ParaNorman parents guide

ParaNorman Parent Guide

ParaNorman's unique animation style and interesting musical score are worth noting. So are the occasional funny lines in the script and a message that uses the witchcraft plot to teach tolerance.

Overall B-

Teased by his family and peers, Norman (voice of Kodi Smit-McPhee) feels the only friends he has are the dead people he can inexplicably see. But his unusual gift might make him a hero if he has the courage to stop a witch's curse that his ghost buddies have warned him about.

Release date August 17, 2012

Violence C+
Sexual Content B
Profanity B
Substance Use A

Why is ParaNorman rated PG? The MPAA rated ParaNorman PG for scary action and images, thematic elements, some rude humor and language.

Run Time: 93 minutes

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Parent Movie Review

“I see dead people” has been a popular theme in movies ever since Haley Joel Osment uttered the line in the 2000 (The Sixth Sense). Now Norman (voice of Kodi Smit-McPhee), a young boy living in the small New England town of Blithe Hollow, is also cursed/blessed with this metaphysical ability.

Whether it’s his dead grandmother who chides him for watching zombie movies or the legion of ghostly people he meets on the way to school, it’s fair to say this boy with the sixth sense gets very little time alone. Even worse, Norman’s otherworldly conversations make him a prime target for bullying from his peers and ridicule from his frustrated father. Still this ghost whisperer has attracted one friend, an overweight and allergy prone boy named Neil (voice of Tucker Albrizzi), who is accepting of Norman’s unusual talent.

Then there is Mr. Penderghast (voice of John Goodman), the typical spooky old guy who lives in the house on the hill and happens to be Norman’s uncle. Also rumored to be able to communicate with those who have passed on, he is desperate to teach the boy how to use his gift to thwart a centuries old curse on Blithe Hollow. Sadly the disheveled man dies before the information can be transferred. But fortunately he is still able to reach Norman, albeit in a most unusual way, with his face appearing in a school toilet.

Now Norman and Neil, along with their respective older siblings Courtney (voice of Anna Kendrick) and Mitch (Casey Affleck), are left with the daunting task of saving the town from the curse. And the evil charm is about to intensify with the 300th anniversary of a witch trial that resulted in a young girl’s execution.

Although the script features juvenile protagonists, this animation is very likely to frighten young children thanks to frequent jump scenes, gruesome images of corpses, insects bursting from teddy bears, and zombies with body parts that fall off. Obviously families who don’t appreciate occult themes will want to steer clear of this script that views witchcraft as a “special gift.” The bullying issue is also a concern because it is only Norman’s abilities that allow him to eventually gain respect from his aggressors—an unlikely solution for young audience members experiencing similar threats. And there are a couple of moments of mild sensuality including a teen girl who fawns over a bare-chested teen boy.

ParaNorman’s unique animation style and interesting musical score are worth noting. So are the occasional funny lines in the script and a message that uses the witchcraft plot to teach tolerance to modern day students. Yet it seems too scary for young kids, too immature for teens, and even less likely to interest adults. While it is commendable that Norman finds the courage to confront and tame the wicked force that wants to destroy his community, parents who want a good night’s sleep after this movie will need to carefully consider its appropriateness for their children.

Directed by Chris Butler, Sam Fell. Starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann. Running time: 93 minutes. Theatrical release August 17, 2012. Updated

ParaNorman
Rating & Content Info

Why is ParaNorman rated PG? ParaNorman is rated PG by the MPAA for scary action and images, thematic elements, some rude humor and language.

Violence: Frequent scenes of gruesome images include corpses and zombies with dismembered body parts. Zombies are hit by cars and subjected to other violence. Townspeople threaten to burn a building with children inside. A horror movie within this film depicts a zombie eating brains. A teacher calls her students “useless.” A witch attacks a young boy.

Sexual Content: A girl fawns over a shirtless boy. A boy is caught freeze-framing an aerobics video—we see a woman clothed in exercise wear. A boy reveals his sexual orientation when he mentions he has a boyfriend.

Language: A mild rude term for female breasts, a mild profanity and a term of Christian deity are heard.

Drugs/Alcohol: None noted.

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ParaNorman Parents' Guide

How does Norman resolve his bullying issue? What are some realistic methods young people could use to overcome this threat?

What stereotypes do you see in this movie? Consider Norman, Courtney, Neil and Mitch. Do you think stereotypes affect the way we view certain types of people?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of ParaNorman movie is November 26, 2012. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: ParaNorman

Release Date: 27 November 2012

ParaNorman releases to home video in 3D (Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy) and as a Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolet Digital Copy). Extras include:

- Preliminary Animatic Sequences: With commentary from Director Sam Fell and Writer/Director Chris Butler.

- Peering Through the Veil: A behind-the-scenes glimpse into the creation of the weird and wonderful world of ParaNorman from building the characters to voicing them.

- Featurettes: Seven short segments showcasing Norman and his extraordinarily unusual costars.

- Feature Commentary: With Director Sam Fell and Writer/Director Chris Butler.

- BD-Live (Exclusive HD Content)

Related home video titles:

This movie comes from the same creative team as Coraline. Supernatural themes appear in the animated films Monster House and The Corpse Bride. And the adult thriller The Sixth Sense also follows a character that can see dead people.