The Jungle Book
Recommended. Age: 6+. A Catholic review of this movie for parents.
Our review
Mowgli is a boy raised by wolves in the jungle of India. A tiger named Shere Khan wants to hurt him, so Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear try to take him to the village where people live. Mowgli does not want to go. The tiger and the snake are a little scary. Under the songs is a story about growing up: play is good, but a child belongs with his own people and has to leave the carefree life behind. Baloo learns to want what is best for the boy more than what he wants for himself. The tiger fight and the hypnotizing snake may scare small children.
For parents
G, and Common Sense Media says five and up. Greydanus says Kids & Up and warns only of animated menace and action. Things to frame: Shere Khan claws and bites at Mowgli, and Baloo seems to die before he wakes. Kaa the snake hypnotizes with his eyes and tries to eat the boy. Monkeys kidnap Mowgli and toss him about. Common Sense Media and Plugged In both note outdated stereotypes, and Wikipedia records the argument over King Louie, though the makers based him on the Italian American singer Louis Prima. Baloo's 'Bare Necessities' is charming, and it is also a song in praise of doing nothing. The film itself answers it. Ask: why did Baloo change his mind about keeping Mowgli? Bagheera says no one has greater love than to lay down his life for a friend. Who said that first? Why does Mowgli finally go to the village?