Abominable parents guide

Abominable Parent Guide

It's a big, beautiful, magical world out there, and this movie's a great way to share some of it with your kids.

Overall A

Yi is running from her sorrow over her father's death, keeping herself too busy to grieve. Then one day she meets a wounded yeti, and everything changes...

Release date September 27, 2019

Violence B
Sexual Content A
Profanity A-
Substance Use A

Why is Abominable rated PG? The MPAA rated Abominable PG for some action and mild rude humor.

Run Time: 92 minutes

Parent Movie Review

Yi (voiced by Chloe Bennet) is living life on the go. Spending her vacation running from one part-time job to another in her hometown of Shanghai, she hardly has time to talk to her mother and grandmother (voiced by Michelle Wong and Tsai Chin). She is too busy to play basketball with younger neighbor, Peng (voiced by Albert Tsai) and barely manages to squeeze in some snarky banter with handsome Jin (voiced by Tenzing Norgay Trainor). There’s a reason behind Yi’s frenetic schedule – she’s afraid that if she stops long enough to think, she won’t be able to control her grief over her father’s death. But then one night, she climbs up to her rooftop hideaway to play her father’s violin and makes a discovery that will change her life.

Mr. Burnish (voiced by Eddie Izzard) is an acquisitive animal collector, with a lifelong obsession with yeti. He has finally managed to capture an abominable snowman of his own, only to see him escape over the rooftops of Shanghai. Injured in his flight, the yeti hides on the first convenient roof, until he’s discovered by Yi. Their meeting launches the new friends, along with Peng and Jin, on a journey across China to return the yeti to his home on Mount Everest.

So far, this sounds like a fairly typical kids’ road trip movie. And it certainly ticks most of the boxes. But Abominable manages to stand out in the genre for a few reasons. First, the scenery is jaw-dropping. China encompasses some dazzling landscapes and it is wonderful to see a few of those gorgeous vistas unfolding on the big screen. It is so refreshing to see a big budget kids’ movie embrace not only an Asian setting, but also Asian characters. It’s a big world out there, and it’s a gift to share it with our kids. And, second, Abominable takes a broader look at magic than some other kids’ fantasy films. While Everest (as Yi names the yeti) possesses magical abilities that allow him to communicate with nature (and to control it as he gets closer to the Himalayas), the movie also shows the magic that can be found in music. Yi’s talent has a power and beauty of its own, and parents can hope that her music will inspire their less-than-enthusiastic musicians to practice more diligently.

Not only is there much to enjoy in this movie; there is very little for parents to worry about. Abominable contains some perilous situations and a few violent encounters, but these are not gratuitous or gory and serve to advance the plot. Only sensitive children will be troubled by the story’s action. Parents will likely be appalled by Yi’s heedless trip across China without food, water, sunblock, or clothes suitable to the climate. But younger viewers won’t care – they’re far more likely to be enchanted by the film. This production contains some of the most beautiful moments I’ve seen in an animated feature in a long time, moments that celebrate the wonder of nature with such breathtaking loveliness that the moviegoers around me “oohed” and “aahed” out loud on several occasions. This charming movie celebrates the glories of the natural world and the magic of music, friendship, loyalty, and love. It definitely isn’t abominable – it’s wonderful and well worth the price of the ticket to see it on the big screen.

Directed by Jill Culston and Todd Wilderman. Starring Albert Tsai, Chloe Bennet, and Sarah Paulson.. Running time: 92 minutes. Theatrical release September 27, 2019. Updated

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Abominable
Rating & Content Info

Why is Abominable rated PG? Abominable is rated PG by the MPAA for some action and mild rude humor.

Violence: A yeti makes a perilous escape from a prison-like building. He is chased and is shocked by an electric fence. Cattle prods are seen on many occasions in the film. Tranquilizer darts are seen frequently and are used on a main character: in one scene he is hit with multiple darts and falls off a bridge. Main characters are chased and attacked by drones. They are also chased by helicopters and armored vehicles. A teenager is taken captive but escapes in a dark forest filled with blinking eyes that frighten him. A young girl is pushed off a bridge and dangles, holding on to a rope. A yeti is slightly injured in a car accident. A man repeatedly yells at people and hits some people with a stick. Magical powers conjure up aurora borealis phenomena with shock waves. A woman tries to kill a creature by hitting him with a car. An avalanche pushes a vehicle off a cliff. A character talks about killing main characters and later briefly mentions dismembering one of them.
Sexual Content: None noted.
Profanity: One term of deity is used.
Alcohol / Drug Use: None noted.

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Abominable Parents' Guide

Jin is obsessed with his phone and his social media feed. Why do you think he’s so fixated on it? What causes him to give it up? Would you be able to make the same choice he did?

Why is Mr. Burnish so determined to capture a yeti? Do you think wounded pride is ever a good reason to make a decision?

Loved this movie? Try these books…

Scott Magoon’s children’s picture book The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot retells the traditional story of the boy who cried wolf. This charming book can be enjoyed even by young children.

The Littlest Bigfoot, by Jennifer Weiner, is a heartwarming story about kids who don’t fit in. Because it contains bullying, it is probably not suitable for kids under eight years of age.

If winter’s got you at the end of your rope – you’re not alone. Yetis sometime get tired of winter too. At least that’s the plot of Vin Vogel’s charming picture book, The Thing About Yetis.

Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven series focuses on magical preserves hidden around the world that shelter fantastical animals. Suitable primarily for older children and teens.

Paul Stewart and Chris Riddel’s Edge Chronicles are a series of books featuring heroic characters and mysterious beasts going on fabulous adventures.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Abominable movie is December 17, 2019. Here are some details…

Related home video titles:

Smallfoot is the story of a yeti who runs across a human – but this is supposed to be impossible because the yeti have been taught that there is no such thing as a “smallfoot”.

In Missing Link, an explorer and zoologist, Sir Lionel Frost, discovers Bigfoot and embarks on a round-the-world adventure to help him find his way home.

If you enjoy mythical creatures with magical powers, you will certainly get a kick out of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

In How to Train Your Dragon, a young boy makes friends with a creature his entire village fears.

If you want to watch more animated films set in China, try Ne Zha or Kung Fu Panda.