A Tooth Fairy Tale Film Analysis: Cartoon Journey with a Touch of Kid-Appropriate Preteen Love Story

Throughout this cartoon adventure for preteens, the world of fairies is dedicated to collecting teeth from slumbering youngsters and leaving gold under their pillows. Board-riding youthful nonconformist fairy Van (brought to life by Booboo Stewart) shows little enthusiasm about spending his future to gathering baby teeth—a sentiment that’s entirely reasonable. He’s only slightly more interested in the financial workings of the situation: the fairies hand over the molars to unseen goblins, who provide metal as payment. But Van’s curiosity grows when he spots a goblin (played by Larkin Bell), who turns out to be not at all the hideous gnome he had imagined.

An Unlikely Bond and Shared Threat

The stage is set for an exciting quest with a gentle touch of teen romance (though it’s very much suitable for younger kids). The goblin and fairy communities are separated from each other, and nothing fuels the excitement of secrecy to bring people together. Both groups portrayed in the film are incredibly similar, yet both maintain biased views about the other. The fairies are supposed to be self-centered types, prone to stealing anything they want, while the goblins are allegedly stupid, smelly, and primitive, but are actually bright and advanced in technology.

Naturally, this scenario requires a common enemy to join forces against, and this is duly provided by some nasty spiders, with voices by Jon Lovitz and Fran Drescher. There’s no beating about the bush about their intentions: they want to eat the goblins and fairies, and they make for fairly bloodthirsty, if not especially competent, villains.

Target Audience and Overall Impression

You won’t find all that many animated films targeting the viewer group that is starting to experience first crushes, but are not old enough for whatever teenagers are watching in lieu of Twilight. If your child is in the right age bracket, this is unlikely to become their new favorite movie, but it’s a decent choice.

A Tooth Fairy Tale releases in Scottish cinemas from 10 October and across the United Kingdom from 24 October.