A Tooth Fairy Tale Film Analysis: Cartoon Adventure with a Touch of Family-Friendly Tween Love Story
Throughout this animated adventure for preteens, the world of fairies is dedicated to collecting teeth from sleeping children and leaving treasure beneath where they sleep. Skateboarding teenage rebel fairy Van (voiced by Booboo Stewart) shows little enthusiasm about devoting his life to gathering baby teeth—a sentiment that’s completely understandable. He is just a bit more curious about the financial workings behind it all: the fairies hand over the molars to mysterious goblins, who provide metal as payment. However, Van’s interest is piqued when he catches sight of a goblin (voiced by Larkin Bell), who proves to be not at all the hideous creature he had imagined.
A Forbidden Bond and Shared Threat
Everything is prepared for an adventure with a gentle touch of teen romance (though it’s very much suitable for younger kids). The fairy and goblin groups are separated from each other, and nothing fuels the excitement of secrecy to bring people as one. The two species as seen here are remarkably alike, yet both maintain prejudiced beliefs about the other. Fairies are supposed to be self-centered types, given to stealing anything they want, while the goblins are reportedly dim-witted, smelly, and backward, but are actually intelligent and technologically advanced.
Naturally, such a setup needs a common enemy to join forces against, and this is duly provided in the form of some nasty spiders, with voices by Jon Lovitz and Fran Drescher. They make no secret with these guys: they want to eat the fairies and goblins, and they serve as quite savage, if not especially competent, villains.
Ideal Viewers and Overall Impression
There aren’t all that many animated films aimed at the viewer group that is starting to experience early romances, but are not mature enough for the content teenagers are watching in lieu of popular teen sagas. If your child is in the right age bracket, this is unlikely to become their new all-time fave, but you could do worse.
The Tooth Fairy Story arrives in Scottish cinemas from 10 October and the rest of the UK beginning October 24.
