The Land Before Time XII: The Great Day of the Flyers
By Nancy Davis Kho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Stale, slow dino friends tale for very young only.
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The Land Before Time XII: The Great Day of the Flyers
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Based on 2 parent reviews
beaten to death
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What's the Story?
In the twelfth installment of the popular The Land Before Time animated series, young dinosaur friends are happily anticipating the Great Day of the Flyers, during which young fliers like pterodactyl Petrie (voiced by Jeff Bennett) have a chance to show their elders that they're ready to fly in a group. The problem is that Petrie has a hard time keeping up with his synchronized siblings, who are quick to blame him whenever their aerial maneuvers fall apart. Petrie's steadfast friends Littlefoot (Nick Price), Cera (Anndi McAfee), and new feathered friend Guido (Rob Paulsen) help Petrie find the courage to withstand his family's criticism and follow his own flight plan. Meanwhile, Cera, a "three horn" dinosaur is trying to cope with the impending arrival of a younger sibling, and her father and stepmother's lack of attention.
Is It Any Good?
THE LAND BEFORE TIME XII: THE GREAT DAY OF THE FLYERS provides some harmless entertainment for preschoolers, but plods along at an incredibly slow pace. The scene of the friends following a sleepwalking friend to protect him along his somnolent way seemed particularly long. A few perky songs like "Flip, Flap and Fly" are sprinkled throughout to keep the energy level up. However these ditties almost make Barney songs sound sophisticated.
The animation is serviceable, particularly the natural surroundings in which the action took place. The pidgin English of main character Petrie -- "me see friends!" "me no know!" -- might feel familiar to preschoolers, but it's not something that most parents will want to reinforce.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Petrie the pterodactyl finds the courage to fly in his own style. How did his friends Cera, Littlefoot, and especially Guido give him encouragement? Have you ever encouraged your friends to do something they were scared to do?
For families with new younger siblings on the way, Cera's story is a good opportunity to talk about how life may change when the new baby arrives. Since many preschoolers are fascinated by dinosaurs, they may want to look up the real names of the "long neck," "sharptooth," and "three horn" characters.
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 27, 2007
- On DVD or streaming: February 27, 2007
- Cast: Anndi McAfee, Aria Curzon, Nick Price
- Director: Charles Grosvenor
- Studio: Universal Pictures
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Dinosaurs, Adventures, Friendship
- Run time: 77 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- MPAA explanation: General Audiences
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
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