Family movie recommendations with a 2 year old in mind

[flower01]

This is a pretty specific request. We are mostly tv-free, but I have recently found a preschool show on hulu.com that my DD likes and I am comfortable with. Aside from that, there are occasions that my DH and I would like to watch a movie. My DD definitely doesn't have the attention span to watch an entire movie, but she does stay up late and she will watch for a few minutes at a time. So, I would like some movies that we can watch together that I don't find offensive or scary for a toddler.

So far the only movie that I have found is Charlotte's Web. She enjoys the animals and it's a pretty calm movie.

Here are examples of movies I don't like and why:

Disney's Peter Pan: Violent...the whole movie is sword fighting. (Before you think I'm prudish or too sensitive, I don't have a problem with the movie for maybe a 5 or 6 year old, but 2 just seems a little young...plus she just doesn't get it.)

Ratatoulle: We just rented this and I was disturbed that the old lady was trying to get rid of the rats by chasing them down with a gun. Too much shooting...


Toy Story: I love this story, but as I watched it with her I felt it was just too obnoxious...loud and there is a pretty scary scene when the boy is destroying/blowing up his toys.


I am not even looking for movies that are particularly geared towards her...just nice family movies without violence and obnoxiousness.

[leila1213]

DD loves Madagascar and I don't mind watching it either! There are definitely some adult subtexts going on, but nothing that she understood to the point that she was concerned or asked questions (that I recall). She wouldn't sit through more than a few minutes of Toy Story (although I loved it), so I agree with you on that. She was okay with Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. Bolt was decent for us but might be too scary and difficult to explain, depending on the child.

Some others I would stay away from are Shark Tale (horrible plotline that IIRC included gambling addiction and for sure waaaaay too much sexuality), Finding Nemo (unless you fast forward the very beginning or find a way to explain why the mom and all other babies/eggs get eaten/killed), Cars (talking cars and the vanity/arrogance/classism portrayed just didn't do it for either of us), and a bunch more I'm not remembering right now.

[Storm Bride]

hmm...Mary Poppins is fairly inoffensive.

DD and ds2 also both like The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and Pooh's Heffalump Adventure. Both of those are pretty laid back. Mind you, I'm not sure I'd call them "family" movies, as opposed to "children's" movies, though...

hmm...we're really relaxed about what we watch, but I can't think of anything else that would suit your criteria right now.

[flower01]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

hmm...Mary Poppins is fairly inoffensive.

DD and ds2 also both like The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and Pooh's Heffalump Adventure. Both of those are pretty laid back. Mind you, I'm not sure I'd call them "family" movies, as opposed to "children's" movies, though...

hmm...we're really relaxed about what we watch, but I can't think of anything else that would suit your criteria right now.

Yeah, see Pooh is great, but not exactly something I want to sit back and watch at night...I guess this is what I'm finding difficult. I don't want a specifically "kids" movie...

I also love Mary Poppins, but not sure DH would be into that. I can do that one on day's he's working late.

This is just so hard because we cannot get DD to go to sleep any earlier...she's always stayed up late and we just get to a point where we're tired of entertaining her and we really don't want to entertain her at 9pm. We just want to sit back and relax...let her do her thing until she's ready to sleep.

[Oonah]

not a movie, but check out Harold and the Purple Crayon on Hulu. So cute. Harold and the Purple Crayon is one of my kids' all time fav books...the cartoon is cute too.

Harold and the Purple Crayon

As far as movies go...Happy Feet maybe?

[Storm Bride]

She's two? You might still be okay with low-action comedies/dramas. Even if they're more adult-oriented, a lot of that will go over her head.

I cna't think of anything else.

[leila1213]

Happy Feet was okay. That reminds me of maybe documentaries, with animals to keep her interested? March of the Penguins came to mind, but I'm sure there are others. What about the Planet Earth series?

[jtbuko]

We got a DVD about Koko (the gorilla who learned sign language) that was fun to watch as a family. If you library does not have it I think you can buy it directly from the gorilla foundation.

Others:
Planet Earth (already mentioned, I know)
Milo & Otis (the one about the cat & dog)

Also, I love watching Over the Hedge with the kids. There is a scary bear, but it is far less scary than Nemo in my family's opinion.

[flower01]

Thanks. Some of these suggestions I'm really liking...keep them coming...

[flower01]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

She's two? You might still be okay with low-action comedies/dramas. Even if they're more adult-oriented, a lot of that will go over her head.

I cna't think of anything else.

