Arctic TaleMovie Reviews

Poster art for "Arctic Tale."

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Avg. Critic Score: 64 out of 100 Generally favorable reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
6 OK for kids 6+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 75
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    Whatever problems some might have with its execution, it's hard to argue against a film whose intent is to kindle youthful compassion for living things and inspire action to protect Earth and its creatures. Read full review

  • 75
    Entertainment Weekly |

    It's a respectable attempt to get kids who like cuddly animals thinking about death and destruction on a global scale. Read full review

  • 70
    Washington Post | Desson Thomson

    As charming as it is instructive. Read full review

  • 70
    The Hollywood Reporter |

    Spectacular photography of the frigid domain of polar bears, walruses and seals is the chief attraction of Arctic Tale. Read full review

  • 70
    Variety | Ken Eisner

    Queen Latifah proves an amiably authoritative narrator, and is allowed more personality than most script readers. Read full review

  • 60
    The New York Times | Jeannette Catsoulis

    The movie's stunning underwater photography (fearlessly captured by Mr. Ravetch) effectively dilutes the saccharine tone. Read full review

  • 60
    Wall Street Journal |

    The impact of Arctic Tale is blunted by its length (it feels long at 85 minutes) and by its script. Read full review

  • 50
    San Francisco Chronicle |

    Makes an unpersuasive case that humans are to blame for the shrinking ice caps. Read full review

  • 50
    Los Angeles Times | Kevin Crust

    Reinforcing the adage that looks aren't everything, the live-action animal drama Arctic Tale arrives in an impressive visual package and even boasts a timely message, but its undistinguished storytelling is a big letdown. Read full review

  • 50
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    In the end, I'm conflicted about the film. As an accessible family film, it delivers the goods. But it lives in the shadow of "March of the Penguins." Despite its sad scenes, it sentimentalizes. Read full review

View more reviews for Arctic Tale on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 6+ Kid-friendly film serves up inconvenient truth.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that though this film is basically kid-friendly and introduces kids to the idea of environmentalism with a light, engaging touch, there are parts that may be disturbing, especially for kids six and under. For example, a male polar bear nearly captures (and eats) one of the cuddly baby bears with which viewers may identify. In another scene, while trying to save Seela the walrus from a predator, her sweet "aunt" dies and her carcass is eaten in full view.
  • Families can talk about how walruses and polar bears are like human beings. How do these families act like yours, and how are they different? Has the media ever depicted animal life in this way before? What about the changing Arctic environment? What is causing all the change? Is it unstoppable? How can humans help?
The good stuff
  • message true0 Positive messages: It's a Darwinian world, where the strong prey on the weak and the weak sometimes don't survive. The animals, not surprisingly, act like animals. The subtext is that humans have disturbed their habitat, though the viewer doesn't see any people actually engaged in destructive behavior.
What to watch for
  • violence false3 Violence and scariness: Surprisingly disturbing moments when a male polar bear stalks, and catches, his prey. Some close-ups of animals feasting on bloody carcasses.
  • sex false0 Sexy stuff: Animals perpetuate their species, but not in close-ups.
  • language false0 Language: Clean. Fun and un-stuffy for a documentary, as in "That's how they roll."
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Not an issue
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false0 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Dave White

2.0

Dave White Profile See Dave White's Profile

… a slippery slope toward stupidity. Read full review See Dave White's on MOVIENAME on Movies.com

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