Common Sense Media Review
By Alistair Lawrence
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
CGI movie adaptation of classic kids' show loses its magic.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Magic Roundabout
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE MAGIC ROUNDABOUT follows a group of friends, including a dog called Dougal (Robbie Williams), as they try to stop the evil wizard Zeebad (Tom Baker).
Is It Any Good?
This movie adaptation of a vintage animated series features plenty of iconic characters and an all-star British voice cast. The Magic Roundabout boasts glossy CGI and a vast, sweeping adventure story, replacing the stop-motion animation of the original, which delighted audiences for years with its short-form adventures. As a familiar good vs. evil story plays out against a mostly wintery backdrop, it's difficult to shake the impression that the filmmakers were taking their cues from the Ice Age and Toy Story franchises more than the original, though. Snippets of popular songs adapted into musical numbers rather than original compositions only adds to its cookie-cutter feel. The cast and director wisely maintain a brisk, smart pace to keep things watchable, with the great Baker's Zeebad playfully lobbing playground insults at the heroes and his downtrodden sidekick, Soldier Sam (Ray Winstone). Bill Nighy's turn as slacker Rabbit Dylan cheekily flirts with some of the (very) soft drugs humor that alarmed censors of the original, but it's otherwise light on distinguishing features.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how friendship was portrayed in The Magic Roundabout. How did they care for one another? What character strengths are required for being considered a good friend?
Discuss Dougal's fondness for sugar. How did it affect his judgment? Why were others critical of him because of it?
Talk about the similarity between Zebedee and Zeebad. Did they remind you of any other pairs of "good" and "bad" characters who appear very similar? What does comparing similar characters teach you about them?
Have you seen the original TV series? If so, how did this movie compare? What other movies have you seen that are based on TV shows?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : July 18, 2005
- Cast : Robbie Williams , Ian McKellen , Bill Nighy
- Directors : Dave Borthwick , Jean Duval , Frank Passingham
- Inclusion Information : Gay Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : The Weinstein Company
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Animals ( Wild Animals ) , Friendship
- Run time : 81 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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