The Nutcrackers
By Tracy Moore,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Low-budget film has dragging plot but teaches acceptance.
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The Nutcrackers
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What's the Story?
Mumu meets a bunch of very special "star" sheep in the park one day on her way to perform for King Tristan. She decides to dress and act just like them to fit in, but when the sheep reach the King's palace, they learn that his plans for them are not what they expected. To get out of this mess, Mumu and her friends must learn some lessons about friendship and accepting people for who they are.
Is It Any Good?
The animation in THE NUTCRACKERS is low-budget, but it almost pulls off a stop animation feel. The plot is more drawn out than it needs to be, and the use of shallow, mocking sheep may be a bit edgy for the preschool set.
Still, the lessons here do offer some value for preschoolers, who can learn about accepting friends for their differences, not in spite of them. Kids will enjoy the sheep's antics and problem-solving, and parents can appreciate a solid message about what friendship really means.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about fitting in. Have you ever felt you needed to change something about yourself to fit in? What happened?
Have you ever felt excluded? How did it make you feel? How did you handle it?
It's important to find friends who have things in common with you, but also friends who are different from you. How are your friends like you? How are they different?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: November 13, 2012
- Director: Alex Colls
- Studio: Phase 4 Films
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Friendship
- Run time: 82 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: September 20, 2019
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