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Turtle Tale
By Polly Conway,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Amateurish but warm movie more about people than turtles.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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What's the Story?
Calvin Churchill (musician Noah Schnacky) is a teen skateboarder who's just suffered a big blow: his recent win was only because his friends cheated on his behalf. When he finds out, he throws his cell phone in a rage -- right into the backseat car window of Kyle (Isaiah McCaffrey). Kyle, another angry kid, is mad at his family for moving him to Florida to start a new business and making him leave his old life behind. No one is hurt, but Calvin is sentenced to community service, which he serves out at McGough Nature Park, shoveling animal poop.Meanwhile, three turtles in the park, Hank, Goliath, and Rafi, have their own thing going on; they make wisecracks and deal with their own issues throughout the movie. When Kyle pays a visit, the two form an unlikely friendship. Will Calvin find romance with the head ranger's niece Marlie (Lily Cardone)? Will Kyle feel like he finally fits in? And will the turtles stay safe in their pond home over the summer?
Is It Any Good?
This hybrid drama/nature film is a well-intentioned experiment that simply doesn't work due to a bad script, too many characters, and amateurish acting. It's hard to keep track of all the characters (even when some of them are talking turtles) and their various dramas, and the tone swings wildly from poop-smearing hijinx to characters sobbing wildly after a tragedy, then to CGI turtle-mouths cracking wise. And speaking of poop, young viewers might enjoy how often the word "poop" is uttered but it's not done creatively enough to make all the poop "jokes" worth it. The other comedy also falls flat, with this standard level of depth: "You're not such a bad guy...I mean, turtle." That said, it's a pleasure to watch Calvin transport an owl through the park during a musical montage, and all the footage of the animals is simply gorgeous.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about wild animals, specifically turtles. Why are some living in protected environments? Why are some pets?
Have you ever made a new friend unexpectedly? What brought you together? How are you different?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: November 7, 2015
- Cast: Noah Schnacky
- Director: Luc Campeau
- Studio: Totem Films
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Teamwork
- Run time: 86 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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