Finding Happy * Rescuing An Animal Doesn’t Only Change The Animal’s Life, It Makes A Difference In The Life Of The Rescuer As Well
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026
A heartbroken woman saves an injured baby sparrow and forges a once-in-a-lifetime bond that inspires an uplifting journey around the world to explore unique human-animal relationships and find the heart of true connection.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Isabella V. comments, “Finding Happy is a gloriously produced documentary that changed the way I view having unconventional animals as pets. Every story is beautiful and it held my interest from start to finish.” Kaylee H. adds, “The film Finding Happy is the cutest and most wholehearted documentary I have ever seen! This emotional story centers on adorable animals with their human best friends.” Avani M. adds, “The film shows us that rescuing an animal doesn’t only change the animal’s life; it makes a difference in the life of the rescuer as well.” Miral G. wraps it up with, “The film’s message is about how love and kindness can be transformational, for both humans and animals. It shows how caring for other living beings has the power of healing.” See their full reviews below.
Finding Happy
Isabella V., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15
Finding Happy is a gloriously produced documentary that truly changed the way I view having unconventional animals as pets. Every story is beautiful and it held my interest from start to finish. From the cinematography, pacing, and the people interviewed, every part shines in its own way.
The storyline follows Maria Bertrand as she tells the story of finding an injured baby sparrow, Happy, during Covid. She documents the bond she created with it during a time when she had no one else, and how she learned to trust it and for it to trust her. Along the way she shares the stories of others with similar experiences, and how their animals, while unconventional, are their best friends.
The interview segments throughout the film are so engaging and help refine the stories being told. For example, whenever Maria is talking about her and Happy, her narration enhances whatever emotion is being conveyed. The other stories she chose to share are also breathtaking – each inspiring in its own way. Everyone shares such beautiful and uplifting experiences. My personal favorite is Zach Skow and his dogs – while dogs may seem like a conventional pet, because of their struggles, they had to overcome and adapt to a new way of living. The visuals in this film are also unbelievable. For example, when Maria talks about how she first found Happy, the visual style switches to rotoscoping which animates the scene in an incredible way. In another scene, when they are talking about animal images drawn on walls, the animals are sketched out slowly giving the illusion that they’re being drawn live.
I particularly enjoyed the pacing. Each individual interview is its own segment, so nothing ever lingers too long. Each scene connects well with the next so the story has good continuity.
The film’s message is that, no matter the animal, we, as humans, have the ability to create a deep connection with every single one. Be forewarned that death is talked about and injured animals are shown.
I give Finding Happy 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases on VOD and streaming on September 1, 2026.
Finding Happy
By Miral, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
I love the documentary film Finding Happy because of its message about hope, mental health, and the healing power of nature. The film moved me deeply and made me cry of happiness at the end!
The storyline follows Maria Bertrand, a woman from Montreal, Canada, who moves to Los Angeles and adopts a dog that she names Moon. One day, while she is running, she finds an injured baby sparrow that is only one day old. She brings it home and takes care of him, and names him Happy, for the happiness he brings into her life. Shortly after, Moon passes away and Maria creates an even stronger bond with Happy. This life-changing experience makes her look for other people around the world that, just like her, have one-of-a-kind connections with their pets. This journey is spiritual, uplifting, and very moving.
My favorite aspect of Finding Happy is how the story is presented in an original and interesting way. For instance, the movie presents different people and they share their own stories of how they came across their animals. Maria Bertrand is the director, writer, and also the main focus of the documentary. She shares her story in a deeply personal way. Another person that resonated with me is Sangduen “Lek” Chailert. She is the founder of the Elephant Nature Park sanctuary in Thailand and is known for rescuing elephants and giving them a second chance with love and freedom. Happy the sparrow is often hilarious and makes me want to laugh all the time because of how funny he is and how silly he plays with Maria.
The film’s message is about how love and kindness can be transformational, for both humans and animals. It shows how caring for other living beings has the power of healing. Animals are important for people and people are crucial for animals. It is a two-way relationship that benefits people and their pets. It serves as a general reminder that healing often begins when we shift our focus away from our own suffering to care for someone else, and this in turn, can give purpose to our lives.
I give Finding Happy 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 through 18, plus adults. It releases on VOD, AVOD and streaming September 1, 2026.
Finding Happy
By Avani M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14
Finding Happy is a documentary that shares inspiring stories of people who have rescued and cared for animals. I really enjoy how the film brings these stories to life through emotional moments, multiple points of views and a powerful message about the connection between people and animals.
