Flushed Away – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Flushed Away

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2006

70%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A pampered pet mouse gets flushed into the sewer and discovers Ratropolis—Aardman's cheeky underground adventure with British wit and toilet humor.

6.6/10

72%

6.3

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Flushed Away

movie

PG, 2006

70%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A pampered pet mouse gets flushed into the sewer and discovers Ratropolis—Aardman's cheeky underground adventure with British wit and toilet humor.

6.6

72%

6.3

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6.6/10

72%

6.3

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Screenwise Verdict

Flushed Away is a perfectly serviceable mid-2000s animated adventure that's held up reasonably well—if your kids can get past the fact that it's set in a sewer and features a lot of toilet humor. Aardman's creativity shines in the world-building, and there are genuine laughs for both kids and parents.

That said, it's pushing 20 years old, and it shows. The animation, while charming, doesn't have the visual pop of modern CGI, and some of the cultural references are very 2006-British. It's not a must-watch classic that'll captivate modern kids the way Toy Story or Shrek still can, but it's a solid rainy-day option that won't rot anyone's brain.

The friendship story is sweet, Rita's a genuinely cool character, and the whole thing moves fast enough that kids won't get bored. Just be prepared for your younger ones to suddenly find bathroom humor hilarious for the next week.

Age Fit

Best for ages 5-10. Younger kids will enjoy the action and visual gags, while older elementary kids can appreciate the wordplay and social commentary. By middle school, it'll feel pretty juvenile and dated.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Aardman/DreamWorks collaboration with British charm and humor. Features friendship themes and cooperation between Roddy and Rita. Some toilet humor and mild peril scenes typical of adventure comedies, but generally models teamwork and character growth. Pacing is energetic but not overly chaotic for the genre.

Imaginative

Creative underground rat civilization concept (Ratropolis) with clever world-building that reimagines London sewers as a bustling rodent society. Aardman's signature visual creativity and inventive action sequences. The premise itself—a pampered pet mouse navigating the sewer underworld—invites imaginative engagement with how society might work at miniature scale.

Safe

Family-friendly adventure with no graphic content. Some mild peril and slapstick violence typical of animated action-comedies. Toilet/bathroom humor present (it's literally about sewers) but handled in cartoon fashion. No inappropriate content for kids, though the 'rodent-hating Toad' villain may be mildly intense for very young viewers. Standard animated adventure fare without surprise disturbing elements.

Enriching

Entertaining adventure with themes of friendship across class divides (high-society mouse meets streetwise rat) and self-discovery. Some light lessons about not judging by appearances and finding courage. However, primarily focused on entertainment and action rather than deep educational or emotional growth. Solid entertainment value but limited lasting takeaways beyond basic friendship messages.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Aardman's signature creativity brings a fully-realized underground rat civilization to life
Themes of friendship across social classes and finding courage outside your comfort zone
British humor and wordplay that's clever without being mean-spirited
Fast-paced adventure that keeps kids entertained without being overstimulating
Strong female character in Rita who's resourceful and capable

⚠

What to Watch For

Toilet and bathroom humor is baked into the premise—if potty jokes make you cringe, this isn't your movie
Some mild peril and cartoon villain intensity (the Toad and his thugs) that might spook sensitive younger kids
Nearly 20 years old now, so animation and cultural references may feel dated compared to current releases
British slang and humor might go over some kids' heads

Conversation Starters

"Roddy starts out pretty spoiled and has to learn to survive in a totally different world. Have you ever been somewhere that felt completely unfamiliar?"
"Rita and Roddy come from really different backgrounds. What did they learn from each other?"
"The movie shows a whole city built in the sewers. If you could build a secret city anywhere, where would it be and what would it look like?"
"What do you think about the Toad as a villain? Was he scary or funny or both?"

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