KIDS FIRST! News

Teenage inventor Miles Fletcher unlocks the lost secret to limitless energy, catching the attention of Luxos Energy, a corporation posing as heroes. Just as he perfects his invention, they betray him—stealing his work and shutting him out. With nowhere to turn, Miles must decide—give up or trust his friends and fight back. In a high-stakes battle of ingenuity vs. industry, he races to stop Luxos before they turn his discovery into a weapon.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ashleigh C. comments, “The Lightning Code is a thrilling and heartfelt adventure that blends science, friendship, and courage into a family-friendly sci-fi film that sparks your imagination! With high-stakes action, lovable characters, and a meaningful message about innovation and integrity, this film is a standout in the genre.” Braedyn M. adds, “The Lightning Code is not your standard issue sci-fi film.  A complex plot with multiple layers, mystery at every turn, and the trust and chemistry of friendship set the stage to prove that the future is truly what we make it.” Isabella V. wraps it up with, “The Lightning Code has such distinctive ideas and uses very interesting concepts to create a captivating story. The concepts and ideas for technology in this film are phenomenal – not only are they remarkable, but they are especially well designed and executed.” See their full reviews and Ashleigh’s interview with producer Joel Edwards below.

The Lightning Code
By Ashleigh C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 20

The Lightning Code is a thrilling and heartfelt adventure that blends science, friendship, and courage into a family-friendly sci-fi film that sparks your imagination! With high-stakes action, lovable characters, and a meaningful message about innovation and integrity, this film is a standout in the genre.

What I love most about The Lightning Code is how it balances big ideas, like clean energy and corporate corruption, with genuine emotional moments and exciting twists. The film is packed with action and mystery, but it never loses sight of the heart at the center of the story — a boy trying to honor his mother’s legacy and do the right thing.

The story follows teen inventor Miles Fletcher (Andrew Reid), who finally cracks his late mother’s code, an invention based on Nikola Tesla’s dream of limitless energy. When a powerful corporation called Luxos Energy steps in with promises to help, Miles believes he’s found a way to change the world. But Luxos has its own sinister agenda. With the help of his best friend Piper, her hilarious younger brother Jamie, and his loyal robot companion Newt, Miles must outsmart a tech giant and unlock the truth about his invention and himself. Andrew Reid brings charm and conviction to the role of Miles, making him both relatable and inspiring. Piper is a standout character too, fierce, loyal, and smart. The chemistry among the young cast is fun to watch, and Newt the robot adds humor and heart to the team.

The visual effects are impressive, especially during the high-voltage scenes involving Miles’ invention. The film feels both futuristic and grounded, thanks to its sleek design and real-world themes. One of my favorite parts of the movie is when Miles and Piper break into Luxos to retrieve the missing blueprints; it’s full of suspense, clever thinking, and showcases their strong friendship. The film also excels in building emotional stakes, especially in scenes that connect Miles to his mother’s memory and mission.

The Lightning Code carries a powerful message — young people can lead big changes, especially when guided by integrity, teamwork, and curiosity. It promotes perseverance, critical thinking, and trust in the face of deception. There’s no inappropriate content or bad language, making it a great pick for families.

I give The Lightning Code 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults who enjoy fast-paced family films with a message. It opens in select theaters on May 9, 2025. It’s a jolt of fun you won’t want to miss!

The Lightning Code
By Braedyn M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

The Lightning Code is not your standard issue sci-fi film.  A complex plot with multiple layers, mystery at every turn, and the trust and chemistry of friendship set the stage to prove that the future is truly what we make it.

Meet Miles Fletcher (Andrew Reid).  He’s a teenager like any other, except for the fact he has found the secret to perpetual energy.  Hoping to bring his invention to the world, he reaches out to Luxos Energy with the hope they support his project.  Unknown to him, Luxos is up to more than just clean energy, and it’s only a matter of time before Miles finds out.  With the help of his friends Piper (Sienna Ribeirio) and Jamie (Ryder Khatiwala), he must figure out how to stop this corporation giant, before the world is changed forever.

It might seem like this feature is pretty straightforward, but there are more twists and turns than I expected.  Multiple elusive storylines create an air of mystery, and how the parallel adventures from multiple times come together, through code, is fun to see.  There are times when Miles might feel stuck, only to find a phrase or a sequence from years before that shows the way through a challenge.  My favorite scene is actually one such instance.  After Miles learns the truth behind Luxos, he’s not sure where to turn next.  All seems lost until a saved childhood artifact reveals the code he must crack for him to keep going.

