Is Dashing Through the Snow 2023 safe for kids? Is Dashing Through the Snow movie OK for children? Read the Dashing Through the Snow 2023 Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide and mom review of the all-new Disney+ original film, starring Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Teyonah Parris and Lil Rey Howery. No spoilers! #DashingThroughtheSnow May contain commissioned links.
Dashing Through the Snow 2023 Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide to Disney+ Original Film
Will this Disney+ original holiday comedy starring Ludacris have families laughing all the way? Or is this just another forgettable Christmas movie?
In This Dashing Through the Snow 2023 Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, I’m breaking down the visuals, the story, a full PG age rating explanation for violence, adult themes and language, and what kids’ age recommendation is suggested to watch in this Dashing Through the Snow 2023 parents guide to the 2023 original live action holiday film on Disney+. A no-spoiler parent review of Dashing Through the Snow movie, find out if this Disney+ original film is worth the watch this Christmas season – or is it too ho-ho-horribly cringe-y?
The Visuals
Don’t expect to be blown away by the Christmas magic here. Visually, this live action Christmas film plays out like a lower budget Disney+ original film. Nothing over-the-top with special effects or camera movements. Pretty basic when it comes to CGI technology usage including CGI animals.
Photosensitivity Warning. For viewers prone to epilepsy and photosensitivity, Dashing Through the Snow is photosensitive friendly. Mild bright lights and scenes in darkness, but no strobing, flashing effects or dizzying camera movements to worry about.
The Story
This all-new 2023 Disney+ original film and holiday comedy is directed by Tim Story (“Barbershop“) and written by Scott Rosenberg (“Jumanji: The Next Level“). Starring Chris “Ludacris” Bridges (“Fast X“) as Eddie Garrick, Teyonah Parris (“The Marvels“) as his estranged wife Allison, newcomer Madison Skye Validum as 9-year old daughter, Charlotte, and Lil Rel Howery (“Free Guy“) as Nick.
The story follows Eddie Garrick, social worker for the Atlanta police department and Christmas cynic, who ends up on the journey of a lifetime when he bringing his daughter to work with him one Christmas Eve. The premise sounds Christmas magical, right? But that’s when the rails come off the sleigh.
Diverse representation in kids’ Christmas movies is good. Representation without a solid foundation of movie entertainment is bad. The story is weak and confusing. The pacing is slow. The action makes no sense. The humor is cringe. And the life lessons are poor.
Besides the beginning scenes with Ludacris – I didn’t feel for this guy’s character at all. And then everything spirals out of Christmas control.
Dashing Through the Snow PG Rating Explained
Is Dashing Through the Snow 2023 safe for kids? Another Disney+ original film that’s rated PG? Should parents be concerned? It’s no secret that I am highly skeptical of all MPAA ratings (um hello, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker not disclosing any language??). And as we know, not all movie and TV age ratings are the same. As a parent, it’s been rather heartbreaking to witness how ratings have shifted over the years with a G-rating no longer an option.
PG ratings now oscillating between Turning Red intense to Christopher Robin calm, and even PG-13/TV-14 age ratings teetering on the edge of R or MA ratings (Moon Knight and Werewolf by Night, I see you!), there’s a wide range between the age of 0-14 years old for parents to consider. Having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or show is kid friendly – and safe for the whole family to watch together.
Why is Dashing Through the Snow 2023 rated PG? In this Dashing Through the Snow 2023 Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, this 2023 Disney+ original film is rated PG for “thematic elements and action.” With film and TV ratings also unpredictable these days, having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or television show like Dashing Through the Snow is kid friendly. Is Dashing Through the Snow OK for kids? Let’s breakdown that PG age rating in this Dashing Through the Snow 2023 parents guide.
Violence/Suspense. An overall mild car chase scene with erratic driving and people jumping from moving vehicles. Very mild hand-to-hand combat. No blood, gore or wounds present.
