Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Coming-of-age movie has some emotionally intense scenes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town
What's the Story?
Toby (Jonathan Lipnicki) and Cal are precocious 12-year-olds living in Granger, Texas. They're starting to like girls, Toby's mother (Jane Krakowski) is leaving him and his father (Eric Stoltz) to try and become a famous country singer, and Cal's older brother is about to leave to join the Army and fight in war. As if these changes weren't enough, a mysterious trailer arrives in a vacant lot across from the diner where Toby's mother used to work. A carnival barker sells tickets to step inside the trailer to see "The Fattest Boy in the World." His name is Zachary Beaver, and when Toby and Cal first see him, they gawk as much as the rest of the townspeople, but when the carnival barker disappears for several days to recruit more performers for his traveling sideshow, the Sheriff insists that Toby and Cal befriend Zachary before he is taken into foster care. When they learn that Zachary does not want to go into foster care, the boys try to help, even as their own problems feel daunting enough.
Is It Any Good?
Based on the award-winning book by Kimberly Willis Holt, WHEN ZACHARY BEAVER CAME TO TOWN comes across as a realistic representation of tweens coming of age. This has as much to do with the acting as it does the writing; Jonathan Lipnicki is believable as a tween angry with his parents, getting his first kiss, and trying to make sense of the bigger world out there. The life, pace, and small Texas town setting come through effectively, and the movie is unafraid to tackle topics such as death and parental abandonment.
That being said, there are times when it feels like the movie tries to do too much. So much is already happening with Toby and Cal, Zachary Beaver feels at times to be superfluous. So many lessons are being taught, there isn't time for the first lesson to sink in before the next one is tackled. But in a way, though, that's refreshing, as so many coming-of-age movies barely attempt even one lesson on anything. And while some lessons are more heavy-handed than others, the film's ultimate message of empathy should resonate with families mature enough to handle the film's more serious moments.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about coming-of-age movies. What are the similarities and differences between this and other movies where tweens begin to grow up?
How does the arrival of Zachary Beaver in this small Texas town cause things to happen to the main characters? What are some examples of other movies where "the mysterious stranger" arrives and disrupts the ordinary routines of characters?
How did this movie express the grief and sorrow families feel when their loved ones die in war? Did this seem realistic to you? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : January 24, 2006
- Cast : Eric Stoltz , Jane Krakowski , Jonathan Lipnicki
- Director : John Schultz
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Platinum Disc
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 85 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Some thematic elements and language.
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate