Strange World Parents Guide + Movie Review

Strange World is the latest release from Walt Disney Animation Studios. Touted as an action-adventure movie with beautiful representation and a star-studded cast, is Strange World kid-friendly? I’m breaking down all of the thematic elements, including its PG rating, in my Strange World 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!

Strange World Parents Guide + Movie Review

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Strange World kicks off Disney’s 100 Years of Wonder, and boy are we in for a visual feast. It is very clear that the animation department must have had a whole lot of fun creating Strange World. From the vibrant colors, to the overall imaginative imagery and creative visuals, Strange World’s animation is beyond stunning. I’m fully expecting it to win “Best Animated Feature.”

My first impressions of Strange World, were that it’s a mashup of Indiana Jones, UP, Avatar, and The Croods. The opening scene especially gave me major Indiana Jones and UP vibes.

Going into Strange World, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. The trailers seemed to promise a fun journey between a family of explorers. What I didn’t expect was a massive dose of representation and diversity, along with a compelling story wrapped nicely with a bow.

Strange World highlights 3 generations who are all very different, yet somewhat the same. Jaeger Clade (voiced by Dennis Quaid), is your typical single-minded, strong-willed, egotistical father who cannot see his son, Searcher (Jake Gyllenhaal), as his own person. He fully believes he should follow his ways and become a world explorer, just like himself. This causes Jaeger to become an estranged father and literally abandon Searcher.

Fast forward 25 years later, and Searcher has his own family. He has truly dedicated his life to trying to be the very best father figure to his own son, Ethan (Jaboukie Young-White). The two of them do everything together. Ethan seems to have inherited his grandfather’s sense of adventure, which is unsettling to Searcher.

Through a chain of events, the Clades find themselves in a “strange world” (hence the name). The world itself is very reminiscent of Pandora: The World of Avatar. It has floating mountains, bioluminescent lights, and mythical type creatures. The land is truly beautiful and animated to perfection.

Strange World gets a Standing Ovation for Representation

As fun as adventure stories are, what really won me over in Strange World is the incredible representation shown throughout the film. You have a biracial couple, an openly gay teenage son, a three legged dog, and a town that is shown to have many different abilities and filled with diversity. What makes this so notable, is it’s really not “a part of the story.” It’s accepted, but it doesn’t have to go as far as to say it’s accepted. It’s how life should be.

IS STRANGE WORLD KID-FRIENDLY? HERE’S YOUR PARENTS GUIDE:

Is Disney’s latest animated feature safe for kids? Is Strange World too scary for little ones? Here’s what parents need to know before watching Strange World with their family.

Strange World has an MPAA rating of PG for action/peril and some thematic elements. It has a runtime of 1 hour 42 minutes. Let’s break down those thematic elements and take a closer look.

Violence

You can expect to see characters fighting off creatures with knives and blasters. One weapon used electrocutes things. There are several scenes where characters find themselves in moments of peril. With that being said, the level of “violence” is very light.

Language

I feel like we need to scream this from the rooftops, but there is absolutely NO language in Strange World. There is one line that says, “Step out of my a…,” and cuts off. But that’s all! It can be done!!

Mature Content

There is a little bit of drinking in Strange World. It does not specifically say it’s alcohol, it very much looks like alcohol. Another heavy theme is the complicated father/son relationship and abandonment, which of course can be triggering for children.

Age Recommendation

I am very happy to report that Disney’s Strange World is for ALL ages. There is something for everyone in this film and that alone is worth celebrating. I would suggest ages 5 and up for a movie-going experience. If you have really little ones, there’s always the possibility they might get antsy.

Overall Thoughts

Strange World is the perfect film to kick-off Disney’s 100 Years of Wonder Celebration. Aside from the fun adventure storyline, what really steals the show of Strange World is its brilliant animation. Disney is really showing off and saying, “THIS is how it’s done.” While the story of the Clades is action-packed, it also has heart. I really enjoyed watching a father/son story, although complicated at times, it’s beautiful. Strange World leaves us with the message that, “the best legacy we can leave is the present we can open tomorrow.” Let that sink in.

Strange World Synopsis

“Strange World” introduces a legendary family of explorers, the Clades, as they attempt to navigate an uncharted, treacherous land alongside a motley crew and a slew of ravenous creatures. The voice cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal as Searcher Clade, a family man who finds himself out of his element on an unpredictable mission; Dennis Quaid as Searcher’s larger-than-life explorer father, Jaeger; Jaboukie Young-White as Searcher’s 16-year-old son, Ethan, who longs for adventure; Gabrielle Union as Meridian Clade, an accomplished pilot and Searcher’s partner in all things; and Lucy Liu as Callisto Mal, Avalonia’s fearless leader who spearheads the exploration into the strange world. Helmed by director Don Hall and co-director/writer Qui Nguyen, and produced by Roy Conli.

I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS STRANGE WORLD PARENTS GUIDE AND MOVIE REVIEW HELPFUL FOR YOUR FAMILY. WILL YOU BE WATCHING?!

Looking for more parent guides and movie reviews? Don’t miss these posts HERE!