Coming to Disney: January 2021
The Mouse House is kicking off the new year with a big release on its streaming platform – Mary Poppins Returns, which comes to Disney+ on January 15th. Other pickings are pretty slim, but there are still some good options for family viewing.
January 1:
Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who! Horton is a kindhearted elephant who happens to have phenomenal hearing. When he hears a Who – a microscopic being living on a dust speck – no one else believes him. G, Grade: A-
Mr. Popper’s Penguins When a staid businessman inherits six penguins, he learns why people don’t usually keep the cute little critters as pets. PG, Grade: B
The Wolverine Immortal and blessed or cursed with bladed knuckles, the Wolverine is so desperate for solitude that he’s living in a cave – that is until a former Japanese POW guard sets in motion a dangerous plot to seize the secret of the superhero’s immortality. PG-13, Grade: C
January 8:
Ferdinand Ferdinand may be big and intimidating but he’s a peaceful soul who just wants to sit in the pasture and sniff flowers. When he’s sent off to the bull fights, he’s going to need some help to return to his beloved meadow. PG, Grade: B
January 15:
Isle of Dogs A young Japanese boy seeks his missing dog, only to discover that his beloved pooch has been exiled to Trash Island out of fear of a new canine disease. Produced in stop-frame animation, this film combines brilliant visuals with a dark sensibility uncommon in kids’ movies. PG-13, Grade: B
Mary Poppins Returns Everyone’s favorite nanny is back – this time for the next generation of Banks children. True to form, she’s going to save the day with “a spoonful of sugar” and a touch of magic. PG, Grade: A-
January 29
Ramona and Beezus Beverly Cleary’s beloved characters come to life in this film as Beezus does her level best to help her family through the challenges arising from her father’s unemployment. G, Grade: A
Epic The forest is under attack and the leaf men, tiny soldiers who patrol the forest from atop helpful birds, must come to the rescue. But their adversary is the cunning Mandrake and his army of mice, bats, and mosquitoes. PG, Grade: B-