Now any good movie has laughter, and The Lightning Code is no exception.  This movie finds its own in Newt, a robot with a wicked sense of dry humor.  Built to help Miles’ endeavors, Newt always is there to provide a new side to the argument with hilarious and often sarcastic comments.  Of course Miles has more friends than just a realist robot.  The chemistry between Piper, Jamie, and Miles is clear as day, and brings the movie further into reality.  Director Kali Bailey wonderfully captures the spirit of teamwork as the friends work through the difficulties Luxos throws their way.

This film’s message is that there is always another way.  Though Luxos proves to be a serious threat, Miles and his pals find a way through the dark, in order to light up the world.

I give The Lightning Code 5 out of 5 stars, and recommend it to ages 12 to 18 plus adults. The Lightning Code releases in select theaters on May 9, 2025.

The Lightning Code
By Isabella V., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

The Lightning Code is such a unique movie with incredible visuals and ideas. It’s unlike anything I have ever seen, and the mysteries and puzzles always had me invested thanks to their distinctiveness.

The movie follows Miles Fletcher (Andrew Reid) as he attempts to finish his mother’s work and discovers how to harness energy through lightning. However, due to this discovery, Luxos Energy, a company searching for the same thing, attempts to stop Miles from helping the world with his machine.

The Lightning Code has such distinctive ideas and uses very interesting concepts to create a captivating story. The concepts and ideas for technology in this film are phenomenal – not only are they remarkable, but they are especially well designed and executed. For example, the machine for power is so special and cool looking, and I love how the way it works is well explained. The story is very well-written, with noteworthy plot points and characters such as the protagonist, Miles Fletcher. His character arc is extremely well-developed, and his actions and reactions are all believable as a result of our following his reasoning as it occurs. However, some earlier scenes suffer from a lack of buildup, leading to them to make less of an impact than later scenes, despite their importance. These scenes are helped by the impeccable camera work by Diego Cacho which highlights the emotions of the characters through the visuals.

On the whole, the visuals are extraordinary – the sets help tell the story and the bigger effects, such as the explosions, all leave their mark. The music choices add a lot, especially in the montages, such as when “The Spark” is used when Miles is inventing – they help tell the story through the lyrics.

The film’s message is to put trust in the people that you care about, and trust that they care about you. Be warned that there are guns and violence is shown in parts of the movie.

I give The Lightning Code 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. It releases in select theaters on May 9, 2025.

Ella‘s story begins in Greece, she is the only child of Jack, an American singer-song writer and Despina, a Greek, zany, overprotective Gyros owner. Nick, Ella’s only friend, is a 10 year old shy, nerdy looking boy. Ella and Nick grow and their friendship turns into love but in 2010 the Greek economy collapses, Nick vanishes and Jack dies. Despina and Ella have to move overnight to America for their survival. Now Ella is a 27 years old late-bloomer, with zero love life, dreaming of becoming a singer, but Despina pressures her to take over the Gyros. During their daily fight, Despina drops dead of a heart attack only to returns as an intervening ghost, haunting Ella with unwanted advice and romantic guidance after Nick re-surfaces as a handsome doctor (and something of a playboy). In this supernatural heartwarming romantic comedy-drenched in Greek Drama – Ella will ultimately take control of her life. Find the meaning of true love and learn how to deal with the passing of her mother.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Mikella G. comments, “Greek Mothers Never Die is a comedic, warm-hearted movie. I really like this film and the way that it highlights the Greek experience. It’s over-the-top dramatic in such an exciting way!” See her full review below.

Greek Mothers Never Die
Mikella G., KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, age 18

Greek Mothers Never Die is a comedic, warm-hearted movie. I really like this film and the way that it highlights the Greek experience. It’s over-the-top dramatic in such an exciting way!

Greek Mothers Never Die follows the story of Despina (Rachel Suissa) and her daughter Ella (Abby Miner) who move from Greece to a small island in Florida after the economic crisis happening in Greece. Unfortunately, Despina unexpectedly dies, but she still finds ways to control Ella from beyond the grave. Ella is able to see ghosts of her mother, after struggling with her grief. Throughout the film, we watch Ella try to figure out who she is, and not be so alone. However, the burden of her overwhelming Greek mother takes her on a wild journey into discovering her identity.

