Here's the truth: Storm Boy is a perfectly fine movie with a good heart, teaching real lessons about compassion and loss. The problem? It's a 2019 remake of a 1976 film based on a 1964 book, and it feels like all three eras at once.

The pacing is molasses-slow, the tone is relentlessly somber, and while the pelican scenes are sweet, there's just not enough narrative momentum to keep modern kids engaged. It's the kind of movie teachers show during indoor recess on a rainy day, and half the class zones out.

If your kid genuinely loves nature, can handle sad animal stories, and has the patience for contemplative cinema, this could work. But for most families? You're better off watching a good nature documentary together—you'll get the same wildlife appreciation with way less yawning.