What to Watch: Our Favorite Family Movie Moms Who Rock!

By Leigh Hewett

Mother’s Day is a holiday to celebrate the women who make a difference in our lives. We’ve curated a list of our favorite moms from Family movies. From the unexpected nurturing Rozzum 7134 gives the animals in THE WILD ROBOT to the guidance Riley’s mom gives her in INSIDE OUT, these characters embody supportive and caring mothers. Let’s not forget the sweet moment with baby Dory’s mom in FINDING DORY or how fiercely Elastigirl protects her children in THE INCREDIBLES.  These movie moms rock!

THE WILD ROBOT

Quality:
****
Content:
+1 Moderately questionable elements. (Discernment required for young children.)
THE WILD ROBOT is an incredibly heartfelt, entertaining, humorous animated story about a robot falling in a storm from a plane and eventually having to take care of a young, orphaned gosling on an isolated island. WILD ROBOT is a very strong, adorable affirmation of a mother’s love and of kindness being a virtue, with strong elements of a Christological allegory.

THE INCREDIBLES

Quality:
****
Content:
+2 Moderately questionable elements.
THE INCREDIBLES is another incredible animated movie from Pixar and Disney, about two retired superhero parents who must battle a villain targeting their family. Beautifully animated, THE INCREDIBLES is full of exciting energy, fantastic fun, and humorous hilarity, with a very strong redemptive, Christian worldview full of many positive moral messages.

SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON

Quality:
****
Content:
+4 Biblical, usually Christian, worldview, with no questionable elements whatsoever.
SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON, Disney’s classic 1960 movie, is about a family in the early 1800s, shipwrecked on a deserted island, who build a clever treehouse home on the island, deal with many animals and eventually fight off a band of pirates. Based on the famous novel by Johann Wyss, SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON is a rollicking good family movie with a strong Christian worldview that extols faith, family, prayer, teamwork, and perseverance.

MUFASA: THE LION KING

Quality:
****
Content:
-1 Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
MUFASA: THE LION KING is an animated action adventure musical that tells the exciting story of how Simba’s father became King. MUFASA: THE LION KING is a beautifully animated adventure story with two memorable songs, some great voice work, lots of jeopardy, and strong, inspiring ideas of what makes a great leader, but some of the action and fighting is too intense for younger children.

INSIDE OUT

Quality:
****
Content:
+2 Moderately questionable elements.
INSIDE OUT is an animated comedy about a young girl who has a wonderful life, until her family moves to San Francisco and her emotions get out of control. INSIDE OUT is a well-made, delightful movie with a great plot line, excellent animation and a strong moral worldview.

FINDING DORY

Quality:
****
Content:
+3 Some minor questionable elements. (Media-wisdom is suggested to discuss.)
FINDING DORY, the animated sequel to the classic family movie FINDING NEMO, shows Dory suddenly remembering she has a mommy and a daddy and getting help from her friends, both old and new, to reunite with them. FINDING DORY is another heartwarming, funny, whimsical fish story from Pixar and Disney showing that family and friends make life worth living.

CINDERELLA

Quality:
****
Content:
+1 Moderately questionable elements. (Discernment required for young children.)
CINDERELLA is Disney’s live-action version of the classic fairy tale where a girl has two loving parents who instill in her the message that if you are kind and good then you will be happy, but when her parents pass away, she’s put in a position where kindness and goodness are not always easy. CINDERELLA has a very strong Christian, moral worldview of loving and serving others before yourself, but it does have some magical thinking set in a fairytale world.

Watch NEIL YOUNG: HEART OF GOLD
Quality: - Content: +1
Watch STAN & OLLIE
Quality: - Content: +1