Archives for May 2026

The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Jackson N. comments, “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is the final planned installment in the Mandalorian series, and it definitely goes out with a bang! The story continues the arc of the Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal), but more interestingly, the arc of Grogu, whose storyline has been working toward him becoming self-sufficient.” Juliana S., adds, “I love the movie Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu! It captures the excitement and emotion that makes the Star Wars franchise so special and important to people. The film blends action, adventure, and heartfelt moments white continuing the story of Star Wars.” Isabella V. wraps it up with, “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is an extremely entertaining story with amazing acting, CGI, and music. Every part of the film works perfectly to create a fun and breathtaking movie. It is never boring and it easy to get immersed in the story.”

Star Wars: The Mandalorian And Grogu

by Jackson N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is the final planned installment in the Mandalorian series, and it definitely goes out with a bang! The story continues the arc of the Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal), but more interestingly, the arc of Grogu, whose storyline has been working toward him becoming self-sufficient.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu finishes the storylines of the Mandalorian, Din-Djarin, and his Jedi turned apprentice turned adopted son, Din-Grogu. They are now working as independent contractors for the New Republic, when they are assigned a dangerous task for the siblings of Jabba the Hutt. This leads to a chaotic arena fight scene, a weaponless, underground fight in a lake with a giant snake, and so much more.

The story has amazing details throughout, most of which are involved with Grogu growing into his own man… or whatever species he is. There are many scenes in which we can see him almost becoming a smaller version of Yoda – from him meditating in the forest or walking with a cane to his next level capabilities with the force. We also see the smaller, but still valuable, detail of the title page starting with “The Mandalorian,” then after a short pause bringing in “and Grogu.” This goes to show that, up until now, Grogu has always been living in the Mandalorian’s shadow, getting his fights fought for him. This is his moment to break out and show that he’s not just “the child.” Mando makes this passing of the baton clear when he says, “The old protect the young, and then the young protect the old.” As Mando spent all of the Mandalorian TV series protecting Grogu, now it’s time for Grogu to return the favor. The film has many hilarious moments, from Grogu repeatedly ramming a limp body into a hole that is not big enough, making an echoing clang sound each time, to the hilarious Anzellan dialogue scenes, with funny sounds of mixing English with Anzellan. Like most films in the Star Wars universe, the sets are truly spectacular. The designs made me feel like I was exploring a galaxy far, far away. From simple sets like the Mandalorian’s house, to the more complicated one of the Jabba Twins Tree base, all of the sets look truly natural and fun.

The film’s main message is that you need to grow up and be your own person someday. It includes themes of family, togetherness, and coming of age (even at age 50). Parents should be aware that it includes some fighting and non-bloody violence, but also has many good role models and aspirational figures. For example, Din-Djarin says to Rotta the Hutt (Jeremey Allan White), “Fighting’s not a sport, it’s a last resort.”

I give Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters on May 22, 2026. Make sure to check it out in IMAX for the full experience.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

By Juliana S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17

I love the movie Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu! It captures the excitement and emotion that makes the Star Wars franchise so special and important to people. The film blends action, adventure, and heartfelt moments white continuing the story of Star Wars.

The storyline follows Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), also known as The Mandalorian, a bounty hunter who protects the galaxy with his friend, Grogu. They travel across the stars after being given a seemingly impossible task. Din must continue protecting Grogu while becoming involved in conflicts that could affect the future of the galaxy. The film introduces new allies and rivals while still focusing on the emotional bond between the two main characters.

I particularly enjoyed the acting in this film. Pedro Pascal provides an incredible performance as Din Djarin, or the Mandalorian, bringing emotion and depth to the character even behind his helmet. Even though he is often hidden behind a helmet, he is able to express intense emotions through his voice and body language. Pascal gives Djarin a strength that he carries with himself, feeling heroic and realistic. He captures the protectiveness that the Mandalorian has for Grogu while also having loneliness about himself.  Another actor who caught my eye is Jeremy Allen White, who plays Rotta the Hutt, the nephew of the evil Hutt empire rulers. He brings a new idea to the Hutt family, showing how they are not all set out to conquer the world. He layers his performance with emotions and vulnerability. Rotta is unpredictable and commands the attention of the audience throughout scenes. White brings a new fresh perspective on a previously established family and kinetic energy to Rotta that makes his scenes intense and memorable.

The film’s message is that family is not determined solely by blood. Grogu sticks by The Mandalorian’s side, as the latter protects the former. Rotta the Hutt strays from familial traditions, finding a new home with different people. Protecting the people you care about is one of the greatest responsibilities that one can have, and also one of the best.

I give Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu releases in theatres and IMAX on May 22, 2026.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Isabella V., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is an extremely entertaining story with amazing acting, CGI, and music. Every part of the film works perfectly to create a fun and breathtaking movie. It is never boring and it easy to get immersed in the story.

The storyline follows a bounty hunter, The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal), and Grogu (David Acord) as, against their own morals; they are forced to help the Hut family find their kidnapped nephew, Rotta the Hut (Jeremy Allen White), in an attempt to find a new elusive target. However, they soon discover more secrets as they search for Rotta, encountering much more than they set out for.

