DVD Review: An American Tail
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that the main character in this feel-good animated movie spends much of the film trying to find his parents, who he was separated from during a storm at sea. He faces many perils, including a near-drowning and attacks from monstrous cats, during his journey, which may prove too scary for the youngest viewers.
- Families can talk about their own families experiences with immigration. Is there anything in the movie that families can relate to?
- Talk about scariness in movies. What exactly makes a movie scary -- music, images, your own imagination? What makes some movies thrilling and others too frightening?
Feivel Mousekewitz is a little Russian mouse who emigrates to the United States with his family, after they're told that "there are no cats in America and the streets are paved with cheese." He gets separated from his parents and sister and is forced to work in a sweatshop by the evil Warren T. Rat (a cat in disguise). Feivel is resilient and courageous, and finds friends (including a kind cat) who help him until he finds his family. The score features the hit song "Somewhere Out There."
This is a heartwarming animated tale about the experience of immigrants coming to America. Told from the perspective of a mouse, the film should engage kids in a very important part of U.S. history. The voice performances are charming, and the songs are catchy.
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster
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