Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Energetic Disney movie's villains make likable role models.
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Descendants
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 75 parent reviews
What's the Story?
DESCENDANTS is set in the serene kingdom of Auradon, where fairy tale figures and their families live harmoniously under the reign of Belle (Keegan Connor Tracy) and the Beast (Dan Payne), thanks to the longtime exile of their enemies on the distant Isle of the Lost. As the royal couple's son, Prince Ben (Mitchell Hope), prepares to assume the throne, he decrees that the offspring of notorious villains Maleficent (Kristin Chenoweth), the Evil Queen (Kathy Najimy), Jafar (Maz Jobrani), and Cruella de Vil (Wendy Raquel Robinson) be permitted to leave the island and come to Auradon to attend school with the descendants of their parents' sworn enemies. Predictably, not everyone is enthused about the arrival of the self-proclaimed "rotten" teens -- Mal (Dove Cameron), Evie (Sofia Carson), Jay (Booboo Stewart), and Carlos (Cameron Boyce) -- but no one suspects that their true intention is to steal the Fairy Godmother's (Melanie Paxson) wand and turn it over to Mal's domineering mom, Maleficent. But as time goes on and the teens acclimate to Auradon, they begin to question their parents' influence and wonder whether they're really evil at all.
Is It Any Good?
This much-anticipated fairy tale add-on isn't perfect, but it's highly entertaining in the kind of young-love, flash-mob, song-and-dance manner that tends to thrill the youngsters. Kids won't notice or care about such trivial plot inconsistencies as every classic character existing in the same time and place AND having kids at exactly the same time, for instance (really, what are the chances?), but parents might grit their teeth over some the rewrites. On the other hand, some aspects are welcome changes, namely some racial diversity that's a pleasant surprise.
Descendants is decent family fare, and with the exception of one tense scene, it's a fine pick for just about any age. Kids will love the creative play on classic characters, the unlikely relationship between Ben and Mal, and the handful of musical numbers that can feel a little cheesy to the older set. (Except for a reprisal of "Be Our Guest," that is. It's golden.) For adults, though, there's much joy to be found in Chenoweth's electrifying performance as the scheming Maleficent, and her constant bickering with Najimy's Evil Queen makes for many hilarious scenes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the choices the characters in Descendants make. To what degree does their parents' influence affect Mal and her friends? Is it OK that they wind up making their own decision? Would you feel differently if they defied their parents to become evil instead of good?
Does the music help this movie? Was it ever a distraction from the plot? If it didn't add to the story, what was the purpose of it?
Kids: What made you want to watch Descendants? Were any of your favorite actors or actresses in the cast? Do you find your watching habits influenced by the ads you see on TV?
How do the characters in Descendants demonstrate integrity and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: July 31, 2015
- Cast: Dove Cameron , Cameron Boyce , Kristin Chenoweth
- Director: Kenny Ortega
- Inclusion Information: Gay directors, Female actors, Queer actors, Black actors
- Studio: Disney Channel Original Movies
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Fairy Tales , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Integrity , Teamwork
- Run time: 112 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: July 10, 2024
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