade and Dusty are hiding in the cave like mine to hide from the fire and Blade tried to protect Dusty but got really burnt on his side which is a little scary.But all the characters heal that are injured.Spoil alert one scene Dusty looked dead but brought back to life that scene is really emotional.Plus on the sex scene a girl that is all over Dusty made some PG-13 innuendoes.And the main bad guy in the film is Cad Spinner.He isn't the best role model but all the other planes are role models.Plus in one scene Dusty said I kicked Aston Marton which is supposed to replace the a word. Positive Messages:Messages about self sacrifice are strong and solid and the smokejumpers are loyal friends. Great role models:Dusty at first is mad about his disability but realizes even with his disability.Dipper is a boy crazy girl who makes a bit of inappropriate comments that young kids might not get but tweens and teens will.But one the upside the smokejumpers are loyal friends who care to protect the enviroment. Violence or scary scenes:Lots of peril but are caused by big fires.Main characters are usually doing stuff that can lead to death or intense care.In one scene a main character(Dusty)is shown to be dead but is not. S-xy stuff:A female plane is shown to be obsessed with Dusty and makes a few PG-13 innuendos that most kids and tweens won't get. Swearing:No real curse words but a few terms that replace strong words such as oh Chevy and I kicked Aston Marton crude potty humor is infrequent. Commercial products:None in the movie but there is plenty of toys at stores. Drinking:Cars do briefly drink at bars. So that's my review.
What other families should know
Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
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Kid, 11 years old October 18, 2014
AGE
6
QUALITY
 

I am a Planes fan!!!

I am a Planes fan! I saw Planes in theaters Summer 2013 and loved it for a year. When I heard about Planes:Fire and Rescue, I just totally freaked out! It is an AWESOME movie for ages 6 and up. We saw it three times in the theatre and invited all our friends. They became instant fans, too! although it was sad Ripslinger and ElChu weren't in the movie, we loved it and it is SO much funnier than the first movie! It does have some scary parts, like when Blade and Dusty were hiding from the fire in the mine, and when there was a huge fire and everyone was evacuating and Dusty crashed(only shown from his eye view. No music. ). But hey, Dusty crashes a lot and likes to do things his own way. I was glad to see that Dusty had NOT CHANGED. Skipper has changed quite a bit. Dottie's not budging. this is all good news! The fire scenes are beautiful and the music is amazing(I have the soundtrack!). This is not a movie for younger kids, though. This is an AWESOME and EXCITING and FUNNY movie! WATCH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Kid, 10 years old October 12, 2014
AGE
5
QUALITY
 

WORST COMPANY EVER!

I can't believe you give this movie 4 stars and like this movie better than Planes, Trains and Automobiles. You are the worst company I have ever seen.
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