Phoebe in Wonderland Movie Review (2024)

Common Sense Media Review

Phoebe in Wonderland Movie Review (1) By S. Jhoanna Robledo , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

Touching, at times intense drama teaches tolerance, empathy.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

    some

    One character expresses gratitude for the painkiller Vicodin. Another smokes (briefly).

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  • Language

    some

    A few instances of "s--t," "damn," "faggot," and "screw you." One use of "f--ked."

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  • Violence & Scariness

    some

    A child suffers from a disorder that has her spitting at others, hurting herself (washing her hands to the point that they're raw/bloody, etc.), and defying adults who try to help her. A couple argues over how to best help their child. Kids hit each other on the playground.

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  • Positive Messages

    none

    Parents sometimes seem resentful of the troubles their child is causing them, though in the end they manage to help more than they hurt. In fact, they seem deeply caring about their child's condition -- just confused about what's happening and how to fix it. The kids in the play are capable of bullying and cruelty (one boy is "accused" of being gay), but they also become more cohesive in the end. A child mentions that she feels like "jumping off of a roof."

  • Parents Need to Know

    Parents need to know that although children figure prominently in this fantasy-tinged drama, it deals with themes that are too mature for tweens and younger kids. The young characters exhibit some aggressive behavior -- including spitting, shoving, and self-destructive actions -- and a child is tormented because she can't understand why she behaves the way she does. Her pain is deeply felt, which can make for difficult viewing. That said, the film has lots of heart, and teens and adults who watch may come away feeling educated and little less jaded. Expect some strong language and smoking. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.

Where to Watch

Videos and Photos

  • Phoebe in Wonderland Movie Review (2)

Phoebe in Wonderland

Parent and Kid Reviews

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  • Parents say (9)
  • Kids say (10)

age 11+

Based on 9 parent reviews

Paola S. Adult

March 5, 2024

age 12+

Official website

Information about the film will be incomplete without indicating the official website: https://phoebeinwonderland.com/

dvdgirl Adult

July 17, 2020

age 10+

i have OCD so i know what its like

for Phoebe to go threw that I know what its like . a good movie no your not alone with a mental disorder.

Rate movie

See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Hillary (Felicity Huffman) knows her 9-year-old daughter marches to the beat of her own drum. Phoebe (Elle Fanning, in an excellent performance) is creative, charismatic, and, yes, troubled. Her world's delicate balance is easily upended, sending her into loops of destructive and obsessive-compulsive behavior (incessant hand-washing, repeating specific stepping sequences). It's hard on her family: Her father is overwhelmed, her younger sister is tired of Phoebe getting all the attention, and Hillary is nearly lost. They all wonder if Phoebe will ever conquer her demons. A lead part in the school play, Alice in Wonderland, and quirky drama teacher Miss Dodger (Patricia Clarkson), may be Phoebe's salvation ... until the principal (Campbell Scott) decides to punish her for another behavioral mishap by yanking her out of it. Everyone wonders: What's wrong with Phoebe?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:

Parents say (9):

Kids say (10):

Visually appealing and full of surprises, PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND takes audiences on a fanciful journey into a strange world spun by a complicated child. And what a vivid place it is! Writer-director Daniel Barnz paints a colorful, whimsical universe for Phoebe -- one worthy of Alice herself. But it's also moody and foreboding, where life requires running hard just to stay in place, where familiar behaviors both soothe and torment, and where your own skin doesn't feel so good to live in. The grown-ups don't appear to have the answers, either, except perhaps to brand Phoebe as eccentric or problematic.

Barnz keeps the feel kinetic and highly stylized with quick cuts and costumed characters. Everything is made to feel allegorical: Clarkson's Miss Dodger, Scott's principal, and even Phoebe's classmates are all rendered left of center. It's all well and good -- except for the fact that it somewhat misrepresents the film. Viewers expect an oddball denouement, or maybe even a creepy one. But that's not what they get. For what ails Phoebe isn't some mystery or eccentricity; it's something very real and heartbreaking. And when it's revealed, all that fantasy seems unnecessary. The film already does a great job exploring the isolated -- and isolating -- corners of parenting, and it doesn't really need all that whimsy to make its point. With fewer fantastical bells and whistles, PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND wouldn't have been as look-at-me dazzling. But it would have been far more powerful.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the film blends real life and fantasy. Does the fantasy make the drama more or less effective? Why? How does Phoebe's imagination help her cope with her life? Do you think her parents react appropriately to what's going on? What about her teachers and classmates? What does Phoebe learn from the play, and how does it help her feel better, if at all? How well does the film address any questions about Phoebe's dilemma?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: March 6, 2009
  • On DVD or streaming: June 23, 2009
  • Cast: Elle Fanning, Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson
  • Director: Daniel Barnz
  • Inclusion Information: Queer directors, Female actors
  • Studio: THINKFilm
  • Genre: Drama
  • Run time: 96 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG-13
  • MPAA explanation: thematic material and brief strong language
  • Last updated: February 25, 2022

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Phoebe in Wonderland Movie Review (2024)

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