One Hundred and One Dalmatians
Recommended. Age: 6+. A Catholic review of this movie for parents.
Our review
Pongo and Perdita are Dalmatian dogs with fifteen puppies. A cruel woman named Cruella de Vil steals the puppies to make fur coats. The dog parents cross the snowy country to bring them home, and they bring home many more. Cruella is scary for little ones. A mother and father risk everything for their children, and then take in 84 more who are not their own. That is the heart of it, and it is a good one. Cruella smokes in nearly every scene, her two thugs drink wine, and she can frighten children under five.
For parents
G, and Common Sense Media says five and up. Children and Media Australia says not under four, with guidance at five. Christian Spotlight rates it Better than Average for families, with reports of nightmares from Cruella in small children. Things to frame: Cruella calls people 'idiot,' 'imbecile' and 'fools.' She smokes all the time, Roger smokes a pipe, and the henchmen drink wine from a bottle. The slapstick hurts the bad guys a good deal. Ask: what did Pongo and Perdita give up to find their puppies? Why did they take the other puppies too, when they were not theirs? What does Cruella love more than living things? How did all the other animals help?