By: Simone Cathryn
Recommend for 3+ (only because it is probably too long for most kids under 3)
Rated PG: For action and some impolite humour. The action and suspense is mild however if you have an anxious child or one that doesn’t enjoy a bit of suspense then the action might be too much for them. The impolite humour will go over the really young kid’s heads.
I’ll admit I have never seen any of the Dora the Explorer TV show, I have seen snippets of it just never a full episode, so I didn’t really know what to expect. So to make sure it held up to a fan of the movie’s expectations I did take along my cousin’s so, who is 8 years old, to see it. He was a fan of the TV show as a younger child so he was my Dora expert for this one. The verdict from a fan and from someone who has never watched the show.....We both loved it!
Dora and the Lost City of Gold deftly combines absurdity, realism, adventure and education in a film that is hilarious fun for kids and adults.
Make no mistake it’s not likely to win any Oscars or create a cult following it does however entertain. Be warned it can get quite corny at times however the biggest strength this film has is in not taking itself too seriously and being able to point out and laugh at its own absurdity. Dora and The Lost City of Gold is also brilliant at keeping the right balance of quiet moments, action, humour and suspense. Even kids who struggle to sit through a whole movie are likely to sit through this one. Kind of like a young Indiana Jones action without the offensive stereotypes.
Dora and The Lost City of Gold starts with a young Dora and her cousin being there usual selves in the jungle but quickly you find out her cousin is moving to the City the next day. Fast forward to 10 years later when they are 16, having not seen each other in all that time, Dora finds out her parents are going on a new expedition into the jungle and she is being sent to the city to live with her cousin/family. This sets her on a collision course with some of the other kids who don’t quite fit in in high school that results in them all being back in the jungle on an adventure they didn’t plan on having. At its’ heart it is a story of growing up and finding your people without sacrificing the positive character traits that make you who you are, even when it means taking a risk.
Plus with a huge chunk of the film having been filmed in QLD Australia you’ll find a sense of pride and amazement at just how incredible Australia is. For me this is one of the best kid’s films I’ve seen recently and well worth a trip out to the cinema to see the jungle on the big screen.
In cinemas 19th September this is a film to take kids to or if you grew up with Dora grab some friends, popcorn and a pile of lollies for a childlike night out at the movies!