School holidays 2021 movies: best children’s films in the cinema or streaming, rated
Whether it’s a trip to the cinema or a streaming session on the couch, we rate the best kids movies on offer these school holidays.
Movies
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Whoosh!All of a sudden the school holidays are upon us, and once more, parents far and wide are on the lookout for quality entertainment options for their children.
Whether it is a planned excursion to the cinema or an impromptu session on the streaming platforms, a family-friendly movie can be the perfect time-slaying circuit-breaker.
But how to best choose from all the many titles on offer during this busy period, particularly when you must cater to the tastes and whims of multiple age groups?
Don’t panic. This guide will break down for you which movies best fit the bill for every discerning young viewer in your entourage.
CRUELLA (PG, 133 min)
Now showing in cinemas, streaming on Disney+ (premium surcharge applies)
Who?: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Mark Strong
What?: Origin story. The early days of the notorious 101 Dalmatians villainess Cruella DeVil, back when she was a young grifter determined to make a name for herself in the London fashion world.
Well …?: The best-looking film of 2021 so far also proves to be one of the year’s most creative, inspired and entertaining. The same levels of detail, sophistication and wit that was applied to those wonderful Paddington movies are very much in evidence here, which should be recommendation enough. Two things to note: the movie plays a bit ‘mature’ for viewers south of age 9, and if you do choose the home-streaming option, be prepared to pay over thirty bucks for the privilege.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : *
5yo – 8yo : **1/2
9yo – 12yo : ***1/2
13yo+ : ****
SPIRIT UNTAMED (G, 85 min)
Now showing in cinemas
Who?: the voices of Isabela Merced, Jake Gyllenhaal
What?: Animated adventure. Lucky Prescott’s life is changed forever when she moves from her home in the city to a small frontier town and befriends a wild mustang named Spirit.
Well …?: Mark this middling affair down as a solid second choice for pre-schoolers and early primary schoolers. Anyone else above the age of 9 will get quite bored, quite quickly by this curiously inert animated offering. Spirit the horse should be the real star of the show, but he’s often missing in action while young Lucky and her gal pals natter away. There are 8 seasons of a small-screen series featuring the same characters available on Netflix (search for Spirit Riding Free) which is a far more cost-effective option.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : ***
5yo – 8yo : ***
9yo – 12yo : **
13yo+ : *
LUCA (G, 99 min)
Now streaming on Disney+
Who?: the voice of Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer
What?: Animated adventure. A young boy experiences an unforgettable seaside summer on the Italian Riviera filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. However, all of Luca’s fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: he is a sea monster from another world just below the ocean’s surface.
Well …?: It says something about the current climate for movie-goers that the best animated release of the school holidays is bypassing cinemas altogether for a streaming-only release. Luca hails from the Pixar stable, the multi-Oscar winning production house with a flawless reputation for entertaining and enlightening multiple generations of young viewers. While this new one is no Toy Story or Monsters Inc., that beautiful Italian coastal setting and a playfully aimless story are simple joys to behold.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : ***
5yo – 8yo : ***1/2
9yo – 12yo : ***1/2
13yo+ : ***
FAST AND FURIOUS 9 (M, 140 min)
Now showing in cinemas
Who?: Vin Diesel, Charlize Theron, John Cena
What?: Action thriller. Dom Toretto is leading a quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son, little Brian, but they know that danger always lurks just over the horizon. A new threat will force Dom to confront the sins of his past if he’s going to save those he loves most.
Well …?: Sure, the latest F & F flick might be rated M, but it has to make the cut on this for two important reasons. Firstly, it is already on track to be the highest-grossing movie of 2021, so it is therefore the movie most younger viewers of high school-age will be wanting to see. Secondly, this sequel carries the unique distinction of putting a street sedan in space. Truly a movie moment that needs to be seen to be believed. As usual, the Fast franchise runs on relatively chaste fuel, so there is no problematic material or adult asides to for concerned parents to worry about.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : *
5yo – 8yo : *
9yo – 12yo : **1/2
13yo+ : ***1/2
IN THE HEIGHTS (PG, 143 min)
Now showing in cinemas
Who?: Anthony Ramos, Melissa Barrera, Leslie Grace
What?: Modern musical. Daily life in Washington Heights revolves around the 181st Street subway stop, where a kaleidoscope of dreams rallies this vibrant and tight-knit community. At the centre of it all is a charismatic shop owner with big plans for a better life.
