Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cute beehive-and-bug tale with lots of cartoon action.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Tall Tales from the Magical Garden of Antoon Krings
What's the Story?
Traveling entertainer Apollo the Cricket (voiced by Justin Long) -- he sings, he juggles, he's a magician -- is down on his luck in TALL TALES FROM THE MAGICAL GARDEN OF ANTOON KRINGS. When he arrives in a beautiful garden, sees a wonderfully active beehive, and meets some of the insect folks who live there, especially the Queen Bee Marguerite (Kate Mara), Apollo thinks he may have stumbled into a wonderful life. But it's not to be. After a romantic nighttime outing with Marguerite, Apollo finds himself in the middle of a whole lot of trouble. A very jealous Wendy the Wasp (Laurie Hymes) has been waiting for the opportunity to seize the hive and take over the garden. Apollo becomes her innocent dupe, and along with a preening wasp army, a terrifying vampire bat, and a collection of mean and hungry pests, Wendy attempts her conquest. Queen Marguerite is kidnapped and life in the garden is disrupted, perhaps forever. Realizing his mistake and teaming up with a ragtag army of bees and insects, even some surprising ones, Apollo does the only thing he can do: Save the day, rescue the Queen, and give up life on the road.
Is It Any Good?
Sparkling animation and endearing characters live in this comic adventure that includes treachery, a palace coup, cackling villains, and a possible beheading among its many action sequences. The plot has twists and turns and a triumvirate of villains. It's not an original tale -- a power-grabbing "cousin," a far-too-trusting innocent, and a grand finale of derring-do and comeuppance -- but if the kids who watch are mature enough to understand the difference between real and imaginary violence, there's enough to recommend Tall Tales from the Magical Garden of Antoon Krings.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the impact of media violence on kids. How does your family determine which films are OK for the kids in your household? Which scenes or characters in Tall Tales from the Magical Garden of Antoon Krings might be particularly disturbing for kids who aren't ready to distinguish between actual violence and imaginary violence?
Marguerite says, "We always have a choice to do the right thing." Why do you think that the "pests" became part of the Queen's team instead of Wendy's?
How do the bees and bugs in Tall Tales from the Magical Garden of Antoon Krings demonstrate important character traits like teamwork and courage?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : January 11, 2019
- Cast : Kate Mara , Justin Long , Laurie Hymes
- Directors : Arnaud Bouron , Antoon Krings
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : PGS Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Book Characters , Animals ( Bugs ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some thematic elements
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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