Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Potty humor, pratfalls as mischief-makers set sea lion free.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Slappy and the Stinkers
What's the Story?
Five best friends -- enthusiastic nonconformists all -- meet Slappy, The Sea Lion, on a field trip. The "Stinkers," as they are called by the private school's disaster-prone headmaster (B.D. Wong) think that Slappy is unhappy in his small aquarium habitat. Remembering Free Willy, the five troublemakers determine that they, too, can make a heroic rescue and return Slappy to the ocean. Unbeknownst to them, however, an evil sea-lion-napper has other plans for the affable mammal. He, too, intends to steal Slappy, train him to do tricks, and then sell him to a circus. The rescuers confront the 'napper and the chase is on.
Is It Any Good?
This is silly, mindless, often crude fun for those who like their humor on the broad side. It's got clueless adults who fall and get banged up a lot, ridiculous pie-in-the-face villains, and oh-so-cutesy kids who grin a lot and utter sassy wisecracks on cue.
Combined with an abundance of fart and poop jokes, it's juvenile humor at best -- a time-waster with a few good laughs and an engaging sea lion.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the difference between make-believe live action, animated action, and real action. Are any of the crashes, falls, hits, in this movie meant to be taken seriously? How can you tell?
The Stinkers had no adults that could be counted upon to help them. Does that feel like a real situation? If you need help, who can you count on?
Slappy tells the kids that he is happiest in his home at the aquarium. There is controversy about whether or not to keep wild things in captivity for education and/or entertainment. What do you think? How could you find out more about this subject?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 23, 1998
- On DVD or streaming : January 4, 2005
- Cast : B.D. Wong , Bronson Pinchot , Jennifer Coolidge
- Director : Barnet Kellman
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : TriStar Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Friendship , Animals ( Ocean Creatures )
- Run time : 78 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some crude behavior, mild language and slapstick violence
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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