The Tangerine Bear: Home in Time for Christmas!
By Brian Costello,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Sweet, noncommercial holiday story best for young kids.
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What's the Story?
A teddy bear (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) is created in a factory with his mouth sewn upside down, so it looks like he is always frowning. When he is taken to Kroll's Department Store with all the other teddy bears for the Christmas season, he is the only teddy bear left on the shelves. Even in the discount bin, no one wants to buy him. He is then taken with the other unwanted merchandise to Winkle's Store, a tiny resale shop in a forgotten part of town, where he meets other unwanted toys, including a jack-in-the-box afraid of the dark (Howie Mandel) and a cuckoo clock suffering from agoraphobia (David Hyde Pierce). When the teddy bear's skin fades into a tangerine color from sun exposure, he is named Tangie. With the other toys in Winkle's Store, Tangie conspires to find a customer willing to take he and the other toys home in time for Christmas.
Is It Any Good?
This is a cute and sweet Christmas story that also manages to not be too sentimental. It's a story best enjoyed by younger kids, but parents will also appreciate both the story and the overall message. It might be a little sad for kids (unwanted toys and all), but the idea of "happiness [having] no particular address" should resonate, especially for those who aren't exactly where they want to be at Christmas.
Tangerine Bear: Home in Time for Christmas! is a wonderful adaptation of a popular Christmas book. It's creative and clever, the type of movie parents will feel good about letting their children watch more than once during the holidays.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Tangie, and the other toys who end up in Mr. Winkle's store. Why don't people want to buy them for Christmas?
How did Tangie's upside-down smile make him different? Is there anything about you or someone you know that is "different"? How do people treat those who are different and why?
What makes a family? What makes a home?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: November 1, 2000
- Cast: Jenna Elfman, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Tom Bosley
- Director: Bert Ring
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Book Characters
- Run time: 48 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: April 2, 2022
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