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Parents' Guide to

The Mouse and the Motorcycle

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Sweet, classic tale mixes live actors and mice puppets.

Movie NR 2008 60 minutes
The Mouse and the Motorcycle Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 5+

Based on 2 parent reviews

cfarthing08
cfarthing08 Parent
May 8, 2018
age 5+

Great story

Loved it as a child
heidih1
heidih1 Adult
September 22, 2014
age 4+

Fun for kids, a bit bland for the grown ups

Beverly Cleary's beloved tale comes to life in this short movie from the 1980s. The child is charmingly played, but other characters are a little stilted. It's a cute, childlike tale of a mouse who could make a toy motorcycle run by making motorcycle sounds. Parents can be the judge if there child is ready for the intense scenes in the film, which are overall pretty mild. The most intense portion for my 3 year olds was when the mouse is hanging by a branch outside the inn and falls to the ground while an owl tries to catch him. I assured them the mouse was okay and they loved it. Moments to watch for: mouse gets caught in a wastepaper basket, a laundry basket, nearly gets sucked up a vacuum cleaner tube, runs away from a cat and a dog on his motorcycle, and gets caught under a glass by an adoring lady who wants to take him to her kindergarten class, but instead tosses him out her window into the branches where he sees the owl and then falls to the ground below avoiding the owl's clutches. Hope this helps!
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When Keith and his parents check into the falling-apart Mountain View Inn, the adults are dismayed to learn the hotel may have vermin. Keith, however, is thrilled to make friends with an adventurous mouse named Ralph. The mouse is just as thrilled when Keith lets him take a spin on his toy motorcycle, just the right size for Ralph to zip around the room and down the hall. The unlikely friendship is put to the test in THE MOUSE AND THE MOTORCYCLE when Keith falls ill, and Ralph must take on a dangerous nighttime mission, braving owls, cats, and hotel maids, in search of medicine.

Is It Any Good?

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

This version of The Mouse and the Motorcycle perfectly captures the sweet spirit of Beverly Cleary's classic children's novel. It reveals the unique bond between children and the special playmates that adults are unable to appreciate. Or in this case, a new mouse friend that Keith's parents would never believe capable of befriending a young boy. The film features live actors in the human roles with furry puppets as the animals, and the animated effects aren't especially impressive. But that's not the point here: The joy is in the charming story and the important relationship between Keith and Ralph. Kids will enjoy the tale, and will be able to relate to a story that focuses on things that only children understand, while parents will be happy to find their children laughing at something so pure and simple.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Why do Ralph and Keith become friends? What do these unlikely pals have in common?

  • How does Ralph's behavior change during the story? Does he keep his promises at the start of the film? Is he more trustworthy by the end?

Movie Details

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