A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Educational Value
very little
Kids can take away positive life lessons, and for those who have read the books, they can compare the screen adaptation. The film could open some conversations about fame and celebrity as well as the role of social media in crafting a public image.
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Positive Messages
some
Friends love you for who you are and will be there for you through thick and thin. Relationships and being true to yourself are more important than fame or fortune. Who you are is more important than what you look like. Authenticity matters. Social media can be used to create a false public image. It can also be used against people; for example, a character takes an embarrassing video of another and threatens to share it widely.
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Positive Role Models
some
Thelma gets caught up in events and loses sight of her character and those she values most. This comes after she's put down and her dreams are crushed based on the way she looks. When she realizes the mistakes she's made, she works to correct them and teach others in the process. Her friends believe in her all along, and while they're hurt that she appears to abandon them, they still support her success. A successful older woman, who is blind, shows through her actions that she believes in the character rather than the appearances of others.
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Diverse Representations
some
The core message of the film is to value yourself for who you are, not how you look. Characters become celebrities based on falsified versions of themselves; they're acting, and social media perpetuates the falsehoods. Characters are a variety of species, including humans and a range of animals. One of the heroic human characters is depicted as an older Black woman who is blind (she keeps repeating that she doesn't care what others look like). The main character is voiced by a well-known Black singer. The bad guy is a smarmy Brit who manipulates others, though we also see through his backstory that he's also putting on an act to overcome his own social awkwardness. A young fan is in a wheelchair.
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Violence & Scariness
some
Animated characters experience falls, crashes, near misses, fights, explosions, electrocutions, and other accidents. Characters are threatened, including with an online video exposing one after someone was tasked with "digging up dirt" on them. There's a mention of murder in passing.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
very little
A man is seen from a distance in his underwear after a portable bathroom he's using explodes. A group of buff "pool boys" sing and dance, some shirtless or in bathing suits. A female character is pushed to flirt with a male character and embark on a false relationship for the press. They make a music video about their relationship.
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Language
a little
"Moron," "dang," "heck," "dumb," "sellout," and potty language like "poo," "pooper," "butt," "bum," "dank-poopy-butt," and "nipple."
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Products & Purchases
very little
Some names in the film reference real brands like Lollapalooza or Instagram. A record label is called "Sellout" and goes with a theme about the trappings of celebrity culture. The films could inspire interest in the book series (and vice versa).
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
very little
In one scene, a horse is seen holding a champagne glass with a straw in it.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Thelma the Unicorn -- which is based on the books by Aaron Blabey (The Bad Guys) and was brought to the screen by some of the folks behind Napoleon Dynamite -- has positive, easy-to-grasp life lessons as well as some rude humor and animated violence. Most of the humor revolves around flawed characters, like a smarmy music manager, a boy band-style horse, and a jealous celebrity. There are also potty jokes throughout the film, as well as language like "poo," "butt," "bum," "dank-poopy-butt," "nipple," "moron," "dang," "heck," and "dumb." Animated characters experience falls, crashes, near misses, fights, explosions, electrocutions, and other accidents. Characters are threatened, including with an online video after someone digs up dirt on them, and there's a mention of murder. Characters must learn to withstand insults and see their true value, even if the world wants to judge them on appearances. They must do this despite the appeal and trappings of fame or the popularity of an invented image, including on social media. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
Farm pony Thelma (voiced by Brittany Howard) and her best friends Otis (Will Forte) and Reggie (Jon Heder) dream of making it big as musicians in THELMA THE UNICORN. They're shut down and told they don't look the part, so when an accident gives Thelma the appearance of a glittery pink unicorn and turns her into a global attraction, she sees a new future for the band. A legendary music producer, Peggy Purvis (Maliaka Mitchell), wants to work with them, but unethical manager Vic Diamond (Jemaine Clement) gets his hands on Thelma first and separates her from the band. Thelma has to figure out whether it will be worth it to see her dreams come true under a false identity and without her best friends along for the ride.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the lessons Thelma learns in Thelma the Unicorn. What part of Thelma's story is relevant to your life? Explain.
Otis, Reggie, and Peggy believe in Thelma throughout the film. Were you surprised they didn't give up on her or turn their backs on her? What does this say about their own values and character?
Why is Vic's record label called Sellout Records? What does the term "sellout" refer to?
What role does social media play in the characters' lives? Do you use social media, and how has it impacted you in positive and/or negative ways?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: May 17, 2024
- Cast: Brittany Howard, Will Forte, Jon Heder
- Directors: Jared Hess, Lynn Wang
- Inclusion Information: Female directors, Female actors, Female writers
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Book Characters, Friendship, Horses and Farm Animals, Music and Sing-Along
- Run time: 98 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: rude humor
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: May 21, 2024
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