I am definitely open to some specific suggestions on this type of movie. Because we don't have a TV, we don't really know what new movies have come out...so we don't even know what is good to rent.

[Storm Bride]

I'm trying to remember all the content of Evan Almighty. There are a ton of animals in it (a whole Ark's worth), so she might enjoy that. I saw it months ago, and can't remember if there was anything particularly objectionable in it or not. I do know my kids (a bit older than yours) really loved the scenes with the animals.

Maybe check it out on IMDB. They have a section where you can check for parental advisories. (I know there's another website that does that, but I can't remember what it's called.)

ETA: DS1 and I both enjoyed Evan Almighty quite a bit, but it wasn't a huge hit with dh, so...no telling if you and your dh will enjoy it, either. Unfortunately, I find comedies are the hardest movies to recommend, yk?

[BaBaBa]

DD (2.5) loves Spirited Away and I guarantee you will too. It's one of those movies that fills an adult with a child's sense of wonder. http://www.spiritedaway.com.au/

[1littlebit]

we watch adult movies (as in for adults.. not porn) like evan almighty as PP said..or hmm.. not a movie but he watches gilmore girls with me... stuff that is non violent, nothing gruesome etc.. but it is an adult movie... he just doesn't really get it and likes watching the people talk and laugh. DS likes anything with a good sound track

[1littlebit]

oo we really liked bedtime stories!!

[AnalogWife]

My DS is 2 and s Shrek 1,2,and3. He also likes Bee Movie and Ratatouille. We like movies around here and tend to watch them a lot and these are ones we can all enjoy.

[Storm Bride]

After I went offline earlier, I was thinking about going to see the second Night at the Museum movie, and thought of this thread. The original Night at the Museum might be a little intense for a 2 year old (there's one scene where the main character is being chased by a T-Rex skeleton, for instance), but maybe not. It was a huge hit here, and one those few movies that we all enjoyed.

[lorijds]

Maybe you should rent some older movies or tv series? The pacing is different, and they are typically heavy on the dialogue, less so on the action. That said, my kids LOVE old movies and old TV shows. The Avengers is a big hit (particularly those with Mrs Peel). You can view Star Trek, the Original Series on CBS.com--my youngest said it seems like a mystery in space--she likes it because it is like the Avengers. My dh has developed an unhealthy addiction to Ballykissangel, a BBC series. I personally like Red Dwarf, but it's so weird that your daughter may or may not find glimpses of it scary/odd.

There are many old movies that aren't going to be offensive in dialogue or action, but are still entertaining. Roman Holiday, Bringing up Baby, To Catch a Thief, 1-2-3 (one of my all time favorites) just to name a few. Or more modern movies--what about the newer Pride and Prejudice? A lot of talk, some grumpiness, some happiness, but no sex, no fights, no swearing, and pretty clothes to boot. Most of the Jane Austen movies are like that. Searching for Bobby Fischer is another good one (obviously not Jane Austen...). Or movies that are family oriented but interesting--like Duma, The Gods Must be Crazy movies (the second one is best in my opinion).

Or documentaries--Young @ Heart is fabulous, and has good music to boot. Our library has a lot of documentaries that would be perfectly fine for viewing with a 2-3 year old in a room. Mad Hot Ballroom and Spellbound (2002) in addition to Young @ heart would be three good starters--but honestly, there are hundreds of FANTASTIC documentaries, and libraries tend to have a lot of them.

And when you find one movie that you like, look it up on amazon.com to see what other, similar movies are out there. Then you can go to wikipedia and usually read the entire plot. Kills any surprise, but gives you a good idea if you are going to be interested in it or even able to watch it.

[Storm Bride]

You know...I kind of missed that your dd won't really watch the movie, so you're looking more for something that you and your dh can watch, without it being negative for her. I agree with the pp - many older movies are paced in a way that they'd probably be totally inoffensive to your dd.

[jtbuko]

The old Fraggle Rock TV series is kind of fun - we have been netflixing them and have found the content pretty acceptable and entertaining enough for a sleepy grown up. Plus some of the episodes make for good talking points as the kids get older...

[Mountaingirl79]

Some family movies we like are...
Elf
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn
Secondhand Lions
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
March of the Penguins
Marley and Me ( my kids are a little older, but I dont remember any violence or bad words in it, so would be ok viewing around a toddler I suppose...)
The Ghost and Mr Chicken ( or is it Mrs chicken?? I think it's Mr. LOL)
The Incredible Mr Limpet