The Tooth Fairy Story Film Analysis: Animated Adventure with a Sprinkling of Family-Friendly Preteen Romance
In this animated journey aimed at tweens, the world of fairies focuses on gathering teeth from sleeping children and leaving treasure beneath where they sleep. Skateboarding teenage rebel fairy Van (brought to life by Booboo Stewart) is less than thrilled about spending his future to gathering baby teeth—a feeling that’s completely understandable. He is just a bit more curious about the underlying economics behind it all: the fairies hand over the molars to unseen goblins, who provide metal in exchange. But Van’s curiosity grows when he catches sight of a goblin (voiced by Larkin Bell), who proves to be not at all the hideous creature he had imagined.
An Unlikely Bond and Shared Threat
The stage is set for an exciting quest with a light sprinkling of teen romance (even though it remains perfectly appropriate for younger kids). The goblin and fairy communities are separated from each other, and there’s nothing like the excitement of secrecy to bring people together. Both groups as seen here are incredibly similar, yet each holds prejudiced beliefs about the other. Fairies are supposed to be self-centered sorts, given to taking whatever they fancy, while goblins are allegedly dim-witted, smelly, and backward, but are in fact intelligent and advanced in technology.
Naturally, such a setup requires a common enemy to join forces against, and that need is met by some nasty spiders, with voices by Jon Lovitz and Fran Drescher. They make no secret with these guys: they want to eat the goblins and fairies, and they serve as quite savage, though not particularly skilled, villains.
Ideal Viewers and Overall Impression
There aren’t very many animated films targeting the kind of audience that is starting to experience early romances, but are not mature enough for the content 14-year-olds are watching in lieu of popular teen sagas. If your child falls into this age group, it probably won’t to be their next all-time fave, but you could do worse.
A Tooth Fairy Tale releases in movie theaters in Scotland starting October 10 and across the United Kingdom beginning October 24.
