High-flying docu has positive messages, some peril.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
a little
There's discussion of the dangers of the flying the Blue Angels do, as well as mention of the 28 men who have lost their lives in the past. The most recent death is briefly discussed. Pilots go through "G-tolerance improvement" training, which involves teaching their bodies to sustain extreme speed; two pass out during the training. Pilots mention deployments, serving in conflicts, and the difficulties of raising a family with two military parents or one who is absent for months at a time.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
The US Navy, the US Marines, and the Blue Angels performance team.
Positive Messages
a lot
You can achieve your dreams through hard work, self-improvement, and dedication. Once you get there, enjoy the experience and be grateful for the privilege. Members are selected based on skills as well as personality. "Chase perfection and realize excellence." Every member of a team can be an essential element, no matter their role or job.
Positive Role Models
a lot
The members of the Blue Angels team are very dedicated to their work and their teammates. They express gratitude for the privilege of participating in this elite team. They describe the months away from home, the risks they take in the air, the mental and physical demands of their job, and the precision, mutual trust, effort, and teamwork that goes into perfecting their performances. The pilots are only in the role for a short time before they must pass the baton on to a new team. Other team members, from doctors and technicians to safety and mechanical personnel, are all considered essential.
Educational Value
some
The film gives a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into a well-known air show, as well as career options kids may aspire to as pilots, Navy and Marine officers, or even elite flyers.
Diverse Representations
a little
One of the Blue Angels team profiled is Black, and one of the members of the newly recruited team for the next year is the first female pilot.
Parents need to know that The Blue Angels documentary offers an inside look at the teamwork, dedication, and practice that goes into the air shows many people have witnessed or heard about. The members of the elite team -- including one Black member and the first-ever woman selected for the year ahead -- express gratitude for the privilege of participating in the program. They describe the months away from home, the risks they take in the air, the mental and physical demands of their job, and the precision, mutual trust, effort, and teamwork that goes into perfecting their aerobatic performances. There is discussion of the dangers of the flying, as well as mention of the 28 men who have lost their lives in the past. We also see the pilots experience "G-tolerance improvement" training, which involves teaching their bodies to sustain extreme speed, and two lose consciousness. There's a possible use of "a--hole." To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Aviators and support personnel from diverse backgrounds come together for a high-stakes display of teamwork. Great flying
What's the Story?
Only six people get selected from among thousands of combat-ready fighter pilots to participate in THE BLUE ANGELS elite performance team. Putting on the well-known traveling air show takes months of training, teamwork, precision, and power. It also requires sacrifices from the pilots, who must live away from home and their families for months at a time and put their bodies through rigorous training and preparation. They take risks in the air to push their planes into very close formations and aerobatic maneuvers. The documentary shows all of this through interviews, behind-the-scenes footage of the team, and an aerial camera unit that captured the in-air practices and performances.
It's not quite like being at a live performance of this elite flying team, but this film -- especially the limited IMAX release -- is sure to thrill fans with its cockpit views of in-air maneuvers. Fans and the curious will also get a lot out of the interviews and behind-the-scenes insights into the preparation and work that goes into the tradition of The Blue Angels.
The film, however, isn't for those with only a passing interest in the elite flyers and could feel to some like propaganda for the team and the military in general. We don't get a ton of insight into the personal lives or backgrounds of these men, nor what drives them beyond perfecting their performance. There's a definite Top Gunair to the proceedings, heightened by a rousing Hans Zimmer-produced score.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what insights they gained about the work and lifestyle of the elite team of pilots known as The Blue Angels. Where could you go to learn more?
Why is teamwork and mutual trust so important to these pilots?
The makers of this documentary suggest this film "lifts the veil of the Blue Angels mystique," but simultaneously "magnifies the Blue Angels magic." Do you agree? Why or why not?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
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.
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
