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Parents' Guide to

Strange World

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Sci-fi adventure/tender family drama has scares, peril.

Movie PG 2022 102 minutes
Strange World: Movie Poster

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 9+

Based on 84 parent reviews

age 11+

Awful. I have buyers remorse for paying theater prices to see this. Story was bad. The "crush" plot (plot is strong word here) was like an afterthought. It had no bearing on the movie. The was no real cohesiveness to the show. My teenagers were bored, my littles were restless. What a waste of time & money. Totally over Disney!!

age 11+

Boring!

We liked that we had the option of 3D. We did not like the effects though. 3d was as my grandson said ā€œboring.ā€ He said Legos 3D was much better. Anyhow, granddaughter went on to say the plot was ā€œunimaginative.ā€ Overall, we could only give it two stars because it just didn’t make us want to stay. You know it’s bad when you’re grandkids are bored and ready to leave. Ugh.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (84 ):
Kids say (39 ):

This nostalgic homage to sci-fi adventures has a moving intergenerational storyline, positive diverse representation, and two adorable sidekicks. Filmmakers Don Hall and Qi Nguyen focus on the family relationships between Ethan, his parents, and his grandfather. The environmentalist-friendly story offers plenty of laughs and fuzzy feels courtesy of Legend -- the family's big, lovable, three-legged dog, who's boisterous and befriends everyone -- and Splat, the blob-like, featureless being that Ethan discovers in the seemingly magical world. (Both will absolutely add to the delight of younger and dog-loving viewers.) Although the plot is mostly man-centered, the two main women characters, Meridian and Callisto, are hyper-capable, tough, and courageous. Union particularly stands out as Ethan's no-nonsense, supportive mom.

Strange World's visuals are vibrant and cotton candy-colored as the new world comes to life around the curious Avalonians. The world-building includes peril at every turn, but, aside from one somewhat humorous implied death, the danger is never too overwhelming. It's disappointing that there's been controversy over the fact that the film includes Ethan's crush on a boy (and his family's complete support of that fact), which is roughly equivalent to the cute date depicted in Inside Out. If anything, Disney deserves credit for promoting an inclusive story that isn't preachy or overwrought. Because this isn't a story about a teenager coming out or being gay -- it's a story about saving your home and repairing generational relationships.

Movie Details

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