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Parents' Guide to

The Big Wish

By Tom Cassidy, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Day of the Dead inspired animation has grief, violence.

Movie NR 2020 88 minutes
The Big Wish Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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A grief-stricken man is determined to kill the Grim Reaper, while an orphan searches for the secrets of her family. Some of The Big Wish's themes are heavy going, and younger viewers will either be left behind or hung up on some of the more worrying or scarier parts. Framed within the Day of the Dead festival, the movie's key concepts are familiar to those with an awareness of this Mexican holiday. But for those that aren't, the film's literal depiction of people merrily meeting up with their dead relatives each year, could be confusing to younger kids. The overall message is about the importance of memories and how death is a sad but necessary part of life. But this is muddled by the film's magic-heavy third act.

Still, there's lots to enjoy. It's bright and colourful and there are a number of fun action scenes, while the creepier aspects will appeal to kids with an interest in scary stories. Around the midway point, the film does begin to feel like a cheap animated TV cartoon rather than a movie. But the dip in quality thankfully doesn't last long. Yes there are better offerings that deal with similar themes. But you can also do worse than The Big Wish.

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