Review: 'Turtle Tale' delights the younger crowd

Posted Monday, June 25, 2018 at 5:21 PM Central
Last updated Monday, June 25, 2018 at 5:22 PM Central

by John Couture

When you review a bunch of movies, they start to run together a bit. I mean how many times can you watch countless Danny Trejo films before they become derivative? A lot fewer than you might think.

But every now and then, something different will come across my desk and this week, that little slice of uniqueness belongs to Turtle Tale. It's a wholesome family film that appealed to my young kids and their love creatures of all sizes.

Turtle Tale is based around real events that happened at a Florida nature park that involved vandalism and a missing owl. In the film, vandals break into the park and kidnap Hank, a turtle. Now, his turtle friends must help to rescue Hank before it's too late.

Did I mention that the turtles talk to each other?

My kids absolutely fell in love with the talking turtles and given that my son is going through a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles phase, I'm not really all that surprised. I think he was a little disappointed that they didn't eat pizza and flex their karate muscles.

Actually, watching Turtle Tale with my kids got me nostalgic for the Disney films that I watched with my parents when I was a kid. Films like The Shaggy Dog and Escape to Witch Mountain immediately come to mind. While it's hard to compare a Disney film to a smaller production such as Turtle Tale, I am happy to report that it more than holds its own.

Beyond the talking turtles, there were several subplots with their human handlers that helped to add substance to the film. These scenes were a welcome plot distraction for adults to follow while the kids were patiently waiting for the turtles say more funny things. These storylines weren't particularly groundbreaking by any stretch of the imagination, but they did help to ground the story in reality.

But, let's be honest, this film is all about those adorable talking turtles. The most recognizable voice is Tom Arnold who does an admirable job of bringing the gruff Goliath to life. Overall, the film really plays well with the toddler set, but its charm might not extend to teenagers. Of course, your mileage may vary.

But, when it comes to family entertainment, there aren't many other better choices out there right now. Turtle Tale is unique and sends a powerful message of inclusion that kids of all ages should heed.

Turtle Tale is now available on DVD.