Mother’s Day Movie to watch with your kids
This post is the Turning Red Movie review that you have been looking for. What is in it and what might offend me? Keep reading to decide if this movie is right for your family.
The story takes place primarily in a multicultural middle school. Very familiar to how I grew up in Queens NYC. Even though it takes place in Chinatown in Toronto so much resonated with me right down to the Jansport dupe and the beaded seat pad her mom sits on in the car. I also remember some of my Sikh classmates and their parents at school as shown in this Pixar animation.
Transparent coming of age movie
The Turning Red movie is a coming of age tale with a tail. The main character Meilin is a middle schooler who is going through a physical transformative phase in her life. Along her journey she learns to honor herself and control her emotions. This is all in front of a backdrop story line of her relationship with her mother and this all involves a red panda.
In this Turning Red movie review I will cover;
- Age appropriate topics
- Cultural notes
- Why this is a Mother’s Day movie to watch with your kids
- Morals
Before sitting down to watch this movie it is important to discuss the topics covered.
The movie rating does not really indicate what subject matter will be discussed.
As a mom there is nothing more awkward than a shocking moment. When you are sitting in a movie theater with your kid and a topic comes up that you prefer to introduce them to it’s frustrating.
In no certain order these things are mentioned in the movie:
- menstrual cycle
- boys
- kissing boys
- bullying
- multicultural clothing like headwrapings
- puberty
- parent child relationship dynamics
- Chinese culture
Did my kids enjoy the movie?
I sat down to watch with my 7 year old and my 9 year old.
Because of the fantasy part of the movie my 11 year old was not really interested. I would not call him a clear indicator since he pretty much thinks he is 30, but important to note. Maybe your kid is a bit more serious at 11 as well. Meilin turns into a red panda so even though there are serious topics discussed this brings in a very fantasy element of someone who is just starting to mature.
My children really enjoyed the movie! My 7 and 9 year old chuckled the entire movie!
The characters all had big personalities and were super sassy at times.
Overall I would say that the movie is age appropriate for ages 7-12 depending on your values and what you choose to teach your children at that age. That’s the primary purpose of this Turning Red movie review, for you to determine if this movie will work for your family.
Some young girls start their monthly cycle as early as 9 years old. So, my 7 year old already knows about those things. That’s my household. Please teach your children what you feel is appropriate for your household.
This review of Turning Red would not be complete without mentioning cultural notes. The ones I noticed really made me chuckle to see them animated in a major movie. I was born and raised in NYC and so much of the imagery resonated with me. Toronto mirrors my life in Queens, NY right down to the multicultural friends. I especially chuckled at the beaded seat “cushion” Meilin’s mom was sitting on in the car and the Sikh security guard.
Depending on where you live it could be a good movie to spark cultural discussion as well as the other topics. Discussions about what is a Sikh for instance. Or questions like, are head coverings called different things?
and what do they mean? Are all head coverings worn by Muslims or are they worn by people of other belief systems?
Mother’s Day Movie?
Yes! As I mentioned earlier on, the Red Panda and menstrual cycle themes all play against Melin’s relationship with her mother. What makes this a Mother’s Day movie to watch with your kids is the topic of relationships with parents. Melin wanting her mother’s approval to the extent that she does not stand up for what she wants.
“Honor your parents, but don’t forget to honor yourself”
-Meilin
If you are from a certain demographic you remember children being seen and not heard. This movie brings that to light and challenges that method of childrearing.
I think this is a perfect Mother’s Day movie to watch with your kids because it opens discussion.
Spoiler alert!
There is a scene in the movie where Melin’s grandmother calls and her own mother tells her husband to say that she is not there.
Just thinking about the dynamic between the mother and the grandmother leads me to believe that Meilin’s mother just knows no other way to communicate with her own child. It’s a great moment and when grandmother shows up she stops the shenanigans!
Moral to the story
I think the moral to the story is what you make of it. It all depends on your lifestyle and value system.
Overall I think it provides some talking points between mother and daughter;
- What importance does your daughter’s friends have in her life?
- What is your relationship with your daughter like?
- How will we handle the transition to young womanhood?
- Is bullying a problem in school?
- Why do kids bully others?
- Is it ok to do anything for money?
- Is it ok to lie to parents if it’s something small?
I hope this Turning Red movie review was insightful and helpful because I know it can be difficult to choose family movies that reflect your value system.
The homeschool mom in me is always looking to draw out as many lessons as I can!
Please check out this post I made about spring activities to do with your homeschoolers.
So leave a comment if you would like a study guide or worksheet based on this movie.
Lyric says
Great review to prep me on what I may see. People just talked about the red panda without discussing any symbolism. For a deep thinker like myself, I like to know what cultural, political, and moral undertones a movie may have.