OK for kids 8+
Wolf tale is all about romance, innuendo-filled jokes.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this 3-D animated animal adventure (which stars the voices of popular actorsHayden Panettiere and Justin Long) includes many allusions to romance and even some sexually tinged double entendres ("was it good for you?" after howling, etc.) -- which younger kids won't understand, but tweens and teens probably will. While there's not much in the way of language, the movie does feature a few violent scenes in which snarling wolves are about to attack each other and one sequence in which the main wolves have to run away from angry bears chasing them (all of which iis made more intense by the 3-D). On the plus side, there's a girl empowerment theme and a positive message about marrying for love rather than duty, but families sensitive to innuendo may be put off by all the grown-up references.
- Families can talk about the movie's overall message about relationships and social status. What does the movie have to say about falling in love?
- What does it ultmately take to unite the packs? Why do the packs have to work together to survive? What does this teach us about wolf culture?
- The movie includes references to romantic relationships and some grown-up jokes. Is it OK to insert grown-up themes in a kids' movie (even if really young kids can't understand them)?
The good stuff
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Educational value: Kids learn that relationships should be based on love rather than status and a bit about how wolf society is structured -- though it's not 100% accurate (in real life, omega wolves are often terrorized and forced to disperse, and they would never be allowed to mate, much less with an alpha).
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Messages: Kate's character shows that the alpha female is powerful and important to the pack; she's not secondary just because she's female. Marrying for love is demonstrated as the ideal and is presented as more important than marrying for familial duty or societal obligation (though selfless Kate is willing to do whatever is necessary to unite the packs). Kate and Humphrey and Lily and Garth also teach kids that you should base friendships and relationships on personal compatability rather than cultural status or popularity.
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Role models: Several of the characters act courageously: Kate, Humphrey, Lily, and the two chief alpha wolves. The goose and the duck are loyal friends to Kate and Humphrey. The alpha wolves are able to adapt to their offspring's decision to "marry" someone outside of "pack law." Kate is a strong female character.
What to watch for
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Violence and scariness: A few scenes show snarling wolves posing aggressively, like they're about to attack. In one case, it's just a couple of wolves versus a couple of wolves, but toward the end of the movie, it's two entire wolf packs about to go to war, and they look fierce and frightening. Humphrey and Kate have to evade three angry bears. A stampede nearly kills some wolves (but they're saved). The mother alpha makes humorously off-putting threats about ripping anatomical parts off and shoving them down throats. The 3-D version of the movie makes these potentially frightening images more intense for younger viewers.
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Sexy stuff: Lots of sexual innuendoes and jokes that will go over very young kids' head but that worldlier tweens may understand. For example: "was it good for you" after a male wolf shows off his howling skills; "check out her moves"; "she's hot"; "you can't 'howl' together"; and a drawn-out gag about an "alpha" male's limp, unimpressive howl. There are also continuous jokes about who can mate (although the word is never used as a verb) and why alphas and omegas can play together as kids but can never be together (it's the "law of the pack").
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Language: Language includes "butt," "dumb," and "oh my God."
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Consumerism: Not an issue
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
Fan Reviews provided by
5
This movie is a must-see by Luvmandms
I really enjoyed this movie....it was good clean fun and had a believable plot. We laughed, we grimaced, and we howled with the wolves. If you like animals and are a romantic, then this movie is for you.
5
One word: by digeridude
Yiff.
4
Alpha and Omega by sexxyt_28
I took my children to see this movie,it was a cute little movie we enjoyed it :)
4
Fun family film by lidyalar
My 6-year old daughter loved this movie. She laughed out loud! We didn't see it in 3D, but you could see where it would of been amazing in 3D. The characters aren't as deep as other animal movies, but it was non-stop action. Overall, we liked it!
4
Five Word Review by Yalinos
Great family romance comedy movie
5
Five Word Review by sdeseray
Awesome Funny Kid-Friendly Touching Must-See
3
Alpha and Omega by beyond twi_mom
Took a 6, 5, 4 and 3 year old to see this movie. 2 boys and 2 girls. They liked it until it got to the "singing" howling. That part was just a little to much for them. My oldest girl (5) got the singing part but the boys thought it was way too much - not enough real howling for them. It was cute but I would not take them to see it again.
5
I liked It by nickninja87
My title explains this review. I liked it more than an average person would. My spirit in the afterlife is the wolf. This movie was pretty cool if you are a person not socially accepted so you can feel very good, otherwise, if you are popular as a kid, you dont wana see this youll be made fun of. THE END.
4
Alpha and Omega by markthepaige
My husband and I took our 6 year old to see this movie - we all loved it! It held our attention and our 6 year old laughed thru much of it. There was a lot of action and it brought up many subjects for us to discuss as a family. I would recommend it.
3
Alpha and Omega by eshifflett
Slow start but was a good kids movie!