The Stolen Princess

Movie review by Tracey Petherick, Common Sense Media
The Stolen Princess Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 5+

Strong characters, some stereotypes in fairy tale adventure.

NR 2018 90 minutes
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Parents say

age 7+

Based on 3 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Stolen Princess is a lively Russian (dubbed into English) animated adventure suitable for all ages with mild cartoonish violence and no explicitly offensive content. The movie is based on a Russian fairy tale and features classic tropes such as wizards, dragons, knights, and princesses. However, its efforts to depict strong role models are diminished by some tiresome stereotyping. This is most notably demonstrated by the fact that the only female roles are princesses in need of rescue, while male characters portray the brave knights intended to save the day. Any violence is cartoonish and slapstick. But characters are threatened with swords and daggers, and there is a duel involving fireball-throwing staffs. Some characters, such as magical spirits and a fire-breathing dragon, supply some mild scares.

Community Reviews

al54321
al54321 Adult
March 23, 2021
age 5+

I'm done with common sense media

This movie is great. Not too scary, fun magic, not the greatest animation but still good enough. The review talking about stereotypes and stuff about the female lead- you are ridiculous. This is a time of over-sensitivity to everything. Does the female lead get kidnapped? Yes. Is this a symbol of the patriarchy? No. So this movie would be fine if that male main character was kidnapped? The female lead is not absent to her own rescue- in fact she is pretty resourceful against a powerful evil wizard. SPOILER- The male lead is chivalrous- he puts her needs and happiness before his own to the point that he dies for her freedom! This should be celebrated that someone was willing to free some one else at the cost of their own life! (he ends up ok- why this is fine for young and sensitive viewers). And he knew he would die and did it anyway. If it was reversed and the male was saved by the female it would be celebrated, but it is wrong because the male sacrifices for the female? Why can't both be amazing examples of selflessness? As the mom of 2 boys I HATE the man-bashing and calling into "stereotypes" if a man is portrayed in any aspect of strength. Why shouldn't we want our boys to grow into strong men? We want our girls to grow into strong women. I have seen this too much in the way Common Sense Media is heading. Truthfully this is the last straw. Good bye- thank you for the good years when you would rate things on actual family values.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
6 people found this helpful.
OMARIO543
OMARIO543 Adult
March 1, 2022
age 9+
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Set in a fairy tale land, THE STOLEN PRINCESS tells the story of Ruslan (voiced by Daniel J. Edwards), a traveling actor who dreams of becoming a knight. He meets the beautiful Mila (Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld) and, not realizing she is a princess, falls in love. When Mila is kidnapped by the wicked sorcerer Chernomor, the King announces that the knight who saves her will have her hand in marriage. Now Ruslan is on a mission to find Mila and defeat Chernomor. Along the way he encounters a mystical cat, teams up with a naughty hamster, and takes on a series of magical challenges.

Is It Any Good?

Though The Stolen Princess has many of the right elements for a quality animated fairy tale, it won't be knocking Frozen or Tangled off their perches any time soon. Vibrant and colorful with impressively illustrated scenery, it's stuffed full of imaginative plot lines and varied characters with some entertaining slapstick humor. There are magical quests, high-octane battles, evil cupcakes, and an eccentric cat. But all the anthropomorphized creatures (and food) in the world can't gloss over the bizarre lack of female characters and frustrating stereotyping.

Mila has the makings of a legendary movie princess -- bold, feisty and curious, but bored, frustrated, and amusingly clumsy -- so it's a great shame she is destined to be the kidnap victim in need of rescuing who misses out on most of the action. The Stolen Princess certainly has adventure, a few laughs, and a colorful charm that will appeal to younger viewers. But in a world full of smart and stylish animations, this one is probably not sophisticated enough to impress older -- or movie-savvy -- kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the fairy tale stereotypes in The Stolen Princess. Discuss why brave knights, wicked sorcerers, and princesses that need to be rescued don't necessarily make good role models. Why must we be careful of stereotyping people?

  • Discuss the lack of female characters. How could the movie have incorporated more roles for women? How does it compare to other animated movies with strong female role models? Why media role models matter.

  • This movie is adapted from a Russian fairy tale. How does this movie compare to other movies that are based on classic fairy tales, for example Frozen and Tangled?

Movie Details

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