Common Sense Media Review
By Sr. Jhoanna Robledo
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 10+
The animated take on the classic story is cute but restrained.
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Based on 16 parent reviews
What is the story?
In THE LITTLE PRINCE, a mother (voiced by Rachel McAdams) plans her daughter’s life, starting with a rigorous curriculum to ensure she gets into the right school. A girl (Mackenzie Foy) is so busy that she barely has time to meet the strange old man next door (Jeff Bridges), but eventually he convinces her to take a break so he can share some stories about his time as an aviator – – and how he once met of the titular Little Prince.
Is it good?
The little prince it’s not ineffective — in fact, it’s quite mobile; it’s just not as captivating as it could have been. And that’s at least partly because it’s not exactly like a cult book, even though the themes are very similar. The movie is mostly about the Girl and what she learns from the Aviator, which is a departure from the book (more about what the Aviator learns from the Little Prince). It offers the same basic message, just told in a very different way, which may very well affect how the audience receives the film.
The parts that stick tightly to the text will be magical and otherworldly, thanks to the animation. (And, of course, the source.) But the bits added to frame the story—especially the third act—are pretty predictable (albeit enjoyable) and detract from the tone of the book. The resulting juxtaposition turns out to be somewhat disturbing: the depth of the source material is diluted by overly direct (and slightly uncomfortable) additions.
Talk to your kids about…
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Families can talk about it The little prince‘s dark/scary scene. What makes them scary? How much scary stuff can little kids handle?
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What is the Aviator trying to teach the Little Girl? What do you think of the mother’s plans for the girl?
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How does the story illustrate compassion, empathy, and integrity? Why are these character strengths important?
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The film uses two very different animation styles. What does this show the audience? How do the images correspond to different moments in the film?
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If you’ve read the book, how is the movie similar and different? What do you think about framing the story of the Little Prince with the story of the Little Girl and her mother? Does this structure change the meaning/impact of the story?
Did we miss something about diversity?
Research shows a connection between children’s healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in the media. That’s why we’ve added a new “Different Representations” section to our reviews that will be published on an ongoing basis. You can help us help children