I really enjoyed all the comedic aspects of this film. Getting to learn about the Greek mother-daughter relationship was really interesting to me. Seeing how overprotective Greek mothers are, yet so loving, and always putting their children first is so special. I could feel the energy and joy that this film created with the audience in the theater. For example, at one point, Despina is spying on Ella while she is interacting with a boy. This moment is quite funny, and something that people can easily relate too. Another standout is Rachel Suissa’s talent. Not only does she play the leading role of Despina, she also directed the film, wrote the script, and wrote most of the music. Her work ethic and quality of work is extremely impressive. Rachel’s passion and love for this project is so evident, and shines through as you watch the film. The storyline was inspired by her own life, making everything feel very authentic. There certainly would be no better person to take on this project than her.

Lastly, the chemistry and connection between Abby Miner, and Simon Rérolle, who plays Nick, is outstanding. These two actors work so well together, and you can feel the love they have for each other bouncing off the screen. I learned that they had very little time from meeting one another, to filming, which makes their connection even more incredible. It is almost natural — I found myself smiling at the screen because of their lovely admiration for one another. All of their moments on the boat dock are key to the development of their relationship, and establish such a genuine connection.

The message of Greek Mothers Never Die is to never take love for granted, and always listen to your heart.

I give Greek Mothers Never Die 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases on all streaming platforms May 9, 2025.

After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Jackson N. comments, “Thunderbolts* is the hit movie that Marvel needs right now. Many people have commented that recent MCU movies are missing the mark, but no one can deny that this new film is a hit. It brings together classic Marvel antiheroes to build one of the most awesome, if unlikely, teams in Marvel history.” Mikella G. adds, “I really like Thunderbolts*. It’s an action packed, yet quite serious film that showcases personal issues of anxiety and depression. It really focuses on the struggles of superheroes coming to terms with themselves as humans, which is something that I haven’t seen Marvel do before.” Katherine S. wraps it up with, “This film may just seem like a way to keep the MCU going after the Avengers’ storyline ended and the Thunderbolts* is based on actual comics, albeit loosely. These characters are much more complex than classic superheroes and I really liked exploring seemingly minor characters more deeply.” See their full reviews below.

Thunderbolts*
By Jackson N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Bob (Lewis Pullman), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan)in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2025 MARVEL.

Thunderbolts* is the hit movie that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) needs right now. Many people have commented that recent MCU movies are missing the mark, but no one can deny that this new film is a hit. It brings together classic Marvel antiheroes to build one of the most awesome, if unlikely, teams in Marvel history.

Thunderbolts* brings us back into the life of Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) who is reeling after the recent death of her sister, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlet Johansson). When we last saw her in the show Hawkeye, she was working for Valentina Alegra De Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a malicious and conniving politician whose only goal is to rise to power. After the betrayal of Valentina, Yelena must join forces with a team of misfits to take her down.

Thunderbolts* is the perfect start to summer. The story shows us the evils that can come from one person having too much power. Valentina’s electrifying quote, “Righteousness without power is just an opinion,” shocked me to my core. It gives an excellent view into her ruthless, single-minded focus on amassing power.

(L-R) John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian (David Harbour), and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2025 MARVEL.

With an ensemble cast like this has, it seemed impossible for Marvel to go wrong. John Walker (Wyatt Russel) battles with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) to be the brooding dark teammate, but clearly, Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) takes that title. When we last saw Ghost in Ant-Man and The Wasp she was struggling with her constant phasing through walls. However, at the end of that film, she and Bill Foster narrowly escaped the police. Bringing her back in Thunderbolts* is a fantastic way to continue her saga for the next generation of the MCU. Another great character, and a source of constant comic relief, is Red Guardian (David Harbour). His lifelong desire to live the super-hero life, and his work as everything from a mercenary to a second-rate limo driver, are a source of tons of humor and great one-liners. And seeing Red Guardian working with this awesome group really works with the movies tag line, “Everyone Deserves A Second Shot.”

The film’s message is that everyone, no matter how many bad decisions they’ve made in the past, deserves a chance at redemption and everyone needs people who care about them in their corner. Thunderbolts* includes themes of camaraderie, the power of being different, and the damaging effects of loneliness. Parents should note that this film includes many scary moments, including when characters are forced to relive traumatic moments from their lives.

