Parents' Guide to

The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Disney remake with classic characters has stronger heroine.

Movie G 2002 75 minutes
The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 4 parent reviews

phawkpaige
phawkpaige Parent
August 20, 2013
age 8+

A Waste of Time

This is a typical girl needs saving by boy movie. Ridiculous fluff that I wish I had not let my 8 and 6 year old girls watch.

This title has:

Too much violence
1 person found this helpful.
butterflycl
butterflycl Parent of 6-year-old
June 1, 2019
age 12+

Romance

I am super disappointed in common sense media's description of this movie. I thought my husband read the parent reviews before letting our 6 year old girl watch. The reviewer who states this is another boy saves girl and she wishes she didn't let her girls watch it, is absolutely right. this movie is terrible and there is a lot of romance and boy saves girl. why romance in a movie that says its for 6 year olds?!!! just terrible.

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

As babies, Tom Thumb (Elijah Wood) and Thumbelina (Jennifer Love Hewitt) were taken from their village by a giant. While Tom ended up with a kindly man named Ben, Thumbelina is held captive by a wicked circus ringmaster who runs a traveling freakshow. While Ben sends Tom off to find others like him, Thumbelina makes her escape. They meet, but encounter difficulties with lovelorn beetles, an inquisitive aspiring boy etymologist, and, worst of all, the Mole King (Peter Gallagher), who wants to force Thumbelina to marry him.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (2):

THE ADVENTURES OF TOM THUMB AND THUMBELINA is a fun tale with enough constant action and snappy dialogue to keep both children and adults entertained. The animation looks like something from a Tim Burton movie, and with a cast of familiar names lending their talents (besides Wood and Hewitt, there's also Jon Stewart, Robert Guillaume, and Bebe Neuwirth), the acting is above average for children's fare.

Fairy tale purists may scoff at this modern-day reinterpretation of these two beloved characters, and while the musical numbers don't always shine, for those wearied of female characters in this genre being typically weak, helpless, and unable to fend for themselves, this version of Thumbelina is a refreshing evolution away from centuries-long archetypes.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about home, and why it is important for Tom and Thumbelina to try and find where they come from. Before meeting each other, why do Tom and Thumbelina feel like the only ones who look like they do?

  • Thumbelina says that it is "better to be original than a copy." What does that mean?

  • How are these versions of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina different than and similar to versions of these two characters in other movies and stories? Why do you think they changed them compared to how they've been in the past?

Movie Details

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