Is Dumbo Kid Friendly? A Parent’s Review

Disney teamed up with Tim Burton once again to bring Dumbo to life in the new live-action drama. This new take on a Disney classic soars into theaters everywhere March 29, 2019, but is this new take on Dumbo kid friendly?

Is Disney Appropriate for kids?

I like the animated Dumbo, but it’s not a favorite. I am not a huge Tim Burton fan. So needless to say seeing Tim Burton’s take on the Disney classic wasn’t a top priority for me… Until I saw the trailers! Then I was intrigued.

Are there swear words in Dumbo?

At the beginning there is a scene where Collin Ferral’s character, Holt, starts to say the “Sh” word, but he’s quickly reprimanded by his kids and co-star Danny DeVito. He didn’t even get to the “h” part of the word.

I took that as a hint that this was going to be a curse word free movie. And it was in the eyes of many.

There were a couple of times “hell” was said throughout the film. Personally, I don’t see it as a swear word, but I do know that it offends some. So, it’s worth a mention.

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Is Dumbo Scary?

I wouldn’t say Dumbo is scary in the traditional sense. There was only one instance that made most of the audience jump and it made us laugh quickly after it happened.

One other section that could cause some fear is towards the end when the circus troupe is trying to scare the bad guys and it appears they let out the vicious animals. But it all becomes a joke to the audience in the end.

As I was sitting in the theater watching Dumbo, it occurred to me that these parts I was noting as scary would have been funny or much less scary if the movie was an animated film. So, that made me realize it’s probably not as frightening as I was thinking it was.

Is Tim Burton’s live-action Dumbo too dark for kids?

Tim Burton is well known for his dark and imaginative take on films and Dumbo is no different. But it wasn’t as dark and dreary as I expected.

It is hard to watch the way some of the animals are treated including Dumbo and his mom in the film, but in my opinion, it isn’t any different than what happens in the classic animated tale. But it may be harder to watch due to the incredible life-like CGI animals.

There are a couple of deaths in the film, but only one is shown on camera. And unless your child knows how to read and what a coroner is they more than likely will think the man is just hurt.

The other death happens before the movie takes place, but it is the death of the Milly and Joe’s mother. Parental death isn’t a new thing for Disney films, but it can cause distress in those that have experienced it.

As the movie is winding down, there are scenes with massive fires, life threatening situations and areas that are dark, smoky. These can be a little intense for younger aged kids and even for those that are older, but sensitive to these scenarios.

My overall thoughts

I love Dumbo’s message – showing compassion for all living things, accepting of our differences and learning to love ourselves. The movie sparks the fire to go out and be a better person. It teaches kids that our differences should be celebrated and not shunned. I L-O-V-E all of this!

I did have a problem with one line at the end. Holt (Collin Farrell), who lost one arm in the war makes a comment about “I can do it with one arm tied behind my back”. I don’t know if this was an off handed joke, because obviously Collin Farrell has one arm tucked away somewhere under his clothes or if it was Holt’s way of acknowledging that even with one arm he can do what needs to be done.

Either way, it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. And I’m not one that normally takes offense to things like that, so it surprised me that I had such a strong reaction to it.

Again I never was a die-hard Dumbo fan. I’ve always hated the way they treat Dumbo’s mom. I did have some secret hope this adaptation of Dumbo would wow me, but at the end of the film I sat there thinking “I don’t know”. And I’ll admit I left the theater not knowing if I actually liked the film or not. Even almost a week later, I’m still unsure.

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Now, my husband who isn’t a fan of the animated Dumbo, LOVED this film. He laughed through out, gasped at the right moments and cheered at the end.

Dumbo is overall a family film. I don’t think it’s a film you have to see in the theater, but if you do I suggest caution for young children or any who may have sensitivities to the issues I mentioned above.

And if you have seen it I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!