Thunderbolts* gets 5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 14 to 18, plus adults. It premieres in theaters on May 2, 2025.

Thunderbolts*
Mikella G, KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, age 18

John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour) in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2025 MARVEL.

I really like Thunderbolts*. It’s an action packed, yet quite serious film that showcases personal issues of anxiety and depression. It really focuses on the struggles of superheroes coming to terms with themselves as humans, which is something that I haven’t seen Marvel do before.

Thunderbolts* follows the lives of these somewhat “anti-heroes” who are unsure of their purpose, and feel like they have completely lost themselves. After deciding to abandon their corrupt boss and work together, they embark on a dangerous mission in hopes of saving the ones they love, while uncovering many deep dark secrets of their past.

The cinematography in this film is outstanding. From the very first shots, I was instantly captivated. This shot shows Yelena (Florence Pugh) jumping off an extremely tall building. It is dark and gray, which completely sets the mood for the rest of the film.

Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 MARVEL.

The director, Jake Schreir, really delivers the message of the movie. This film is so much more than a typical Marvel movie. Yes, there are fight scenes and saving civilians, but it is also sad and unbelievably honest. This is something that Schreir really taps into. There are a lot of long shots, which allows the audience to see the stillness and loneliness of the world from an outside perspective. Most importantly, this storyline is quite different from other Marvel films and I definitely wasn’t expecting that, and yet, I was completely captivated the entire time. Showcasing these superheroes’ dark emotions, and understanding their backstories was unexpected and so refreshing – it humanizes these characters. I could see and understand their vulnerability. This also makes these characters more relatable to everyday people, aside from their impeccable fighting skills.

Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2025 MARVEL.

A major standout performance is Florence Pugh’s. The quality of her acting is so strong. I could feel her character building as she executes Yelena. Her connection with all the other characters is also so special. There are so many moments, but one that stands out is when she finally sees something in Walker (Wyatt Russell). Personal information has been revealed about Walker, and the way that Yelena looks at him, and makes a face of understanding and sympathy, is a scene that sticks in my head. This is something so simple, but helped to build their connection for the rest of the movie, and established their relationship.

The film’s message is to not be afraid to come to terms with your sadness and trauma, and realize that by accepting it will help you to not suffocate from your own depression.

I give Thunderbolts* 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Thunderbolts* releases in theaters May 2, 2025.

Thunderbolts*
By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17

Florence Pugh on the set of Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo by Steve Swisher. © 2025 MARVEL.

I was happily surprised by Thunderbolts*. It is very different from recent Marvel productions with respect to its primary characters and the themes it explores.

Working under CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) is sent on one last mission before changing things up, but finds herself working together with an unlikely team of antiheroes – Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker (Wyatt Russel) and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) – to confront their dark pasts and the dangerous future ahead.

Being honest, I haven’t watched the most recent Marvel movies and shows that have been released so I was a bit confused during Thunderbolts* as some of the characters are more obscure and had backstories that were explained in previous films other than the Avengers franchise.

Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2025 MARVEL.

I was still able to understand it after a while, but I do recommend watching The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Black Widow, and Ant-Man and the Wasp if you haven’t already, to understand where some of the characters come from and to be able to fully enjoy the movie. This movie is unique from other recent Marvel movies which is refreshing since some Marvel movies have fallen short recently. This film may just seem like a way to keep the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) going after the Avengers’ storyline ended and the Thunderbolts* is based on actual comics, albeit loosely. These characters are much more complex than classic superheroes and I really liked exploring seemingly minor characters more deeply.

Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2025 MARVEL.

I love the irreverent tone of the humor in this film and how it makes fun of itself, while portraying serious topics like mental health issues and how there isn’t always a ‘good guy.’ All of the members of the “Thunderbolts” have hilarious chemistry, but the actors who stick out the most are Florence Pugh as Yelena and Lewis Pullman as Bob. Florence Pugh’s character, Yelena, really takes the lead, as she creates a perfect balance of strength, dry humor and vulnerability. Bob is a complex character with many very different aspects to his personality, and Lewis Pullman portrays all of them perfectly. As always, be sure to stay through the end for some end-credit scenes!

The film’s messages are the importance of perseverance, teamwork and remembering that you are not alone. Be forewarned that it contains violence, death, profanity, drug references and depictions of mental health struggles.

