The movie that I’ve been waiting for is now at a theater near you! My son and I attended an advanced screening of Pete’s Dragon earlier this week and we both really enjoyed it! For me, it was a fresh take on a classic that I already loved, and for my almost 4 year old son, it was a wonderful story about a boy and a dragon.
Oakes Fegley is Pete in Disney’s PETE’S DRAGON, the story of a boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who just happens to be a dragon.
A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film, “Pete’s Dragon” is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon. “Pete’s Dragon” stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Oakes Fegley (“This is Where I Leave You”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Oona Laurence (“Southpaw”) and Oscar® winner Robert Redford (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”). The film, which is directed by David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”), is written by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a story by Seton I. Miller and S.S. Field and produced by Jim Whitaker, p.g.a. (“The Finest Hours,” “Friday Night Lights”), with Barrie M. Osborne (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Great Gatsby”) serving as executive producer.
For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley). Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliott. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliott seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon.”
The movie is rated PG and initially I wasn’t sure if my son would be able to sit still during the movie. Movies that aren’t animated can be hit or miss for his age. However, I’m glad I did take my son, because not only did he enjoy it, but he was one of the ones cheering at the end of the movie.
The plot is very simple, which makes it easier for younger children, like my son, to understand. Pete loses his parents in a car accident, and grows up with a dragon named Elliott. Pete is eventually discovered, and that sets the tone for the rest of the movie.
Bryce Dallas Howard is Grace and Oakes Fegley is Pete in Disney’s PETE’S DRAGON, the adventure of an orphaned boy and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon.
My son didn’t think that the movie was scary but there were moments where he was worried about Elliott. So it definitely depends on your child’s personality when you are trying to decide if your child should see any movie, including Pete’s Dragon.
As for Elliott, both my son and I loved his qualities. While Elliott is Pete’s protector, he’s also very playful. For example, both my son and I loved the scene where Elliott started chasing his tail.
Pete’s Dragon is about loyalty, friendship, family, and sometimes making difficult choices.
What does Pete choose? I’ll let you discover that for yourself when you see Pete’s Dragon in the movie theater!
In the meantime, I’ve included activity sheets below that you and your family can enjoy together 🙂