Well …?: This is the one with far more street-cred than all of the other holiday releases put together. Formerly a hit on Broadway for Hamilton creator and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, the songbook and plotting have both been turbo-charged with an energy and relevance that will speak to teenagers everywhere. The tone of the movie is unfailingly polite, upbeat and clean. While that mammoth running time does seem imposing, the sheer exuberance pouring off the screen does make the clock tick a helluva lot faster.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : *
5yo – 8yo : **
9yo – 12yo : ***
13yo+ : ****
MOONBOUND (PG, 82 min)
Now showing in cinemas
Who?: the voices of Peter Simmons, Anna Redman
What?: Animated fantasy. The story of little Pete, who embarks on an enchanting journey together with his buddies Mr. Zoomzeman and the Sandman to rescue his little sister from the evil Moon Man.
Well …?: The chief calling card of this pleasant, undemanding cartoon is that it will be definitely be very easy to follow for pre-schoolers (not something all kids remember to do these days). Based on one of Germany’s most popular children’s books, the story wastes no time in getting its quest into space happening at a lively, yet not too busy speed. Voice cast could have tried a little harder, but the visuals more than compensate.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : **1/2
5yo – 8yo : ***
9yo – 12yo : **
13yo+ : *
DREAM HORSE (PG, 110 min)
Now showing in cinemas
Who?: Toni Collette, Damian Lewis
What?: Sporting comedy. In spite of having no experience with equines, a Welsh housewife convinces her neighbours to chip in their meagre savings to help breed and raise a racehorse in the hopes he can compete with the racing elite.
Well …?: Based on the irresistible true story of the Welsh Grand National winner Dream Alliance, this delightfully unpretentious feel-good film is one of the few releases this holidays to hold true all-ages appeal. In particular, this is a the best choice for grandparents wanting to treat their grandchildren to something they both will enjoy. A much better movie than the Aussie-made Melbourne Cup flick Ride Like a Girl, too.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : *
5yo – 8yo : **1/2
9yo – 12yo : ***
13yo+ : ***
CRANSTON ACADEMY: MONSTER ZONE (PG, 83 min)
Now showing in cinemas
Who?: the voices of Jamie Bell, Ruby Rose
What?: Animated adventure. An intelligent 15-year-old high school student is unexpectedly transferred to a boarding school where he opens a portal of monsters from another dimension.
Well …?: This simple, straightforward affair ticks over quite nicely, and definitely does not outstay its welcome. The Cranston Academy is a Hogwarts-ish kind of school, which means the cartoon will definitely skew to the tastes of young viewers who like their fantasy, magic and (very mild) sci-fi fare. As for the monsters driving the plot, they’re not all that scary, and won’t be keeping any kids up at night.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : *1/2
5yo – 8yo : ***
9yo – 12yo : ***
13yo+ : **
BUCKLEY’S CHANCE (PG, 95 min)
Now showing in cinemas
Who?: Bill Nighy, Victoria Hill, Milan Burch
What?: Adventure drama. A year after the loss of his father, an American boy and his mother move to Western Australian to live with his estranged grandfather.
Well …?: Sort of embarrassing, kind of dull and devoid of all energy, this borderline calamity is the worst thing the usually reliable Bill Nighy (Love, Actually) has ever lent his name to. The moment he unveils his awful ‘Aussie’ accent as the movie’s grumpy gramps, the movie is toast. The kid he is saddled up with as a co-star starts off quite annoying, but actually does all right once his character gets lost in the outback with just a dingo for company.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : *
5yo – 8yo : *1/2
9yo – 12yo : **
13yo+ : *
FATHERHOOD (PG, 108 min)
Now streaming on Netflix
Who?: Kevin Hart, Alfre Woodard, Melody Hurd
What?: Domestic comedy-drama. A father brings up his baby girl as a single dad after the unexpected passing of his wife, who died a day after their daughter’s birth.
Well …?: Popular funnyman Kevin Hart tones down his usually manic stylings, and goes with something more restrained and emotionally authentic. It is a sensible choice considering the movie is, at its core, a bit of a weepie. The pay-off is nothing sensational, but never less than watchable, particularly once the lead character’s child grows up a little and starts keeping her dad on his toes. A disposable, yet cute piece of work that will is bound to find a wide audience these holidays.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : *1/2
5yo – 8yo : **
9yo – 12yo : ***
13yo+ : ***1/2
PETER RABBIT 2 (G, 90 min)
Now showing in cinemas
Who?: James Cordern, Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson
What?: Animated comedy. Bored of life in the garden, Peter goes to the big city, where he meets shady characters and ends up creating chaos for the whole family.
Well …?: This Covid-delayed sequel has been doing solid business on Australian screens for a few months now. Like the original Peter Rabbit, the gentle, playful tone of the author Beatrix Potter’s writing is mostly missing here, which will appal parents raised on the books. Little kids, however, won’t care a jot.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : ***
5yo – 8yo : **1/2
9yo – 12yo : **
13yo+ : *
Originally published as School holidays 2021 movies: best children’s films in the cinema or streaming, rated
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