My Father’s Dragon

When their small town candy shop business fails, young Elmer and his mother are forced to move to a new city. To make things worse, their relationship grows tense as they face the constant pressure of trying to make ends meet. But things change for Elmer when he meets a talking cat who sets him off on an adventure to rescue a dragon on a mysterious island.

Upon rescuing the dragon, Elmer realizes the fantastical creature is timid and insecure, and looks to Elmer for guidance and reassurance, a responsibility Elmer has never had to handle before. Though Elmer’s mind remains focused on how the dragon might help him with his own troubles back in the city, he agrees to first help the dragon find a way to rescue the island from sinking into the sea, a quest that will ultimately test their friendship, honesty, and courage.

Based on the 1948 Newbery Honor book, My Father’s Dragon features both charming animation and thought-provoking themes about life: how sometimes life is scary, and sometimes we don’t have all the answers, nor do the ones we love. Still, the story reminds us that having all the answers and never being afraid isn’t nearly as important as simply caring for each other. The film is rated PG, but does feature a few frightening and intense scenes.

Runtime: 1 hour, 39 minutes
Rated PG
87% on Rotten Tomatoes
IMDb Parents Guide
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