A Tooth Fairy Tale Review: Animated Adventure with a Touch of Kid-Appropriate Preteen Romance
In this animated journey aimed at tweens, the world of fairies is dedicated to collecting teeth from slumbering children and leaving gold under their pillows. Skateboarding youthful nonconformist fairy Van (brought to life by Booboo Stewart) shows little enthusiasm about devoting his life to gathering baby teeth—a feeling that’s completely understandable. He’s only slightly more curious about the financial workings of the situation: the fairies deliver the teeth to mysterious goblins, who provide metal as payment. However, Van’s interest grows when he catches sight of a goblin (played by Larkin Bell), who proves to be not at all the ugly gnome he had imagined.
A Forbidden Bond and Shared Threat
Everything is prepared for an adventure with a gentle touch of young love (even though it remains very much suitable for younger kids). The fairy and goblin groups are separated from each other, and nothing fuels the thrill of the forbidden to bring people as one. Both groups portrayed in the film are remarkably alike, yet both maintain prejudiced beliefs about the other. Fairies are said to be self-centered types, prone to taking anything they want, while the goblins are allegedly dim-witted, foul-smelling, and backward, but are actually bright and advanced in technology.
Naturally, such a setup requires a shared foe to join forces against, and this is duly provided by a group of vicious spiders, voiced by Jon Lovitz and Fran Drescher. They make no secret with these guys: they aim to devour the fairies and goblins, and they serve as fairly bloodthirsty, though not particularly skilled, villains.
Ideal Viewers and Final Thoughts
You won’t find all that many animated films targeting the kind of audience that is starting to experience early romances, but are not mature enough for whatever teenagers view these days instead of Twilight. If your child is in the right age bracket, it probably won’t to become their new favorite movie, but you could do worse.
The Tooth Fairy Story releases in Scottish cinemas from 10 October and the rest of the UK beginning October 24.
