Parents' Guide to Proud Princess

A retelling of the popular Czech fairytale by Božena Němcová, this attractive animation has all the usual tropes that will keep kids entertained—and teach a few lessons to boot. The tone is fairly light and playful throughout The Proud Princess, and kids will particularly enjoy Carolina's adorable canine companion and the dog's obsession with her squeaky toy. Stubborn, snobbish, and rude, Carolina certainly isn't the most likable human character at the start, but her childish tantrums might amuse younger kids, and thankfully the movie delves beneath the surface to find out why she acts the way she does. It potentially teaches kids about the dangers of bottling up their emotions and pushing others away, and the power of connecting, and showing kindness and love. Benjamin, on the contrary, is full of joy from the start. He's playful, he loves the outdoors, he's almost exhaustingly "nice" in every situation. It doesn't make a huge amount of sense for him to fall for her, but love stories rarely make sense—whether they're aimed at kids or adults. Elsewhere, the villains are reliably villainous, the parents generally absent or fairly useless, there's a wise older woman, spectacular scenery, and a few songs that don't quite hit the mark, but neither are they particularly painful. It feels like there was the potential to update the messages here a little to make it less about a king coming and teaching/saving a stubborn princess. But feminist hopes aside, the movie is enjoyable enough and will likely keep kids entertained.