Parents' Guide to

Roald Dahl's Esio Trot

By Tracey Petherick, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Gentle comedy is poignant but uplifting; positive themes.

Movie NR 2015 88 minutes
Roald Dahl's Esio Trot Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • Roald Dahl's Esio Trot Movie: Scene #1
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What's the Story?

ROALD DAHL'S ESIO TROT tells the story of the kindhearted but shy Mr. Hoppy (Dustin Hoffman) who is secretly in love with his neighbor -- the flamboyant, joyful Mrs. Silver (Judi Dench). Unfortunately for Mr. Hoppy, Mrs. Silver is utterly besotted by her pet tortoise Alfie -- and she becomes increasingly worried when she notices that he is not growing. Seeing an opportunity to bring joy and happiness back to Mrs. Silver's life, Mr. Hoppy hatches a well-meaning plan to get Alfie to "grow." Will Mr. Hoppy be able to pull off his tortoise plot and win the heart of his true love?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (2 ):

The very epitome of a gentle comedy drama, this charming tale of senior romance ticks along at a leisurely pace, somewhat befitting of its heavily tortoise-based cast. A made-for-TV adaptation of the popular 1990 kids' book, Roald Dahl's Esio Trot has a quiet intensity, combining humor and silliness with poignancy and, occasionally, melancholy. Unrequited love, loneliness, and old age are all laid bare but -- fortunately -- so are joy, wonder, kindness, and lots of tortoises.

You know you're in safe hands with a story penned by Dahl, a script co-written by Richard Curtis, and two Oscar-winning actors on the payroll. They don't disappoint. Hoffman is perfectly understated as the shy, big-hearted Mr. Hoppy, while Dench sparkles as the colorful Mrs. Silver. There is an easy chemistry between them that has you rooting for them right from the off. James Corden too has just the right warmth and empathy to narrate a tortoise-y love story, pulling off his multi-location jaunt across London with a natural flair. There's nothing flashy or sensational about this movie. No special effects or dramatic set pieces. Fundamentally, it is a simple love story. But you can't help being utterly charmed by the characters, enchanted by the story, and thoroughly amused by the antics of an apartment full of tortoises. It's a safe bet that, by the end, you won't be able to stop smiling.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the two main characters in Roald Dahl's Esio Trot. In what ways are Mr. Hoppy and Mrs. Silver good role models? How did they display traits such as courage, empathy, and compassion? Could you relate to them, even though they may be a lot older than you?

  • What did you think about Mr. Hoppy's plan to get closer to Mrs. Silver? Did you think he was being deceitful? Does that matter if his intentions are good?

  • Talk about other adaptations of other Roald Dahl books, like The BFG and Matilda. Do they make you want to read the original novels? Or, if you've read any of them, which do you prefer -- the book or the movie?

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