The storyline mainly follows Happy, a sparrow who was injured and found on the roadside. His story is told along with stories of other rescued animals, including Honk, a goose who was abandoned in a pond, and Jenny, a cow who was considered not “useful,” and a woman who has rescued more than 100 elephants. Each story is different, but they all show the importance of giving animals a safe place to live and caring for them. It shows how animals can bring happiness, comfort and support to people while also reminding people why animals deserve to be protected.
The film shows us that rescuing an animal doesn’t only change the animal’s life; it makes a difference in the life of the rescuer as well. One of the strongest parts of Finding Happy is the different points of view it explores. Instead of only focusing on the animals, the documentary really examines the people who have rescued and cared for them. Each person portrays themselves and we hear their passion and emotion as they talk about their pets. The stories show how much animals can mean to people, especially during difficult times. Happy’s story is especially emotional because the relationship between him and his rescuer, Maria, shows how helping an animal can help bring happiness and purpose to someone’s life.
This film explores themes of kindness, compassion, connection and protection of animals. Its biggest message is that animals do a lot for people, and people can give back by helping animals who are hurt, abandoned or in danger. We are reminded that even small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact.
I give Finding Happy 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It releases to VOD and streaming on September 1, 2026.
Finding Happy
Kaylee H., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13
The film Finding Happy is the cutest and most wholehearted documentary I have ever seen! This emotional story centers on adorable animals with their human best friends. It shows how much light and positivity animals can bring into our everyday lives through forming close bonds, while also demonstrating that animals can help with healing from painful emotions.
Maria Bertrand is an animal and nature lover who experiences many difficult challenges. As she is out jogging, she finds an injured baby bird, including a broken beak, which she finds will not allow him to return to the wild. Maria opts to keep the baby bird, names him Happy, and they quickly create a unique bond that helps her to find herself, look inside herself, and find joy. Maria decides to travel the world visiting other people who have animals as their best friends, listening to their stories about how their animal companions helped them get out of a dark place in their lives.
Maria Bertrand is the writer, director, and the star of this program. She is great at exploring everyone’s background stories, including those of their animal best friends, while displaying a common thread throughout all of the narratives. I enjoyed how she doesn’t just focus on dogs and cats as people’s pets, but she explores all animals. She meets people whose “best friends” are a cow, a goose, and a chicken. Maria even travels to Thailand to meet a lady who is friends with many elephants. This documentary made me smile, laugh, and understand various bonds that people have with their animal friends. None of their bonds form in the same way, which enhances the uniqueness between the pairs and the uniqueness of this film. My favorite part is where fun songs are added to the videos of Happy and other animals. These moments highlight how charming and entertaining these animal partners are.
The film’s message is expressed by Maria at the beginning – all animals, no matter how big or tiny, are unique, equal, and have a story to tell. They all have the ability to connect with us, communicate with us, heal us, and love us. If we can pause and start listening, they can light a pathway to a kinder, better, and happier world. Be forewarned that the film does mention suicide and curses once, but it is censored out.
I give Finding Happy 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It is available on VOD, AVOD, and streaming on September 1, 2026.
After decades of being blown to bits by bombs, demolished by dynamite, mangled by magnets, battered by boulders, trampled by trains, tricked by tunnels, sprung by springs, steamrolled by steamrollers, maligned by misfires, bedeviled by bungees, rattled by rockets, backstabbed by bat suits, rocked by rocket skates, upended by unicycles, quaked by quake pills, rubberized by rogue bands, and hurled headlong off every cliff in the Southwest, Wile E. Coyote (Genius) finally fights back. Teaming up with billboard accident lawyer Kevin Avery, he takes on slick corporate counsel Buddy Crane and ACME, Inc., the profit-obsessed conglomerate behind every one of the Coyote’s chaotic catastrophes.
The best way to sum up Coyote vs. ACME – pure, hilarious, cartoon chaos. Combining a mix of live-action and animation, classic Looney Tunes antics, and a story full of plot twists, this movie had me laughing on the edge of my seat the whole time.
I love this film’s unique blend of live-action and animation. Though this movie is set in the real world, everywhere you look there are characters, items, or places that could only be found in the land of Looney Tunes. I had the opportunity to ask director Dave Green what it was like mixing cartoons and real-life during production. He informed me that the actors were able to actually interact with Wile E. Coyote during filming, thanks to the use of a life size Coyote puppet that moved and acted exactly as he does in the film; it was almost like having Wile E. Coyote as a co-star.
