By Christina Barron / The Washington Post
There have been years when the holidays weren’t so bright for kids hoping to go to the movies. Animated sequels (or “threequels”) can seem like the glitter-glue ornaments you made in preschool: They might have been cute the first year. Now they’re just embarrassing.
Thankfully, this is not one of those years. There’s more than a handful of movies for kids. We’ve picked five that include humor, history and fantasy. Most are new or reimagined stories.
The big exception is “Star Wars,” with sequels and side stories appearing at near light speed. But we couldn’t ignore “The Last Jedi.” Anticipation is so high that grown-ups have turned to new Lego building sets for plot clues.
With these offerings and more, movie-loving kids can truly be thankful. Hollywood’s gifts this season are more than shiny wrapping.
“The Star”
(Opened Nov. 17, rated PG)
Jesus’ birth is the definition of a Christmas tale, but this animated version isn’t the typical Sunday school story. It’s the manger story according to Bo, a donkey (voiced by Steven Yeun) with big dreams. Bo escapes boring village life in search of a royal caravan. Instead, he ends up meeting Mary and Joseph, who has just been told that Mary is expecting a baby, who is the Son of God. Bo and a barnyard of misfits are drawn into the couple’s journey to Bethlehem and evil Herod’s plot to find the newborn king of the Jews.
“The Man Who Invented Christmas”
(Opened Nov. 22, PG)
“A Christmas Carol,” the story of Tiny Tim and Ebenezer Scrooge, was an instant hit for Charles Dickens when it was published in 1843. And its popularity hasn’t let up. But months before the book was published, the celebrated author (played by Dan Stevens) had little to cheer about. He was overdue for a bestseller, and his debts were growing. The author decides late in the year to write a Christmas story, and so a frenzied Dickens must invent characters and then talk them into helping him finish the tale.
“Ferdinand”
(Opens Dec. 15, PG)
The story of the gentle bull has been charming readers since your grandparents were little. The big bovine (voiced by John Cena) is content to spend his days smelling the flowers with a girl named Nina on her family’s farm in Spain. An accident takes him far away from her, to the world of bullfighting. Ferdinand has a chance to become a star, but he has to figure out where his heart lies.
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi”
(Opens Dec. 15, PG-13)
Rey (Daisy Ridley) seeks help from jedi Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to understand the power of the Force. But will she use it to aid not the Resistance but the New Order and its rising star, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver)? Filmmakers have revealed little of the plot, and serious “Star Wars” fans have suggested that movie trailers are purposely misleading. Thanks to Lego, we do know that Kylo Ren gets a sleek fighter plane and that new character Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern) has purple hair. Keeping fans in the dark seems to be a “force-ful” tool to get them into theaters.
“The Greatest Showman”
(Opens Dec. 20, PG)
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was known for its parading elephants and its tigers leaping through fire. But circus co-founder P.T. Barnum started his career not with exotic animals but with human oddballs. Hugh Jackman plays Barnum as he discovers his calling to turn unusual acts — including the daring feats of an acrobat played by Zendaya — into a moneymaking spectacle.
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