Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Message-laden superhero tale is trite and uninspiring.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
At a very early age, Rob Rabbit (voiced by Barry Gordon) is discovered to be "The American Rabbit," whose destiny is to save the world. Leaving his family behind, Rob sets out to secretly right wrongs, protect his fellow citizens (a grand conglomerate of animals, large and small), and use his very special powers to conquer evil. The legacy requires that he never let anyone find out that quiet, unassuming Rob Rabbit is really a superhero. On his urgent mission, he roller skates on the ground and soars through the sky clothed in an American flag. In short order he encounters a pack of evil jackals that vandalizes, threatens, and destroys everything its path in a quest for ultimate power. In the words of Vultor (Kenneth Mars), their leader, "We torture, terrorize, lie, cheat, steal; that's our job." Fortunately for The American Rabbit's friends and his country, it's his job to stop them.
Is It Any Good?
The unimaginative, simplistic animation in this film goes hand in hand with a trite story and zealous moralizing (not always associated with the events at hand). There are scenes that make no sense either standing on their own or as part of a whole. Motivations change from moment to moment. Characters forge ahead, oblivious to what happened only a scene earlier. And, with the exception of Rob Rabbit, the threatened citizens -- though gentle and sweet-natured -- are portrayed as foolish and naive. That doesn't leave much to recommend.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes a superhero super? Other than their powers, what qualities do they often have in common?
Rob Rabbit talks about not "generalizing" about groups; in this case, he warns about saying or thinking that all jackals are evil. Would it have helped Rob's case if there had been at least one jackal that was good? Can you think of other groups about whom people unfairly generalize?
In a cartoon like this one, the danger to the characters is make believe. How do you know the difference between real and pretend violence?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 17, 1986
- On DVD or streaming : February 8, 2005
- Cast : Barry Gordon , Bob Arbogast , Lorenzo Music
- Directors : Fred Wolf , Nobutaka Nishizawa
- Studio : MGM/UA
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Superheroes , Adventures , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Run time : 82 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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