A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Educational Value
very little
Introduces the basic elements of the biblical Nativity story.
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Positive Messages
a lot
Positive messages include the power of generosity, integrity, and compassion; the importance of protecting others; the importance of following through on your duty/responsibilities; and faith that the journey toward Mary and Joseph (and baby Jesus) had an important purpose. Promotes the idea that friends support and help one another.
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Positive Role Models
a lot
Mary and Joseph are faithful, loving, and caring -- Mary in particular cares about the animals that turn up on the couple's journey toward Bethlehem. Bo starts out dreaming of glory and adventure and then finds his purpose through staying with Mary and helping her and Joseph. Many of the animals feel strongly convicted to follow a particular path. Some of the dangerous animals redeem themselves after Jesus' birth. King Herod is cruel and selfish, but he and his minions are clearly portrayed as bad guys in the wrong. Mary doesn't look particularly Middle Eastern.
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Violence & Scariness
a little
A sequence between Herod's enforcers and a village includes peril and some frightening animals (including angry dogs), but no one is seriously hurt. Characters navigate some perilous paths and cliffs on their journey. Bo's initial companion sacrifices his safety so Bo can escape. Herod plots against Mary and Joseph; his minions can be intimidating.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
none
Mary and Joseph are affectionate.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Star is an animated, faith-based take on the Nativity story that's told from the perspective of the animals that accompanied Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. There's nothing too scary or iffy for young kids, except for a scene in which a big, scary animal charges people and other animals (no one is seriously hurt). There are also two intimidating attack dogs that end up temporarily incapacitated before they can do any harm, and a few other scenes of peril. King Herod is cruel and selfish, but he's clearly a bad guy -- as are the minions he sends after Mary and Joseph. Expect strong, clear messages about Christmas, family, and faith; obviously the movie aligns with the Christian belief in Jesus' virgin birth (although that detail isn't lingered on). It also has themes of compassion and integrity. Moviegoers of all backgrounds will recognize many of the voice actors (including Keegan-Michael Key, Oprah Winfrey, and Zachary Levi), but the film is likely to have the most appeal for Christian families. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
Inspired by the Nativity story, THE STAR follows Bo the donkey (voiced by Steven Yeun), who dreams of escaping his dull duties working for the village miller and finding glory and adventure in the outside world. One day he manages to escape and eventually teams up with Ruth (Aidy Bryant), a sheep who's lost her flock, and Dave (Keegan-Michael Key), a wisecracking dove. The trio begins an action-packed journey to follow a star that's leading them toward young, pregnant Mary (Gina Rodriguez) and her husband, Joseph (Zachary Levi), who've been forced by royal decree to travel to Bethlehem. Meanwhile, King Herod's (Christopher Plummer) henchmen, armed with a few scary attack animals, are on the lookout for pregnant women like Mary -- but Bo and his friends are ready to protect their human friends.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the messages of family, faith, and friendship in The Star. What does Bo learn on his journey that leads him to Mary and Joseph? How does he change over the course of the movie?
How do some of the characters exemplify integrity and compassion? Why are those important character strengths?
Who's the target audience for this movie? Do you need to be Christian to appreciate its story and themes/messages?
Why do you think movies about talking animals are so fascinating and funny to kids?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 17, 2017
- On DVD or streaming: February 6, 2018
- Cast: Steven Yeun, Gina Rodriguez, Keegan-Michael Key
- Director: Timothy Reckart
- Inclusion Information: Asian actors, Female actors, Latino actors, Black actors
- Studios: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Friendship, Holidays, Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Integrity
- Run time: 86 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: some thematic elements
- Last updated: December 8, 2023
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