Netflix's Arlo the Alligator Boy [1] is a sweet and funny animated musical about friendships and found family, as well as the importance of believing in yourself and your dreams. Through tender moments, it teaches important lessons like learning from your failures, always doing your best, and not changing who you are just to make other people comfortable. Plus, it's got a star-studded voice cast and an absolutely incredible soundtrack most notably featuring the talents of Michael J. Woodard (Arlo) and Mary Lambert (Bertie).
However, while watching, there were a few things that felt worth noting if you're planning to watch Arlo the Alligator Boy [2] with younger or more sensitive kids — keep reading to learn more.
What Parents Should Know About Arlo the Alligator Boy Before Kids Watch
- The songs and dialogue can get super fast at times. The songs are fun and the dialogue is whip-smart, but there were times when I felt like even I couldn't keep up with exactly what was being sung or spoken. Younger kids or those who tend to watch without paying full attention might get confused, but the good thing is that the plot points are pretty basic, and most are reiterated more than once if you miss a line or two in a song or a quick quip out of a character's mouth.
- The antagonists are hella intense. Stucky (Jennifer Coolidge) and Ruff (Flea) are pretty intimidating alligator poachers who are typically featured in low-lit scenes with the silhouette of their giant dog, The Beast, chomping at the bit to, well, chomp into someone a bit. Their dialogue is exclusively threatening, they carry a variety of weapons, and they spend the whole movie pursuing Arlo in order to trap him into being a part of their questionable swamp attraction.
- The characters are constantly in peril. Whether they're being chased by Stucky and Ruff or a group of wrestlers, or are simply riding on Alia's bus (she only has her learner's permit, but she's doing her best, people!), Arlo and his friends are always in a touch of danger. However, everything is fairly fleeting and comical, including the fight scenes and violence.
- Arlo faces a fair amount of rejection. For more sensitive viewers, there's a scene after Arlo's been rejected that cuts deep. He's lost and alone in the big city, and your empathetic kiddos may be concerned for him. If you feel like you need to, you can assure your kids that everything is going to be OK in the end.