Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 6+
Sweet story of a shy girl and a seal.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that kids will enjoy this movie, with its adorable, raspberry-blowing, television-loving seal (portrayed by a sea lion), but there's more violence than you would expect for an animal film. Parents will enjoy the soundtrack, filled with '60s oldies.
- Families can talk about how Andre made Toni's life different. Why was Paula so angry with her father? Why did Toni think her father was "magic" with animals? What does it mean to say, "sometimes if you really love someone, you have to let them go"?
The good stuff
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Positive messages: Tolerance of people who are different.
What to watch for
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Violence and scariness: Fistfight. A young boy seems to kill Andre with a shotgun, and there's lots of threatened violence against the seal by the boy's father. Toni in peril, Andre in peril. Toni's dad nearly loses his job.
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Sexy stuff: Not an issue
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Language: Very mild.
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Consumerism: Not an issue
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Teenagers caught smoking, Billy gets drunk.