I give Thunderbolts* 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Marvel fans should definitely check out this movie. It releases in theaters on May 2, 2025.

When the daughter of a famous author finds her late father’s unfinished novel, she is drawn into its magical world by some of the characters who wish to complete the story on their own. Taken to their fictional world, she teams up with a heroic goat, the character she created, to ensure the story is finished as her father intended, and before she is stuck in their world forever.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Josephine K. comments, “Dalia & The Red Book is fascinating! The storyline is innovative and the animation is unique. I like Dalia’s character arc throughout the film; it is inspirational and refreshing. I also like the connection between the book world and the real world characters.” Ryan M. adds, “The film Dalia & The Red Book intrigued me. Being captured into a book and saving it is one thing but being captured into your dad’s book by the bad guys, and now finishing it is a whole other story.” Mark S. wraps it up, “I really like the stop-motion animation – it’s very unique and makes the story feel very real. The ending is very well done and emotional, giving feelings of happiness and sadness at the same time. I enjoyed the protagonist of the story, Dalia, and her journey as she becomes sucked into the pages of her dad’s unfinished novel.” See their full reviews below.

Dalia & The Red Book
By Josephine K, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

Dalia & The Red Book is fascinating! The storyline is innovative and the animation is unique. I like Dalia’s character arc throughout the film; it is inspirational and refreshing. I also like the connection between the book world and the real world characters.

The story follows Dalia, a 12-year-old girl who stumbles upon her deceased father’s unfinished novel. With the help of a well-balanced goat character she made with her father, Dalia makes it her mission to finish her father’s book before time runs out. This film acts as a reminder of the importance of the written word and how much it still matters.

This film is inspirational. Dalia is a quiet girl who doubts her abilities, and her journey will challenge those very doubts. I also like the animation and how it is a more modern version of classic stop-motion animation. I like that the movie makes a connection between the real world and the book world with characters like the librarian (Andres Burecoics), and how the film makes a connection between his character in both worlds. (Agustina Cirulnik) plays Dalia well and with a good amount of childish enthusiasm in her voice. My favorite part is when Dalia finds her goat stuffy, which inspires the goat character in the book. He is an integral and skilled character as Dalia progresses through the story.

The film’s message is that believing in yourself will take you far. It is an uplifting reminder that confidence is key.

I give Dalia & The Red Book 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. It is available on VOD and streaming beginning May 6, 2025.

Dalia & The Red Book
By Ryan M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10

The film Dalia & The Red Book intrigued me. Being captured into a book and saving it is one thing but being captured into your dad’s book by the bad guys, and now finishing it is a whole other story.

Dalia (Agustina Cirulnik), the daughter of the famous writer Adolfo (Gustavo Barrientos), who recently passed away, finds his last book and opens it. Some villains decide to come out of the book to finish it their way. Dalia becomes part of the story, meeting her character goat (Gustavo Barrientos) and confronting characters like Lady Fox (Mariana Correa) and Buho (Andrés Burecovics). They meet the most powerful villains and have an epic showdown.

This movie was fun to watch because there are lots of action scenes, and the suspense kept me asking myself what will happen next. My favorite character is Goat because of how serious he looks, plus his glasses make him look so cool. I credit director David Bisbano for making a captivating film that I wanted to keep watching – it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. The animation by Luis Butrón and David Vinagre is amazing. I especially love all the unique character expressions. The musical score by Matias Caldarella is so suitable; it really helps shape the emotional impact, especially in the action scenes.

The film’s message is that something is impossible until someone proves otherwise. Be aware that there is some mild profanity.

I give Dalia & The Red Book 4.5 out of 5 and recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. It releases on VOD and streaming May 6, 2025.

Dalia & the Red Book (Dalia y el Libro Rojo)
By Mark S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 9

Dalia & the Red Book is an amazing movie with terrific stop-motion animation and an interesting storyline. The movie made me feel like I had been transported inside of a book, and was a part of the film with the characters.

Dalia (Agustina Cirulnik) is a 12-year-old girl who loves writing but feels she isn’t as good as her dad Adolfo (Gustavo Barrientos), a famous writer who passed away recently. After a dramatic scene of book characters in the real world, Dalia finds herself sucked into her dad’s novel. During her escape from the book she is assisted by the Goat (Gustavo Barrientos) who she created as a character when she was a little girl.

