Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Slapstick adventure sweet, but treats running away lightly.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
Feeling neglected by her parents as they plot her dad's senatorial campaign, 6-year-old Savannah decides to run away from home. She escapes during a game of hide-and-seek with friends in a park by hiding in the backseat of a stolen car driven by Alvie (Mark Miller) and Boots (Donovan Scott), two bumbling escaped convicts. As they hide from the authorities, Savannah charms this wayward pair, and they must decide if their growing love of her playful innocence outweighs their greed for the reward money being offered.
Is It Any Good?
It's hard to believe that a film about a little girl running away from home and falling in with two felons could be both wacky and heartwarming, but this one succeeds. Many consider SAVANNAH SMILES to be a classic film of the early 1980s. While it's arguable whether or not the film has stood the test of time, or whether 21st century kids will appreciate a film loved by parents when they were kids, Savannah Smiles is, at its core, a sweet film about how the love of innocent children is more powerful than greed or ambition.
The plot isn't exactly the most original or unpredictable; the characters aren't the deepest; the action not the most realistic; but despite this, Savannah Smiles holds period charm for nostalgic adults, and these adults might just convince their kids to give it a shot. (And they might want to have a conversation about the perils of running away while they're at it.)
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Savannah was inspired to run away, in part, from watching a Little Rascals episode where Alfalfa announces that he wants to run away from home. Has there ever been a time when TV or movies influenced a questionable decision you made? Does it happen often?
How realistic is Savannah's story? How would the themes of running away and abduction be treated differently today?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 1, 1982
- On DVD or streaming : September 26, 2006
- Cast : Donovan Scott , Mark Miller , Pat Morita
- Director : Pierre De Moro
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Anchor Bay Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship
- Run time : 105 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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