"The Mandalorian and Grogu" is a monster-filled "Star Wars" movie with Baby Yoda. But how old should your kids be to see it?Show Caption
Spoiler alert! We're discussing minor details about "The Mandalorian and Grogu" (in theaters now). Stop reading if you haven't seen the movie yet and don't want to know what happens.For nearly half a century, “Star Wars” has captivated kids with its space cowboys, persnickety droids and epic lightsaber duels. But recent trips to a galaxy far, far away have taken a darker approach to the galactic saga, from Rian Johnson’s divisive “The Last Jedi” to the political thriller series “Andor.”Now comes "The Mandalorian and Grogu," a big-screen spinoff of the Disney+ series starring Pedro Pascal. But even with the cuddly, animatronic Baby Yoda, is the movie appropriate for kids?Here’s what you need to know before taking your family to the theater:What is ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ about?In the new movie, stoic bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pascal) and his pointy-eared companion, Grogu, are tasked with rescuing Rotta the Hutt (voiced by Jeremy Allen White), the headstrong son of the late Jabba the Hutt, who has been forced to fight in gladiator-style matches in order to pay off a debt from a criminal syndicate. It's essentially a space mafia movie, only with giant, mustache-twirling slugs.What is the new ‘Star Wars’ movie rated?"The Mandalorian and Grogu" is rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action. There are all the usual “pew-pew” laser guns and starfighter battles that you’ve come to expect from a “Star Wars” movie, only this time, there are no lightsabers because of the Jedi-free narrative.What age is ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ appropriate for?“The Mandalorian and Grogu” is recommended for kids ages 11 and older. Remember the first 40 or so minutes of “Return of the Jedi,” when they’re all just hanging out on Jabba the Hutt’s casino death ship? It’s kind of like that, but stretched out into a whole movie. There are scenes of ruthless bounty hunters and sordid gangsters hanging out at space cantinas. But it’s all intercut with a ton of cute Grogu high jinks, so it never really feels all that grim.How violent is the new Baby Yoda movie?It’s far less traumatizing than, say, “Revenge of the Sith” or “The Empire Strikes Back,” but also much less engaging than either of those films. Primarily, there are a lot of scary creatures that might spook younger kids. (Think the gladiator scene in “Attack of the Clones,” but on steroids.) Mando faces off with a bunch of gnarly monsters that try to eat him, but he obviously survives. There is a mildly upsetting sequence when Grogu believes that Mando has been fatally poisoned, but the character’s lifeless face is entirely under a mask, which makes it somewhat less horrific. There are also some brief shots of Rotta being tortured, and an Imperial warlord who is swiftly slain during a heated confrontation.What is the runtime of the new ‘Star Wars’ movie?“The Mandalorian and Grogu” is 2 hours and 12 minutes long. If your tot needs a bathroom break, there’s a lull roughly an hour into the movie, after Mando helps Rotta escape the cage-fight arena and set the monsters free. Just make sure you’re back in time for the Anzellans! (Your kids will love them.)When is the release date for ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu?’“The Mandalorian and Grogu” opens in theaters on May 22 with early screenings at most locations May 21.
