Parents' Guide to The Portable Door

Movie NR 2023 116 minutes
The Portable Door movie poster: Five figures stand in front of a doorway to J.W. Wells & Co., the central figure emerging from a horizontal door with

Common Sense Media Review

Kat Halstead By Kat Halstead , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 10+

Ambitious fantasy adaptation has language, moments of peril.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 10+?

Any Positive Content?

  • The Portable Door Trailer
  • The Portable Door: A young man and woman hold torches up to a long piece of paper, the background in darkness
  • The Portable Door: Christoph Waltz and Sam Neill stand, dressed in suits, in front of a wood-paneled wall
  • The Portable Door: Sam Neill and Patrick Gibson walk through an office of typists

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 2 parent reviews

 

 

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age 10+

Based on 2 kid reviews

 

 

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What's the Story?

In THE PORTABLE DOOR, Paul Carpenter (Patrick Gibson) and fellow intern Sophie Pettingel (Sophie Wilde) are recruited into a mysterious London company, where nothing is quite as it seems. Their experience opens the door to new worlds, but also pulls them into the secret plans of maniacal CEO Humphrey Wells (Christoph Waltz) to disrupt the world of magic for corporate gain.

Is It Any Good?

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

Based on a popular YA fantasy novel -- the first in a seven-part series by Tom Holt -- this fun but familiar movie finds its true magic in the impressive cast and stylish, beautifully-lit settings. While Gibson and Wilde hold the screen well, it's Waltz's maniacal Humphrey and Sam Neill's oddly gleeful right-hand man Dennis who steal the limelight throughout The Portable Door. The distinctive flair of the Jim Henson Company really brings the magical creatures to life, and the stuffy, off-kilter sets give a sense of a corporate Hogwarts, just as full of secrets and nonsensical rules. Some moments of humor land better than others, and the plot itself gets a little tied up in its own enthusiasm at times. But this is an enjoyable, well-produced family fantasy that will have a wide appeal, if not quite the spark worthy of a future franchise.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether The Portable Door was scary or not. Did the fantasy elements reduce the impact? If so, why? How much scary stuff can young kids handle?

  • Paul showed curiosity, which helped him understand what was going on around him, and eventually courage to stand up for what's right. Why are these important life skills? Can you think of times curiosity or courage has helped in your own life?

  • The film combined a familiar "real" world with fantasy elements. Can you think of other films that do this? How do they compare?

  • What motivated some of the characters? Did it remind you of any practices in the real world?

  • Talk about some of the language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?

Movie Details

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The Portable Door movie poster: Five figures stand in front of a doorway to J.W. Wells & Co., the central figure emerging from a horizontal door with

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