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DEAR MR. WATTERSON

"A Trip Down Memory Lane"

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What You Need To Know:

The documentary DEAR MR. WATTERSON is a trip down memory lane that explores the beloved comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, which ran in newspapers from 1985-1995. Calvin and Hobbes is a simple, yet surprisingly deep comic strip that depicts the imaginative 6-year-old boy, Calvin, and his stuffed tiger, Hobbes, Calvin’s counterpart, fellow adventurer and all-round loyal friend. To understand the strip’s cultural impact, Director Joel Schroeder interviews many fans, who were deeply moved and inspired by Calvin and Hobbes.

DEAR MR. WATTERSON is a very well produced documentary, with clever editing and animation. Director Joel Schroeder does a great job keeping the pace swift and avoiding dull moments. The movie is entertaining and informative. Anyone who grew up reading Calvin and Hobbes will be met with the comforting nostalgia the comic strip offered. The movie celebrates childhood imagination. It also reminds viewers about the power stories can have over children’s hearts and minds. DEAR MR. WATTERSON is almost void of foul language, but one man blurts a few light obscenities and one light profanity. So, caution is advised, especially for younger children.

Content:

(B, C, L, M) Light moral, redemptive worldview celebrating childhood imagination and reminding audiences the power that stories have over children, including one man says “Thank God” twice; two obscenities and one light profanity, a shot of the infamous bumper stick of Calvin urinating; no violence; no sexual content; no nudity; no alcohol; no smoking or drugs; and, a woman states that her first and last crime was shoplifting a Calvin and Hobbes book.

More Detail:

The documentary DEAR MR. WATTERSON is a nostalgic trip down memory lane exploring the beloved comic strip Calvin and Hobbes that ran in newspapers from 1985-1995.

Calvin and Hobbes is a simple, yet surprisingly deep comic strip that depicts the imaginative 6-year-old boy Calvin, and his stuffed tiger Hobbes, who is Calvin’s counterpart, fellow adventurer and all around loyal friend. Director Joel Schroeder was one of the many children affected by the daily comic. So, he set out to interview not the creator of the strip, Bill Watterson, but the many fans who were deeply moved and inspired by Calvin and Hobbes, to understand the cultural impact it had.

Obviously, Calvin and Hobbes inspired many cartoonists, and DEAR MR. WATTERSON interviews a good many of them that respect and admire Bill Watterson for the work he did. One of the defining differences between Calvin and Hobbes and many other comic strips was its ability to appease a 9-year-old’s imagination and a 40-year-old’s intellect. The wild adventures Calvin and Hobbes would embark on captivated and entertained many children who identified with Calvin and saw themselves as him. However, Calvin and his stuffed tiger would also engage in political and philosophical discussions, using rhetoric no 6-year-old would use. Joel interviews cartoonists, comic strip historians, and other Calvin and Hobbes enthusiasts like comedian/actor Seth Green. They discuss why this strip influenced them and will continue to entertain for generations to come.

The documentary also discusses Watterson’s refusal to let Calvin and Hobbes be merchandised, possibly missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars. Many of the interviewees give differing opinions on Watterson’s decision. Some say it kept the strip artistically credible, while others believe it missed a huge opportunity to entertain millions more. Whatever the case, the incredibly private Watterson made his choice final and to this day, Calvin and Hobbes continues to grow in popularity.

DEAR MR. WATTERSON is a very well done documentary, with clever editing and animation. Joel Schroeder does a great job at keeping the pace swift and avoids dull moments. The movie is both entertaining and informative. Anyone who grew up reading Calvin and Hobbes, as this reviewer did, will be met with the comforting nostalgia the comic strip offered.

DEAR MR. WATTERSON celebrates childhood imagination and reminds viewers about the power stories can have over children’s hearts and minds. One interviewee says “Thank God” that the Calvin and Hobbes ran while it did because of technological advances. DEAR MR. WATTERSON is almost void of foul language, but sadly, one man blurts a few light obscenities and one light profanity, so caution is advised, especially for younger children.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.