A Troll in Central Park – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

A Troll in Central Park

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1994

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Don Bluth's gentlest—and most forgettable—film about a flower-loving troll is safe for toddlers but will bore everyone else to tears.

5.3/10

14%

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A Troll in Central Park

movie

G, 1994

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Don Bluth's gentlest—and most forgettable—film about a flower-loving troll is safe for toddlers but will bore everyone else to tears.

5.3

14%

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5.3/10

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be real: this movie flopped hard in 1994 and hasn't aged well. With a 14% critic score and a 2.5/5 on Letterboxd, even animation fans struggle to defend it.

It's perfectly safe—no scary moments, no inappropriate content, just a gentle troll who loves flowers. But safe doesn't mean good. The animation is cheap-looking compared to other Don Bluth films, the songs are forgettable, and the story is paint-by-numbers.

If you have a very young, very sensitive child who gets frightened easily and you've exhausted every other option, sure, this won't hurt them. But there are dozens of better animated films from the same era (The Lion King, Aladdin, even other Bluth films) that are just as safe and actually entertaining.

This is the movie equivalent of plain oatmeal—harmless but nobody's asking for seconds.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media suggests age 8, but honestly this is really aimed at 3-5 year olds who might tolerate the slow pace and simple story. Anyone older will likely be bored stiff, and even preschoolers have better options available today.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Features a gentle, flower-loving troll who befriends children and models kindness. The tone is sweet and earnest with themes of friendship and imagination. Some mild cartoon chase sequences but nothing mean-spirited. The pacing is slow by modern standards, which older kids might find boring but isn't chaotic.

Imaginative

A troll who grows flowers with his green thumb in Central Park is a charming premise, and there's fantasy world-building with the evil Queen and magical elements. However, the execution is fairly predictable and derivative of better Don Bluth films. It doesn't invite much creative thinking or exploration beyond passive viewing.

Safe

Very safe for young viewers. Common Sense Media confirms cartoonish violence limited to chase scenes, no scary content that would traumatize, no inappropriate themes. The IMDb parents guide notes 'no traces of alcohol, drugs or smoking' and confirms it's aimed at very young children. The villain Queen is more silly than frightening.

Enriching

Limited educational or developmental value beyond basic 'be yourself' messaging. The film is simple and sweet but doesn't offer much in terms of emotional depth, skill-building, or meaningful takeaways. It's gentle entertainment for very young kids but won't challenge or engage anyone older.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Extremely gentle and non-threatening for very young or sensitive kids who get scared easily
Models kindness and imagination through Stanley's character who literally makes flowers bloom
Dom DeLuise's voice work is warm and friendly
Short runtime means it won't overstay its welcome

⚠

What to Watch For

This is widely considered one of the worst animated films of the 1990s—14% critic score isn't a typo
The animation quality is noticeably cheaper than other Don Bluth films like The Land Before Time or An American Tail
Painfully slow pacing and simplistic plot will bore kids over 6
Even the target audience of preschoolers might zone out—there are much better options available

Conversation Starters

"Stanley can make flowers grow anywhere—if you had a magical power like that, what would it be?"
"Why do you think the Queen was so mean to Stanley just for liking flowers?"
"What's your favorite flower or plant? Have you ever tried growing something?"

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