Adult Themes. Mental health plays an important role, with scenes of a homeless man in “crisis,” discussion of being “sad and alone” (aka depression without saying the words”, and multiple “discussions of “therapy,” “separation anxiety,” and “midlife crisis” conversations throughout the film. Marriage problems are also emphasized in this movie, with discussions about “separation” and “divorce.”
Sensual innuendo includes multiple visual and verbal references to “frisking,” at times for a punchline. Light kissing between consenting man and woman.
Alcohol is discussed in regards to “we can have drinks” and martini references. One scene taking place in a “club” like setting with people holding cups and other drinks in hand. Mild “fart” and “butt” humor verbal references used as well. No visuals seen.
Language. Language for this Disney+ original film is overall mild. Foul language and swear words include 1 “d@mn” and 1 “crapped.”
Milder insults and bad language include “butt,” “farts,” “jerk,” “heck,” “shut up,” “oh my gosh,” and “oh my g-d.”
Dashing Through the Snow 2023 Age Rating for Kids
With a runtime of 1 hour 30 minutes and the power of a pause button from your couch, the all-new 2023 Disney+ original film is an easy choice for a family movie night this holiday season. Featuring an all Black main cast and a Black Santa, Dashing Through the Snow is a diverse film choice compared to the usual “white-washed” Christmas movies that families would normally gravitate towards during November – December. However, being a live action film with very little stunt work or exciting scenes, the heavy dialogue and slow pacing may bore young kids.
Dashing Through the Snow is most similar to a low-budget Home Alone 2 and Elf. Emphasis on low budget.
This 2023 Disney+ original film is rated PG for “thematic elements and action” by the MPAA.
No, there is no post-credits scene in this Disney+ original film.
Based on my Dashing Through the Snow 2023 parents guide and mom review above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Disney+ original film Dashing Through the Snow to kids younger than the age of 5-6 years old.
Considering the full PG rating breakdown above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Disney’s Dashing Through the Snow, the all-new 2023 Disney+ original film, to kids younger than the age of 5-6 years old. This Dashing Through the Snow movie rating is light, and comparable to Home Alone and Elf PG age ratings for similar live action Christmas movies.
Despite the PG rating, Dashing Through the Snow 2023 is closer to a rated G Christmas film. I still recommend parents to prescreen Dashing Through the Snow movie for action and mild adult themes that may be inappropriate for young children.
The Overall
Dashing Through the Snow while having good intentions and much needed representation in the kids Christmas movie genre, is nothing more than a checkbox for the Disney+ list this season. Diversity and inclusion while SO important and SO needed in the entertainment industry is left hanging in the snow without a solid foundation of story, heart and authentic, passionate and relatable characters.
I say this with love for representation in film as a diverse advocating Asian woman. Besides the representation of Santa being Black, I’m having a hard time finding any redeeming value of this Christmas film. The action is slow. The story is dismally slower. The humor is lacking. And the heartstring pull is nonexistent. And the life lessons are weak and forgettable (“and the takeaway, kids, is to get into cars with strangers?” WHAT?!).
Dashing Through the Snow is another example of great idea, poor execution. Not sure if it was the budget, the writing, or the lack of Christmas spirit – but I give this Disney+ original film a ho-ho-horribly forgettable and skippable rating. You’re better off with sticking with the classics on repeat this season.
Follow Disney+ Dashing Through the Snow on social media:
- Website: https://ondisneyplus.disney.com/movie/dashing-through-the-snow
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyPlus/
- Twitter (“X”): https://twitter.com/disneyplus
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneyplus
- #DisneyPlus
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Dashing Through the Snow, the all-new 2023 Disney+ original film is streaming exclusively on Disney+ this holiday season starting Friday, December 17, 2022. Will your family be watching?
I was invited to screen the new 2023 Dashing Through the Snow Disney film in exchange for this Dashing Through the Snow 2023 Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide. All photos courtesy of Disney. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more movie updates, celebrity interviews, entertainment and behind-the-scenes info!
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