RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON Parents Guide + Movie Review

“Welcome to Kamandra.” Disney’s latest animated movie, Raya and the Last Dragon, premieres in theaters March 5th and is available for streaming exclusively on Disney+ with Premier Access for $29.99. Disney’s first big film sensation of 2021 and highly anticipated, is this movie kid-friendly? I’m breaking down all of the thematic elements, including its PG rating, in my Raya and the Last Dragon Parents Guide and Movie Review. Here’s what parents need to know to help YOU decide if it’s appropriate for kids. As always, no spoilers!

Raya and the Last Dragon Parents Guide + Movie Review

Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon comes to us at the perfect time. Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) is on a journey to restore a broken world (sound ironic?) which has been overtaken by Druuns. The Druuns, a dark purple and black cloud, are referred to as a plague which turns people into stone. Raya sets off on an adventure to find the last dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina), in hopes that she can repair the gem and restore Kamandra. She joins forces with an unlikely team, each offering something unique to the group. Their journey is a lesson of self-discovery and ultimately trust. 

The timing of Raya and the Last Dragon could not be more relevant. We are currently battling our own plague, and desperately trying to fix our very own broken world. The lesson of restoring faith in humanity is more than fitting and certainly a message we all need to hear. 

Raya and the Last Dragon represents a huge nod to Southeast Asian culture. The distinct physical characteristics and traditions was portrayed beautifully. The filmmakers and cast of this film all deserve a huge round of applause.

The Visuals

Raya and the Last Dragon is a visual masterpiece. The imagery is simply breathtaking. Disney animators continuously blow me away with how they’re able to bring an animated film to life — it feels so real. When you can make a martial arts fighting scene look beautiful, you know it’s a success. 

Is Raya and the Last Dragon Kid-Friendly? Here’s Your Parents Guide:

An epic journey, a strong female heroine, and a hilarious dragon side-kick, is Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon okay for kids? Here’s what parents need to know before watching Disney’s latest movie.

Raya and the Last Dragon is rated PG for some violence, action, and thematic elements and has a runtime of 1 hour 57 minutes. At almost 2 hours long, will this feature film hold the attention of little ones? Let’s break down the thematic elements and take a closer look.

Violence: There are battles between tribes using arrows and swords, as well as martial arts fighting. However, the fighting scenes are relatively quite tame and not overly graphic. You do see people get injured, however, there is no gore or blood. The most frightening aspect of this movie is definitely the Druun. It’s dark and moves rather quickly — and everyone it touches turns into stone. This has the potential to be scary for little ones. 

Language: Unless you consider “butt-kickery” bad language, then Raya and the Last Dragon does not have any inappropriate words. Much appreciated.

Mature Content: Grief is certainly portrayed and death is mentioned. Raya does not have a love interest, which is a nice change of pace. There are also no romantic storylines. 

Age Recommendation: Both of my children, ages 7 and 11, watched Raya and the Last Dragon. I feel as though I need to scream this through the rooftops because my youngest is a tough critic — but he sat through the entire movie and loved it! He is also the type of kid who doesn’t like scary things, and he was okay with the Druun. My 11 year old enjoyed it and was able to takeaway great lessons. I would recommend Raya and the Last Dragon for ages 6 and up. However, keep in mind this movie is almost 2 hours long, but it is very quick paced. There is a lot of action and no downtime. As always, you know your children best. 

SHOULD YOU PAY $29.99 TO SEE RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON ON DISNEY+ WITH PREMIER ACCESS?

Raya and the Last Dragon is available to stream on Disney+ with Premier Access for $29.99. Is it worth the price tag, or should you wait until you can stream it for free on June 4th? Our family obviously purchased it without giving it a second thought. And while yes, we could have seen this movie in theaters, I have to admit — I am a fan of Premier Access. The beauty of having this option is you can take breaks if needed, or you can watch it when your kids go to bed if it’s too much for them.

Purchasing it on Disney Plus allows us to watch the movie as many times as we’d like, as long as our Disney+ account remains active. This is not a one time rental. I think it’s absolutely worth the price and more. In fact, if we weren’t in the middle of a pandemic, I think I would pay to see this movie in theaters AND purchase it on Disney+. It was really THAT good. 

I also think this is a wonderful way to show your support toward the entertainment industry. Raya and the Last Dragon was completed during a worldwide pandemic. It’s been a hard time for these people, and I don’t know about you, but movies make me happy! Anything I can do to show my support you better believe I’m doing it.

Overall Thoughts

Raya and the Last Dragon is a promise of hope. We can all takeaway something from this film. Chief Benja (Daniel Dae Kim) says, “We can tear each other apart, or we can come together to build a better world.” How relevant is this? We’re currently living in a world filled with so much hate. If only we could stand together rather than divide us further apart.

Raya is the strong female heroine we need. Raya is a force. She is brave, strong and is determined to seek justice. She believes in people, and people believe in her. Raya and the Last Dragon is a major dose of girl power. Not only is Raya admirable, but the other female leads are as well. Namaari (Gemma Chan) and Virana (Sandra Oh) are two other strong characters. And Sisu (Awkwafina) is arguably my favorite. Sisu is over-the-top and a bit quirky, but she understands the value and importance of trust. Sisu is the new Disney side-kick you’ll fall in love with. 

There are so many uplifting and heartfelt moments in this film. It’s incredibly fitting and timely when we’re living in our very own broken world. “It is not about the magic, it’s about the trust.” Trust plays a very important theme in this movie. I encourage you to watch it with an open heart and take each relevant life lesson in. Raya and the Last Dragon will encourage you to want to come together to make the world a better place. To trust. To forgive. And to believe. 

Raya and the Last Dragon Synopsis

“Raya and the Last Dragon” takes us on an exciting, epic journey to the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together long ago in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world—it’s going to take trust and teamwork as well. 

 

Follow Raya and the Last Dragon on Social Media:

• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/rayaandthelastdragon
• Twitter:  https://twitter.com/DisneyRaya
• Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/disneyraya/
• Hashtag: #DisneyRaya 

Grab your FREE Raya and the Last Dragon Printable Activity Packet!

Your kiddos will enjoy this fantastic activity packet! You can download your copy HERE. It features an assortment of various activities and engaging content related to the film! 

I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON PARENTS GUIDE AND MOVIE REVIEW HELPFUL FOR YOUR FAMILY. Raya and the Last Dragon is available on Disney+ with Premier Access and playing in theaters.