Mr. North – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Mr. North

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1988

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A charming stranger with a 'healing touch' arrives in 1920s Newport—gentle, safe, and almost impossibly slow.

50%

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Mr. North

movie

PG, 1988

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A charming stranger with a 'healing touch' arrives in 1920s Newport—gentle, safe, and almost impossibly slow.

50%

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the truth: Mr. North is perfectly safe and perfectly wholesome, but it's also perfectly boring by modern standards. Roger Ebert praised its 'sweet, innocent premise' but admitted it 'doesn't really hold our attention,' and the audience scores (38% on Rotten Tomatoes, 5.9 on IMDb) back that up.

The 1988 period drama has all the hallmarks of a gentle family film—no violence, no language, a positive message about kindness—but it moves at a pace that will test even the most patient viewer. The 'healing touch' premise is charming in theory but never fully realized, and the courtroom subplot feels tacked on.

If you're desperate for ultra-safe content and your family has an unusual tolerance for slow, character-driven 1980s filmmaking, this could work. But for most families in 2025, there are dozens of better options that deliver wholesome content without feeling like a time capsule assignment. Available on Tubi for free if you're curious, but don't say I didn't warn you.

Age Fit

Technically appropriate for ages 8+ given the PG rating and gentle content, but realistically most kids (and adults) will struggle with the glacial pacing. Best for patient viewers who appreciate slow-burn period dramas—a very small audience in 2025.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

PG-rated period drama with a gentle, positive message about kindness and community. No violence, strong language, sexual content, or drug use. The 'healing touch' premise is whimsical rather than preachy, and the protagonist helps people through charm and compassion. Courtroom subplot is light-hearted rather than heavy.

Imaginative

The 'magical healing powers' premise has some imaginative appeal, and the 1926 Newport setting offers period charm. However, Roger Ebert noted it 'moves slowly and doesn't really hold our attention'—the film leans on atmosphere over creative storytelling. It's more character-driven than inventive, with a courtroom scene that feels like filler rather than narrative spark.

Safe

Extremely safe content-wise: no explicit violence, gore, nudity, sexual content, or substance use. Occasional mild peril (chase scene) and gentle emotional tension, but nothing that would surprise or disturb. PG rating and Common Sense Media age of 11 (though realistically appropriate younger) confirm low-risk viewing.

Enriching

Offers a sweet message about helping others and the power of human connection, set against a beautifully rendered historical backdrop. However, the slow pacing and lack of narrative drive mean it's unlikely to deeply engage or teach much beyond surface-level kindness themes. More pleasant than meaningful.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Completely safe content: no violence, language, or mature themes—perfect for cautious families
Beautiful period setting (1926 Newport) with handsome production values
Positive message about kindness, community, and helping others without being preachy
Anthony Edwards and Anjelica Huston bring warmth to a gentle, character-driven story

⚠

What to Watch For

Extremely slow pacing that will likely bore modern kids (and many adults)
Low audience scores (38% on RT) reflect limited appeal—even Roger Ebert called it hard to pay attention to
The 'healing powers' premise is whimsical but underdeveloped; courtroom scene feels like filler
Dated 1980s filmmaking style may feel like homework rather than entertainment

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think people in the town were so interested in Mr. North's 'powers'?"
"What would it be like to live in a fancy town like Newport in the 1920s?"
"Do you think Mr. North really had special powers, or was it something else?"

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