This film’s message is to never give up on your goals, no matter how distant or far-fetched they may seem. Taking on a megacorporation like ACME has its challenges, but trying to expose the corruption hidden deep beneath the surface is even more daunting. And, although it seems impossible, our crazy Coyote and his determination shows Kevin, Paige, and everyone how to try, try again, and eventually succeed.
Get ready to laugh, because this film is absolutely Looney TUNES! Coyote vs. ACME is a hilarious celebration of the ultimate underdog, Wile E. Coyote, packed with gags, slapstick comedy and classic cartoon fun that fans know and love. I especially love seeing so many classic Looney Tunes characters make appearances throughout the movie. The combination of live action and animation is so much fun and reminds me of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Mary Poppins. As a fan of cartoon adventure films like Space Jam, I loved this and recommend it to other cartoon fans.
He fights back and teams up with billboard accident lawyer Kevin Avery (Will Forte) to take on slick corporate attorney Buddy Crane (John Cena) and ACME, Inc., the profit-obsessed company behind all of the chaotic catastrophes. What starts as one desperate attempt to get justice turns into a hilarious adventure that puts Wile E. against the company that has been making his life miserable for decades.
It is a fun reminder that sometimes you have to keep chasing your goal, no matter how many times you get knocked off the cliff.
Adapted from Enid Blyton’s beloved classic novel The Magic Faraway Tree, the film centers on Polly (Foy), Tim (Garfield), and their three children – a modern family forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. As they adapt to their new lives, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric residents, including treasured characters. At the top of the tree, they are transported to spectacular, fantastical lands, and through the joys and challenges of their adventures, the family learns to reconnect and value each other for the first time in years.
This film invites you along for the fun. The Magic Faraway Tree is the perfect balance of light-hearted fun and earnest emotion. I enjoy everything the film has to offer but, more than anything, I love the story – it’s magical but still relatable. It is almost like something that could happen on a random Tuesday. It also keeps a perfect balance between events happening in the real world and at the faraway tree. I didn’t lose out on the stories happening in either world. Another puzzle piece in this film is the characters. Each one is unique. Even if they share opinions or struggles, each one still feels like their own person. No character is there just to support another. We see a group of friends with special relationships, memories and backstories. It’s a perfect balance.
The visuals in the film are beautiful. Everything from the Magic Faraway Tree to the family’s old apartment is vibrant and colorful — a fairy tale in real life! The magic extends to the way the characters dress. From magical suits and gowns down to regular clothing, the costumes reflect each person’s personality and complement the others wonderfully. The set and costume designers are to be commended. Their work makes the film feel timeless, so viewers from now to a hundred years from now can imagine themselves there.
Although the film uses the magic of CGI to bring the fantastical lands to life, The Magic Faraway Tree was shot across various beautiful United Kingdom landscapes. The set design is visually aesthetic and vibrant, easily capturing the attention of young children. Speaking of children, each of the Thompson siblings, Francesca (Billie Gadsdon), Bethany (Delilah Bennett-Cardy), and Joseph (Phoenix Laroche) bring their own distinct personalities to the table. After not talking for years, Fran finally steps out of her shell when she finds a friend in Silky (Nicola Coughlan). Beth, who is a moody tween at the beginning of the film, realizes that she is not too old to believe in magic. Joe, who is obsessed with virtual reality, eventually understands what he’d miss out on if he spent the rest of his life wearing goggles. Each character in The Magic Faraway Tree has a moment of growth that contributes to its theme. Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy portray an exemplary couple who want the best for each other and their family. Both display nuance, as Tim is a child at heart but is willing to do anything to achieve his goals, and Polly is an intelligent, creative, and levelheaded woman that still has spontaneity within her. They demonstrate how, when you dream big and commit, you can have it all.
The score by Isabella Summers, a founding member of the iconic band Florence and The Machine is terrific; each track encapsulates the tone of the film and draws the audience into each scene.
If you are interested in a family oriented, magical, and adventurous film, then The Magic Faraway Tree is exactly the film for you. This movie contains relatable themes, real-world issues, and a fun story to watch which makes it a film you don’t want to miss!
