What to Watch: Heartwarming Family Movies that Inspire The Fruits of the Spirit

SUMMARY: INSIDE OUT 2 is a sequel to the popular, acclaimed 2015 animated comedy from Pixar and Disney. Riley, the young girl of the first movie, turns 13 and a bunch of unruly teenage emotions, led by Anxiety, take over Riley’s psyche and banish Riley’s other emotions, including Joy. INSIDE OUT 2 is a delightful, inventive, heartwarming movie about “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10c) and doing the right thing, controlling your emotions, caring for your friends, both old and new, and promoting kindness, friendship, repentance, and forgiveness.

LIGHT OF THE WORLD is a beautifully animated retelling of the story of Jesus’ later life and death, told through the eyes of a young follower, John the apostle. LIGHT OF THE WORLD is beautifully animated and entertaining, with a strong and inspiring Christian, biblical worldview, stressing faith, trust in God and family, and some suspenseful scenes and scenes of implied violence, so MOVIEGUIDE® advises parental discernment for young children.

WALL*E, the latest animated feature from Pixar and Walt Disney Pictures, is about a lonely, lovelorn robot who has the key to the future of the human race and earth. If you’ve been waiting for entertainment that would lift you up, carry you to the outer reaches of imagination, inspire you, fill you with love, joy and happiness, and leave you with a great fantastic crescendo, you might want to see WALL*E.

LADY AND THE TRAMP is a wonderful live action reimaging of the 1955 Disney cartoon classic, available on the new Disney+ streaming service. The movie brings the characters to life as Lady and Tramp try to steer clear of the dog pound and get back to, or find, those who love them. LADY AND THE TRAMP delivers many funny, heartwarming moments and has a strong moral worldview promoting family and sacrificing yourself to help others, but it does have brief moments of peril and shows homeless dogs stealing food.

JONAH – A VEGGIETALES MOVIE tells the time-honored Bible story of Jonah and the Whale in a fun, silly, delightful, and entertaining story starring Bob the Tomato, Archibald Asparagus and the Pirates Who Do Nothing. Clearly plotted turning points, wonderful songs and terrific animation all build to tell this meaningful tale of mercy and compassion.

RESCUED BY RUBY is a comedy on Netflix based on a true story about an aspiring K9 officer and a shelter dog named Ruby who he adopts to help achieve his professional goals and provide for his growing family. RESCUED BY RUBY is a terrific, heartwarming movie for the whole family, with a strong moral worldview and some light Christian references to God, but there is some jeopardy involving police work.

ERNEST & CELESTINE is an animated movie about an unbelievable friendship between a bear, Ernest, and a young mouse named Celestine. ERNEST & CELESTINE is charming and heartwarming, with unique animation and a moral worldview extolling friendship, forgiveness, peace, and reconciliation.