A Tooth Fairy Tale Film Analysis: Cartoon Journey with a Touch of Family-Friendly Preteen Love Story
Throughout this animated adventure aimed at tweens, the world of fairies is dedicated to gathering teeth from slumbering children and leaving treasure beneath where they sleep. Skateboarding teenage rebel fairy Van (voiced by Booboo Stewart) is less than thrilled about devoting his life to gathering baby teeth—a sentiment that’s completely understandable. He is just slightly more curious about the financial workings of the situation: the fairies deliver the teeth to mysterious goblins, who provide metal as payment. However, Van’s interest grows when he catches sight of a goblin (played by Larkin Bell), who turns out to be far from the hideous creature he expected.
A Forbidden Bond and Common Enemy
Everything is prepared for an exciting quest with a gentle touch of teen romance (even though it remains perfectly appropriate for younger kids). The fairy and goblin groups are separated from one another, and nothing fuels the excitement of secrecy to unite beings together. The two species portrayed in the film are remarkably alike, yet each holds prejudiced beliefs about the opposite side. The fairies are said to be entitled types, given to stealing anything they want, while goblins are reportedly stupid, foul-smelling, and primitive, but are in fact bright and advanced in technology.
Of course, this scenario requires a common enemy to join forces against, and that need is met in the form of a group of vicious spiders, with voices by Jon Lovitz and Fran Drescher. There’s no beating about the bush with these guys: they want to eat the goblins and fairies, and they make for quite savage, if not especially competent, villains.
Target Audience and Final Thoughts
You won’t find very many animated films aimed at the kind of audience that is starting to experience early romances, but are not old enough for the content 14-year-olds are watching in lieu of popular teen sagas. If your child falls into this age group, this is unlikely to become their new all-time fave, but it’s a decent choice.
The Tooth Fairy Story arrives in Scottish cinemas from 10 October and the rest of the UK from 24 October.