I enjoyed the character development of the individual characters, but also for the family as a whole. It is refreshing to witness the relationship between the parents and children grow stronger as the film progresses. Parent-child disconnect is real and this film conveys this issue through Tim trying time and time again to save the family dynamic.
The iconic children’s animated series Stories to Remember is officially back! Newly remastered and re-released by Lightyear Entertainment, this award-winning collection brings beloved storybooks to life with stunning artwork, star-studded narration (James Earl Jones, Sigourney Weaver, Mia Farrow, Kevin Kline), and musical scores by legendary artists like Stewart Copeland (The Police). You can watch the entire collection for FREE right now on Tubi at 
Noah’s Ark
The Snow Queen
Beauty and the Beast
Merlin and the Dragons
After their ship gets caught in a mysterious storm, the PAW Patrol pups crash land on an uncharted tropical island filled with dinosaurs. They meet Rex, a pup who has been stranded on the island for years and has become an expert in all things dino-related. When the PAW Patrol’s archrival, Mayor Humdinger, begins recklessly mining in hopes of exploiting the island for its natural resources, he inadvertently causes a huge, dormant volcano to erupt. The PAW Patrol pups are thrown into a series of high-stakes, dino-sized rescues bigger than anything they’ve done before, as they must stop Humdinger before everything on the island goes extinct.
The story follows Ryder and the Paw Patrol pups after a powerful storm strands them on a hidden island where dinosaurs still roam. There, they meet Rex, a dino obsessed Bernese Mountain Dog who knows everything there is to know about the prehistoric creatures and helps guide the team through the island. Meanwhile, their longtime rival, Mayor Humdinger, creates chaos by mining for diamonds, accidentally awakening a volcano and putting everyone, including the dinosaurs, in danger. It’s up to Ryder, the pups, and Rex to work together, save the island, and prove once again that no rescue is too big and no pup is too small.
The animation is vibrant, colorful, and absolutely stunning, bringing the lush dinosaur island to life with beautiful landscapes and exciting action sequences. Every dinosaur is full of personality, while the pups remain just as lovable as ever. The talented voice cast helps every character feel fun, relatable, and memorable. One of the biggest highlights is meeting Rex (Hayden Chamberlen), who gives the courageous pup so much heart and humor. Rex uses a high-tech wheeled harness for his hind legs, and it’s especially meaningful that Hayden, who uses a wheelchair in real life, brings authentic representation to the role. McKenna Grace once again shines as the voice of Skye, bringing warmth, confidence, and bravery to one of the franchise’s most beloved pups.
The film’s message is about teamwork, courage, kindness, and believing in yourself. It reminds us that everyone has unique strengths and that differences can become superpowers when we work together. The film also celebrates inclusion through Rex’s character, showing that heroes come in many forms. With positive messages, exciting adventure, plenty of laughs, and no inappropriate content, this is a cute, safe, and family-friendly movie that Paw Patrol fans will resonate with and it might create a lot of new Paw Patrol fans.
I was surprised by Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie! The storyline is much more intense and action- packed than the previous Paw Patrol movies while keeping some of the recurring themes such as the corrupt Mayor Humdinger (Ron Pardo) and Marshall’s (Carter Young) mishaps.
This adventurous film has some suspenseful scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat. One stressful scene, resulting from one of Humdinger’s disasters, involves a giant dino getting stuck between two rock cliffs and it’s up to the Paw Patrol’s teamwork to save him. I like how the screenplay, written by Bob Barlen, Cal Brunker, Keith Chapman, incorporates nature into the scenes in creative ways. One example is how they use giant tree leaves to make hang gliders showing that, if you take the time to look for it, nature gives you everything you need. Given that the story takes place on an island, it’s fun to see the Patrol get cool new jungle survival suits for their latest mission. I really like it when movies carry over common themes from a previous film in the franchise. In this case, it’s Marshall’s classic catchphrase, “I’m okay,” which always makes me laugh. The graphics are very cutting edge, less cartoon-like, and more realistic than the previous two Paw Patrol films. But honestly, I like the old school graphics better. The official soundtrack has energetic music by the Backstreet Boys that keeps the theater vibe exciting throughout the movie.
This film’s message is about teamwork, never giving up and learning from your mistakes. Ryder (Henry Bolan) consistently coaches the Paw Patrol to work together during their missions. He encourages Marshall when he gets down on himself for making mistakes by saying, “I didn’t pick you because you don’t make mistakes, I picked you because you are the Pup that NEVER gives up!”
