A RAT’S TAIL
Moral values prevail in a slow-starting puppet adventure.
Should You Watch It?
A RAT’S TALE takes a while to find its footing. Its first half is awkward, confusing, and slow, with too many characters to track. But the second half becomes an engrossing, entertaining story in which good defeats evil.
The film gives children strong moral lessons about bravery, self-sacrifice, the value of life, love toward one’s enemies, and justice. It also presents magical shells and an environmental message that parents should explain carefully, especially the difference between caring for creation and worshiping it.
Younger children may enjoy the colorful world of the rats and the funny canaligator. Older children may lose patience with the marionette style. For children age 10 and under, stay with the slow beginning for the more rewarding adventure that follows.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESA community of New York City rats faces destruction when a real estate developer plans to exterminate them with a powerful pesticide. Two young rats, Monty and Isabella, join forces with a funny, talkative “canaligator” named Jean Paul.
Three magical shells lead the friends toward a hidden land where a plant antidote grows. Their search becomes a race against time as they try to save their threatened community—and perhaps even the enemy who endangers them.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a worthwhile children’s film with clear weaknesses. The production values are high, especially the special effects, sets, and elaborate sewers where the rats live. The second half has an engrossing story, livelier characters, and an entertaining conflict between good and evil.
The first half is awkwardly written and shot, slowly paced, and confusing because there are too many characters to follow. Older children may also be bored by the marionettes, only one of whose mouths moves while it is speaking. Once Monty and Isabella interact with Jean Paul, Uncle Monty, and Rudi, the film gains focus and begins to come alive.
The Worldview
A RAT’S TALE presents some New Age magical thinking through the three magical shells and the hidden land where nature exists in harmony. Its environmental message can sound vaguely like anti-Christian pagan religion when it treats nature as a source of acceptance and healing. Parents should explain that caring for plants and animals does not mean worshiping them or valuing animal life above human life.
The film also offers strong moral lessons. It celebrates bravery and self-sacrifice for goodness and justice. It teaches that each life is precious, that money is not more important than life, and that love matters more than greed. Even the villains and rogues learn moral truths, and Dollart recognizes the error of his ways.
The movie’s central call to love enemies and pursue what is good aligns with Scripture: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Moral worldview that recognizes the need to show love toward one’s enemies & advocates repentance, with some mild New Age & Environmentalist elements; no foul language; minor violence when two men chase rats with blunt instruments & lock one rat up in air conditioning unit to freeze him to death; and, miscellaneous immorality such as placing the value of money above the value of life, ridiculing others, greed, & pride, all of which are condemned by the movie & defeated by the heroes.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The movie teaches that each life is precious. How should that truth shape the way we treat people who seem weak, strange, or different from us?
Genesis 1:27 · James 3:9The characters learn that love matters more than money. What can money do, and what can it never replace?
Matthew 6:19–21 · 1 Timothy 6:9–10The film asks its heroes to show love toward their enemies. What does Jesus command us to do when someone wants to harm us?
Matthew 5:44 · Romans 12:20–21How can we care for plants and animals without treating nature as God?
Genesis 1:28 · Romans 1:25The Final Word
A RAT’S TALE is slow and awkward at first, but its second half delivers an entertaining adventure with moral values worth celebrating. Younger children may find a lot to enjoy, while older children may grow bored. For families with children age 10 and under, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — AGES 10 AND UNDER.
