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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take a 3.5 year old to see the new Puss in Boots film?

31 replies

BoogleOogle · 11/04/2023 19:52

I'd like to take DC to cinema tomorrow. All the films for kids have appalling reviews apart from Puss in Boots, but that's a PG and not a U.

Has anyone seen it and can tell me if it would be too scary or inappropriate? Or are they just too young for PG anything?

OP posts:
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BoogleOogle · 11/04/2023 19:54

For context, they watch the Spiderman cartoon on Disney plus a lot, which is rated 6+ but the cartoony fighting in that doesn't bother them.

OP posts:
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BoogleOogle · 11/04/2023 19:55

Hmmm and PJ Masks is also 6+.

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Hobbes8 · 11/04/2023 19:55

It’s got quite lengthy manga-style fight scenes and a creepy grim reaper type character, so it wouldn’t be suitable for a sensitive child. It’s probably the most adult-friendly of the current offerings! I enjoyed it, but my kids are older primary aged.

I haven’t seen the Mario film but my kids have - terrible reviews but they enjoyed it.

Are there any movies for juniors type films on? My local was showing Matilda last week when I was working and it was sunny…but not this week when I’m off and it’s raining unfortunately.

QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 11/04/2023 19:56

I wouldn't, it's quite scary.

notasillysausage · 11/04/2023 19:56

I’ve said YABU, not because you are considering it but just don’t think it’s suitable. I’ve taken my 5 year old and her older brother and there is one really creepy character in it who she found very scary and she is normally fine with PGs. She enjoyed the new Mario movie though.

MuffinToSeeHere · 11/04/2023 19:57

Common sense media suggests 8+ and is always a good place to check for in-depth assessment if you're unsure.

I can't see it being suitable for a 3.5 year old and I doubt they would sit through it as it's 100 minutes long!

N4ish · 11/04/2023 19:58

Really not suitable for a child that age. I know a 7 year old who was terrified by the grim reaper character and had to leave early. Apparently there were quite a few kids in tears during the screening!

Gameofmoans81 · 11/04/2023 19:59

I wouldn’t bother - my DP took my just 4 year old for the exact same reasons you named and she lasted 30 mins before it was ‘too scary’ and she’s not particularly sensitive or anything

purplemunkey · 11/04/2023 19:59

DC8 has seen both Puss in Boots & Mario in the last few weeks. Liked Puss in Boots, but found the wolf scary, so I’d probably say no for a 3.5yr old. Mario was fun. Don’t know if a 3.5yr old would get much out of it though.

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BoogleOogle · 11/04/2023 20:02

Ah thanks, looks like it's best avoided then.

Seems like Encanto and Frozen are PG which they've been fine with which I was surprised at. Common sense media says they should be 5+ but not sure why!

My son would definitely have the attention span for 100 mins but my daughter maybe not.

The kids club option is Zog which seems a bit weird to go to the cinema for when we can watch at home for free but they might like the whole experience regardless as they've never been before.

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TheYearOfSmallThings · 11/04/2023 20:04

My DS would have insisted on leaving to get away from the Whistling Wolf at that age.

mintich · 11/04/2023 20:05

Mario was fab! No idea why it has bad reviews, it's a great kids film.
Puss in Boots is good too but I think Mario would keep a 3.5 year old more engaged

DorritLittle · 11/04/2023 20:05

I wouldn’t. I took a 9 year old boy, it was fine for him but there were no little ones.

But then I had to walk out of The Muppets film with DD at the same age. And it took her ten years to watch Tangled again.

MuffinToSeeHere · 11/04/2023 20:06

BoogleOogle · 11/04/2023 20:02

Ah thanks, looks like it's best avoided then.

Seems like Encanto and Frozen are PG which they've been fine with which I was surprised at. Common sense media says they should be 5+ but not sure why!

My son would definitely have the attention span for 100 mins but my daughter maybe not.

The kids club option is Zog which seems a bit weird to go to the cinema for when we can watch at home for free but they might like the whole experience regardless as they've never been before.

If they have never been before then definitely go for something short like zog. Watching something at the cinema is vastly different to at home.

Additionally remember if the film is 100 minutes that's just the film running time it doesn't include the trailers and adverts prior to the film so it would probably be more likely to be 2+ hours.

EggBlanket · 11/04/2023 20:08

My nearly 6 year old found puss in boots very scary. The wolf is really terrifying. She was scared at bedtime for a week.

CreepyDibillo · 11/04/2023 20:09

I honestly wouldn't pay the critic reviews any attention. A middle aged Guardian journalist isn't looking for the same thing in a film as a child is. I tend to find that if a critic hates a film, I love it. Critic reviews are a very outdated concept in the social media age, I get much more value from peer/friend reviews.
My 4 yo loved Puss In Boots, for what it's worth, but he loved the Mario film even more.

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BoogleOogle · 11/04/2023 20:10

Oh yes that's true I'd forgotten about having to sit through the ads and trailers!

Can you tell I haven't been to the cinema for years either? 😂

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Blort · 11/04/2023 20:10

It's v scary.

LancashireSquirrel · 11/04/2023 20:11

Another vote for Mario. Youngest DC is 4 and they loved it along with 7 year old.

It's only 90 mins long as well which is fab as just as they started to get fidgety it was over.

LancashireSquirrel · 11/04/2023 20:12

Just get there 20 mins after the advertised time as the adverts etc were sooo long!! Plus we went during the daytime to a Vue and it was nowhere near as loud as it normally is.

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BoogleOogle · 11/04/2023 20:13

Would Mario be fine for them then? There's also a couple of U films, Mummies and Little Eggs if anyone's seen them?

That's a good point about critic reviews!

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vestanesta · 11/04/2023 20:14

My 13 yr old went with her mate (wet, no where else to go which was 'out'). She's a veteran of jumpy films and has certainly seen a few 15s as has her mate. They both found puss in boots a bit scary!

LancashireSquirrel · 11/04/2023 20:15

Give it a try, OP. There's no real scary bits and the story line is very easy to follow. We weren't sure either but the weather was crappy so we thought we'd give it a go. I'm glad we did!

CheersForThatEh · 11/04/2023 20:15

Try something similar at home first. I think there is some Puss in Boots on Netflix x

purplemunkey · 11/04/2023 20:22

Totally agree on the point about ‘bad’ reviews. For kids films I never go by critics reviews, I look at the Google reviews and Rotten Tomatoes audience rating as they are from regular people. Much better guide for those types of films!