Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that slapstick action and potty humor are the main sources of comedy in this movie about setting an aquarium sea lion free. The adults are all buffoons, created to be laughed at by the kids in the movie and by the audience. There are pratfalls galore: characters tumble, are upended, punched, teased, doused in paint, bird poop, peanut butter, and vomit. There are farts, potty smells, references to peeing, and use of laxatives. Younger kids may be frightened when Slappy the sea lion is captured by villains, chained, and briefly buzzed with an electric prod, though he is never in real danger and never hurt. Two school bullies tease the five young heroes, but there's no actual threat there either. A few mild swear words are heard ("hell," "crap," "farthead"). It's generally preposterous silliness. One adult character smokes.
Sexual
Content
Not applicable.
Violence
Clownish action from beginning to end. There are only two brief and perhaps disturbing scenes in which the villain tries to train a kidnapped sea lion by chaining him and using an electric prod. Otherwise there are no serious injuries and there is no actual suspense, just lots of slapstick action.
Language
Potty humor throughout includes: farting, mention of peeing and wetting pants, smelly poop references; characters get hit in the crotch numerous times; the seal lion accidentally eats an entire package of laxative after which the creature is seen on the toilet. Infrequent coarse language including "hell," "pissant," "farthead," "crap."
Social
Behavior
Advocates sensitivity and compassion for wild creatures, in this case a sea lion. There's value in teamwork.
Consumerism
Lots of products on display: Coca Cola, Morton Salt, Fizzie's, Sharper Image, Laidlaw buses, Johnson & Johnson, and Z LAX, Jr.
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
The sneering villain is a chain-smoker.
