Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

The Willoughbys is that rare family film that doesn't sugarcoat the reality that some parents are selfish jerks. It's darkly funny, visually creative, and ultimately hopeful about kids' resilience and the power of chosen family.

But let's be real: this is not a light watch. The entire premise is 'parents actively trying to abandon their children,' and while it's played for dark laughs, that's genuinely heavy stuff. If your kid has any anxiety about family stability, parental love, or abandonment, this could hit way too close to home.

For families who can handle the darkness, though, there's real richness here. The sibling relationships are beautifully rendered, the message about creating your own definition of family is progressive and meaningful, and the animation style is legitimately distinctive. It's a 2020 Netflix production that still holds up visually and hasn't aged into unwatchability.

Just know what you're signing up for: this isn't Paddington-level wholesomeness. It's Roald Dahl energy—kids triumphing over terrible adults through cleverness and heart. Some families will love that; others will find it too much.

Age Fit

Best for ages 8-13 who can handle dark comedy and understand that terrible parents are the setup, not the punchline. Too emotionally complex and potentially triggering for younger kids; older teens will find it too juvenile despite the sophisticated themes.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

72

Models sibling cooperation and resilience, but centers on parental neglect and abandonment as the core premise. The children ultimately create their own loving family unit, demonstrating emotional growth and the importance of chosen family. However, the setup involves selfish, actively harmful parents which creates some tonal darkness even within the comedic framework.

Imaginative

78

Visually distinctive animation style with a storybook aesthetic that stands out from typical CGI family films. The premise of 'old-fashioned' children adapting to modern values offers creative narrative tension. Based on Lois Lowry's book, it brings literary imagination to screen with quirky character designs and whimsical world-building that encourages thinking about family structures in non-traditional ways.

Safe

68

No graphic content, but the emotional premise—children deliberately abandoned by parents who want them gone—is heavy and could be genuinely distressing for kids dealing with family instability. There's peril throughout (children in danger, near-death situations played for comedy) and the parents are villainous in ways that go beyond typical family-film conflict. It's rated PG-level content but the abandonment theme isn't 'surprise' scary content—it's the whole plot—so parents should know what they're walking into.

Enriching

75

Tackles genuinely complex themes about what makes a family, the difference between biological and chosen relationships, and how traditions can be honored while evolving. Encourages empathy for children in difficult situations and shows resilience, resourcefulness, and sibling bonds. The 'modern family' message is progressive and meaningful, though the dark comedy approach may dilute some of the emotional depth for younger viewers.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Celebrates chosen family and sibling bonds in genuinely meaningful ways—kids learn they can create love where it's missing
Visually distinctive animation style that feels like a moving storybook, standing out in the sea of generic CGI
Tackles the reality that not all parents are good parents, which can be validating for kids in tough family situations
Smart humor that works on multiple levels without talking down to kids
Based on a Lois Lowry book, bringing literary credibility to the adaptation

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What to Watch For

The parents are genuinely awful—not bumbling or misguided, but actively trying to get rid of their children, which is a heavy premise
Dark comedy tone means serious abandonment themes are played for laughs, which might not land right for sensitive kids or those dealing with family issues
Perilous situations throughout (kids in danger, near-death moments) framed comedically but still potentially scary
The 'old-fashioned values' setup might feel dated or confusing without context

Conversation Starters

"The Willoughby kids had to create their own family—who are the people in your life that feel like family, even if they're not related to you?"
"Why do you think the parents acted the way they did? Does understanding someone mean you have to forgive them?"
"The kids had to figure out how to take care of each other—what are ways you help take care of people you love?"
"What makes a family 'modern' versus 'old-fashioned' in this movie? Do you think those labels matter?"

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