A Tooth Fairy Tale Review: Cartoon Adventure with a Sprinkling of Kid-Appropriate Preteen Love Story
Throughout this animated adventure for preteens, the fairy community focuses on gathering baby teeth of slumbering children and leaving gold beneath where they sleep. Board-riding teenage rebel fairy Van (brought to life by Booboo Stewart) shows little enthusiasm about devoting his life to collecting baby teeth—a sentiment that’s entirely reasonable. He’s only slightly more interested in the underlying economics behind it all: the fairies deliver the teeth to mysterious goblins, who supply gold as payment. However, Van’s interest grows when he spots a goblin (played by Larkin Bell), who turns out to be far from the hideous gnome he expected.
An Unlikely Connection and Shared Threat
The stage is set for an adventure with a light sprinkling of teen romance (though it’s very much suitable for younger kids). The fairy and goblin communities are estranged from one another, and there’s nothing like the excitement of secrecy to unite beings as one. Both groups as seen here are incredibly similar, yet each holds prejudiced beliefs about the opposite side. The fairies are said to be self-centered types, given to stealing whatever they fancy, while goblins are reportedly stupid, foul-smelling, and backward, but are actually bright and advanced in technology.
Of course, such a setup needs a common enemy to unite against, and this is duly provided by some nasty spiders, with voices 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, if not particularly skilled, villains.
Target Audience and Overall Impression
You won’t find very many children’s animations aimed at the viewer group that is starting to experience early romances, but aren’t yet mature enough for whatever teenagers view these days in lieu of popular teen sagas. Should your youngster falls into this age group, it probably won’t to become their new favorite movie, but you could do worse.
A Tooth Fairy Tale releases in Scottish cinemas from 10 October and the rest of the UK beginning October 24.
