Hugo: Age-Appropriate Movie Review

If you’re a fan of movies, you have to check out Hugo, which was just released on DVD this Tuesday!

Kid-friendly movie review: Hugo

Hugo is based on the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. A young boy is orphaned in 1930s Paris. His (drunken) uncle takes him in and teaches him the trade of clock maintenance in a train station. And then leaves the boy completely on his own. Living hidden in the train station, the boy works to try to solve a mystery involving his late father and an automaton. Along the way, he meets some interesting characters.

What’s an automaton, you ask?

Take a look at this video demonstration from the Maillardet Automaton at The Franklin Institute, right here in Philadelphia. It just so happens to be the inspiration for Selznick’s book!

One of the themes the movie offered was especially important: Everyone has a purpose in life. The movie is heavily machine-oriented and Hugo, at one point, makes the observation that machines don’t come with extra parts. He likens this to people, too… that the world is one big machine, which means there are no extra parts. Everyone has a purpose in life — and we each just need to figure out what our role is.

Is Hugo appropriate for kids?

Absolutely.

Hugo is definitely family-friendly. Rated PG for “mild/thematic material, some action/peril and smoking.”

The ideal age for kids on this one probably skews a bit older than my preschooler and toddler, though. While there’s not anything that I’d be particularly uncomfortable with them seeing in it, it may be a little over their heads. I’m guessing their older cousins would definitely enjoy it. My husband and I both loved it.

Hugo is a movie for movie fans. It really is a tribute to movies and film. My husband and I saw it this weekend in 3D to kick off our annual Best Picture Showcase. It was the perfect start to an Oscar movie marathon.

Disclosure: I received a DVD to facilitate my review, but as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.