I really like the stop-motion animation – it’s very unique and makes the story feel very real. The ending is very well done and emotional, giving feelings of happiness and sadness at the same time. I enjoyed the protagonist of the story, Dalia, and her journey as she becomes sucked into the pages of her dad’s unfinished novel. I love how the animation makes the world inside the book very unique and exciting with fantasy creatures like Wolf (Mariana Correa) who is trying to catch Dalia for the mysterious Creator. The music and sound effects fit perfectly with the scenes, further drawing me into the story. My favorite part is watching Dalia grow from a girl with little self-confidence to a successful and confident character in her dad’s novel and her own life. I will note that the dubbing in English makes the scenes with written words seem a little strange with the voice-overs but doesn’t take away from the story itself.

The film’s message is to believe in yourself and that you can do anything if you try and have faith in yourself. Remember that, even if you mess up at first, you can succeed by learning from your mistakes.

I give Dalia & the Red Book a solid 4.5 stars out of 5 and recommend it for ages 8 and up. It is available on VOD and streaming on May 6, 2025.

In the heart of the Pacific Ocean lies a magical cluster of islands, home to a unique collection of castaways found nowhere else on earth. Narrated by Brendan Fraser, Disneynature’s “Sea Lions of the Galapagos” dives underwater with Leo, a handsome sea lion pup who’s learning how to navigate life alongside his mother, Luna. Following swimming lessons, fishing expeditions and some growing up, Leo eventually leaves his mother’s colony to find his own home—male sea lions must fight to earn the best spots, and only the strongest will become beach-masters. Leo’s lifelong quest is fraught with challenges and filled with new encounters with an array of creatures, from marine iguanas and racer snakes to yellow fin tuna and huge Galapagos sharks. The archipelago is Leo’s playground—overland and underwater—but he must stay vigilant to find his place in the world. Directed by Hugh Wilson, co-directed by Keith Scholey, and produced by Scholey, Wilson and Roy Conli, the all-new adventure launches is available exclusively on Disney+.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Braedyn M. comments, “Sea Lions of the Galapagos is by far the cutest documentary I have ever seen.  Vibrant, colorful, and a few splashes of laughter, it shows the life of a sweet little Galapagos Sea lion pup and all the challenges and triumphs that come with being one.” See his full review below.

Sea Lions of the Galapagos
By Braedyn M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Sea Lions of the Galapagos is by far the cutest documentary I have ever seen.  Vibrant, colorful, and a few splashes of laughter, it shows the life of a sweet little Galapagos Sea lion pup and all the challenges and triumphs that come with being one.

Leo is an adorable sea lion pup who has only ever known his home beach and the calm shallow waters that grace its shores.  Sunshine, fresh air, a mother that can find him whenever he decides to dive off and explore, what more could he want?  All seems well in his world until he realizes that he isn’t a baby pup anymore, and since he’s not the male beachmaster, he’s not welcome on the island.  What follows is Leo’s quest to find his place in the world, and an island to call home.

With direction by Hugh Wilson and Keith Scholey and narration by Brandon Fraser, this is not your standard animal documentary.  Instead of just revealing facts about the animal in focus, this feature educates from the perspective of a story, with the life of a young sea lion, named Leo, as a guide. However, this does not mean there is less insight into the Galapagos sea lion species.

As Leo makes his way, I learned all the ins and outs of being a sea lion, and living in the Galapagos. For example, in one instance Leo teams up with some friends to catch some fish, when some uninvited guests show up. While sad for Leo and his pals, it beautifully illustrates how all animals are connected and interact with each other.  Speaking of scenes, my favorite might just be the most hilarious.  After a day of traveling, Leo finally finds a nice soft beach to land on.

Thinking this might just be the place he can make his home, he falls asleep only to be awoken by the beach’s beachmaster, and he is NOT happy to see another male.  Leo has no choice but to escape up a steep hill where the beachmaster, as big as he is, cannot follow.  How does Leo leave the island?  By belly-whopping his way down the other side of the hill!  After this daring endeavor, Leo continues on his way.

This documentary’s message is to always explore; there is always something out there to find, even for a sea lion.  As Leo grows up, he gets wiser and braver due to all the challenges he’s faced, like blowing bubbles to scare out fish from their coral caves. Note that there are a few sightings of blood in this documentary.

I give Sea Lions of the Galapagos 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18 plus adults.  Sea Lions of the Galapagos is available now on Disney+.