Typical Thomas tale with mild peril; fun for fans.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Products & Purchases
some
Thomas the Tank Engine has a wide range of books, toys, clothes, and other merchandise. This film introduces three new characters, which will no doubt be available in stores soon.
Violence & Scariness
very little
Thomas gets lost on an abandoned train track after his brakes fail during a race with Spencer. He’s frightened when he first encounters Hiro.
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The movie is all about helping those in need, cooperating with friends, and dealing with bullies.
Positive Role Models
some
The characters are all basically well-intentioned, with the exception of Spencer, who comes around by the end. Thomas and his friends don't always make the right behavior choice initially -- Thomas tries to keep Hiro a secret at first -- but they learn to help and support each other.
Educational Value
a little
Kids learn about the value of honesty and compassion.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that the latest Thomas & Friends movie will not disappoint aficionados of the industrious tank engine. The franchise mostly sticks to its formula of good-natured yet sometimes squabbling engines performing their daily tasks. But action and intrigue figure prominently, also, resulting in some mildly intense scenes; for example, Thomas careens onto the wrong track and gets lost in the woods. Another engine gets in trouble when he helps Thomas keep a secret from the others. In typical Thomas fashion, though, the action is pretty tame, and by the end, the engines learn important messages about honesty, compassion, and friendship. This movie introduces several new characters to the Island of Sodor -- Hiro, Kevin, and Victor -- so don't be surprised when your kids want to add to their toy collection. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
My 3.5 and 5.5 year olds enjoyed this movie, although the 3.5 year old was a little bored towards the end. There is a part where Thomas goes 'off the rails' and discovers Hiro in the forest - and it's definitely a part where both my kids where a bit worried. However, it was really the only scary part and the other slightly tricky issues related to conflict. But I thought the teamwork side of things was great in this movie, not to mention Thomas being kind, and all in all I would be happy for the kids to watch it without me next time, aside from that first forest scene which I would sit in on again.
My son loves this movie, it's his first cult favorite.
What's the Story?
After high-tech private engine Spencer bullies him into a contest, Thomas' brakes fail and he winds up lost on an unfamiliar track in the woods. He's shocked to discover an old, strange engine named Hiro, who's been rusting in the forest, afraid to come out for fear of being scrapped. Thomas vows to restore Hiro to his former glory as "Master of the Railway," but he's foiled at each turn by Spencer, who's determined to figure out what he's up to. Only when Thomas asks for help and support from his friends can he accomplish his task, and get Hiro back on the rails.
Thomas' relationship with Hiro, the aging engine who was once a superstar, is touching, and demonstrates how younger children admire their older heroes. The movie follows the classic Thomas format: Thomas and his engine buddies have a problem to solve, and they go about it much as kids themselves would -- with a few mistakes, misunderstandings, and confrontations along the way.
The action sequences are fun to watch; when Thomas' brakes fail while he's racing Spencer, kids will be on the edge of their seats. The movie broaches subjects that will resonate with young kids: Thomas and his friends all feel intimidated by bigger, faster Spencer, but by the movie's end they realize that each of them has their own special talents. By working together to rescue Hiro, they all become heroes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how telling the truth is almost always better than keeping a secret.
Spencer is pretty mean to the other engines. How does it feel to be bullied, and why do people (or engines) bully others? What should you do if someone is mean to you?
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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.
