Are you looking for a movie to watch for family movie night? Flora & Ulysses, which is a PG rated movie, will be available to stream exclusively on Disney+ on February 19, 2021. But with an unlikely superhero in the form of a squirrel, is it worth streaming? I’m answering that question and more in my spoiler free parent movie review.
Is Flora & Ulysses on Disney Plus Worth Streaming?
Flora & Ulysses is based on a book written by Kate DiCamillo. In the movie, Flora (played by Matilda Lawler) is a 10 year-old girl who loves comic books. She ends up rescuing a squirrel she names Ulysses (voiced by John Kassir) after he develops superhero powers……due to a near death experience from a vacuum. Seems farfetched, doesn’t it? It turns out that it’s a well-grounded, quirky family comedy. Flora is joined by her parents, Phyllis (played by Alyson Hannigan) and George (played by Ben Schwartz) and the next door neighbor’s nephew, William (played by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth). They are all dealing with their own personal issues. For example, William has hysterical blindness and Phyllis and George are separated while dealing with their professional shortcomings.
Is Flora & Ulysses Kid Friendly?
The movie is rated PG so parental guidance is suggested. None of the characters use profanity or sexual innuendoes. There is, however, mature content as it relates to the separation of Flora’s parents and possible divorce. Flora also does jokingly say that she’s pregnant when her mom notices that she is attempting to hide Ulysses under shirt. When Flora acts strangely, her mom also jokingly comments that it could be drugs. There is at least one kissing scene but it’s very tame overall. What pushes this movie into a PG rating as opposed to a G rating are scenes involving an animal control officer shooting tranquilizer darts at other characters. There is also a car chase and a reference to euthanizing an animal. With that being said, overall this movie is safe for younger kids to watch.
Overall Thoughts
My family absolutely loved Flora & Ulysses. Not only is it a well-grounded, quirky family comedy, but the acting is phenomenal all around. Matilda Lawler and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth played their characters with perfection and Ben Schwartz and Alyson Hannigan added many different layers to their characters as Flora’s parents. There are also parodies and pop culture references that fans of other comics will appreciate (I’m looking specifically at Marvel and Batman). Not to mention the references to Jack and Rose from the movie Titanic. Even though the movie is about a squirrel with superpowers, strangely enough it didn’t seem over the top.
If you’re looking for another family friendly movie to watch on Disney Plus based on an award winning novel, click here for my review for The One and Only Ivan.
About Flora & Ulysses
Disney’s “Flora & Ulysses” is a comedy-adventure based on the Newbery Award-winning book about 10-year-old Flora, an avid comic book fan and a self-avowed cynic, whose parents have recently separated. After rescuing a squirrel she names Ulysses, Flora is amazed to discover he possesses unique superhero powers which take them on an adventure of humorous complications that ultimately change Flora’s life-and her outlook-forever.