The CGI in this movie is phenomenal; everything looks so realistic and adds a lot of suspense and sadness. It’s easy to forget that the CGI creatures aren’t actually there; making it easy to become immersed in the worlds the Mandalorian and Grogu visit. Rotta the Hut is extremely impressive and moves fluidly throughout the film. This is helped by the outstanding cast; everyone shows extreme talent but especially Pedro Pascal as The Mandalorian.  He’s tasked with interacting with the CGI creatures, yet, thanks to his acting, it seems like he’s truly there with them. Another aspect of the film I really enjoyed is the sets — they are all unbelievably beautiful and unique. Every location has its own style, leading to each being memorable in its own way. The sets are so stunning, especially when they’re shown flying through the Outer Rim — it looks gorgeous. The film is also incredibly funny – there were multiple times when I laughed out loud. Every joke lands perfectly, both physical and verbal, thanks to the cast and the writers. I especially like Grogu — his physical comedy always got me to laugh. Another aspect of the film that I especially love is the music; it is gorgeous and enhances the tone of the various scenes. On the other hand, when the film is hopeful or the characters are winning a fight it’s very upbeat and adds to the feeling of relief. I found myself entertained the entire way through the film and even got invested in characters such as Rotta, and I wanted the best for them thanks to every aspect of the film.

The message of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is to take care of those around you, as you’ll never know how they’ll end up without you. Be forewarned that there is a lot of intense action, violence, and small amounts of gore.

I give Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu 5 out of 5 stars and recommend for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters on May 22, 2026.

Trailer:

In this witty, new breed of mystery, George (Hugh Jackman) is a shepherd who reads detective novels to his beloved sheep every night, assuming they can’t possibly understand. But when a mysterious incident disrupts life on the farm, the sheep realize they must become the detectives. As they follow the clues and investigate human suspects, they prove that even sheep can be brilliant crime-solvers.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Zoey F. comments, “The Sheep Detectives is a wonderful movie with a great theme and a great cast of actors. Its main strength is its simplicity and very cute sheep.”  Julie O. adds, “I love this film! The Sheep Detectives is a heartwarming murder mystery that keeps you guessing “who did it” right up to the end. I found myself laughing and crying! The storyline is intriguing and the characters act very suspicious, making it so much more interesting to watch.” Beatriz D. wraps it up with, “This is a humorous, but profound murder mystery that is very heartfelt…The storyline follows a flock of sheep who attempt to uncover the murder of their shepherd (Hugh Jackman) after he unexpectedly dies.” See their full reviews below, plus our talent interviews on and off the red carpet by Raasti and Zoey.

The Sheep Detectives
By Zoey F, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

The Sheep Detectives is a wonderful movie with a great theme and a great cast of actors. Its main strength is its simplicity and very cute sheep.

The plot follows George (Hugh Jackman) whose favorite pastime is reading murder mysteries to his beloved sheep. After sending several mysterious letters, George is found dead in his pasture. Just like the novels he has read them; the flock discovers this is indeed a murder. The self-proclaimed detective, Tim Derry (Nicholas Braun) is completely useless along with his unlikely friend, Elliot Mathews (Nicholas Galitzine) who is even less helpful. So, it’s up to the flock to solve the murder before the contents of his will are followed through.

The best thing about The Sheep Detectives is the utter simplicity of the movie. Sometimes films are trying way too hard to cater to a younger audience. They try to be relatable, and it seems that most of the budget is spent on celebrity cameos instead of good screenwriting. This movie completely shatters that pattern. Where to even begin? Each character’s development makes complete sense. Lily (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is the leader of the sheep. She is confident but some of her values are misplaced. She often grapples with the fact that death exists and how heavy grief can feel. During the course of the film, she embraces community and learns to work through it with people she loves and trusts. Mopple (Chris O’Dowd) is my personal favorite character. The other sheep have the power to forget any event – every other sheep except for him. Chris O’Dowd excels at capturing Mopple’s pain. He must carry all the painful memories that the rest of the flock chooses to forget because he cannot. O’Dowd adds some much-needed humor with this development, but he also adds just enough of the tragedy. Aside from the heartfelt moments in the movie, there is still a mystery.

I did feel that the movie sometimes focuses too much on ways to make me cry rather than the mystery itself. The main suspects quickly become the people named in George’s will. But not enough time is spent getting to know the other characters so we have no reason to suspect them or not. Because of that, when the mystery is solved, the culprit’s motive makes sense, but it is not as satisfying as it could have been. This is just a small thing, and it did not stop me from enjoying the film. This movie is an emotional rollercoaster; it is guaranteed to make anyone who watches it laugh, cry and fall in love with CGI sheep.

The film has themes of belonging, family and the importance of treating others with respect. It also explores grief, loss, and coping strategies. The sheep often choose to forget when something gets too difficult or hurts too much. By the end, Lily and Mopple realize that forgetting is not healthy and it’s important to feel negative emotions, not just hide from them.

I give The Sheep Detectives 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to kids ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters May 8, 2026.

The Sheep Detectives

By Julie O. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

I love this film! The Sheep Detectives is a heartwarming murder mystery that keeps you guessing “who did it” right up to the end. I found myself laughing and crying! The storyline is intriguing and the characters act very suspicious, making it so much more interesting to watch.

The Sheep Detectives is based on the book Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story by Leonie Swann. It takes place in a fictional village, called Derrybrook, in England, and focuses on the lives of a herd of sheep, their shepherd (Hugh Jackman), and a few of the villagers. Two of the sheep Lily (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Mopple (Chris O’Dowd) help the local policeman (Nicolas Braun) solve a murder.

The storyline is well developed and I enjoy the pace of the film. I especially love the humor that is used from beginning to end and the use of a riddle to help solve the murder. I like that the sheep and human characters have similar storylines. Each has to deal with death, different personalities, challenges, and love. The film explores what makes individuals unique and how coming together as a community is rewarding. The voice actors for the sheep create characters that are easily relatable and complex. I love how they bring the sheep to life with sheep-like characteristics and well developed personalities. The human characters also have relatable personalities and demonstrate love, jealousy, ambition, and greed. The sheep and humans go through several experiences that make their characters grow and become more mature. My favorite part is learning the back story behind the independent and protective sheep named Sebastian (Bryan Cranston). This was my favorite part because I like how the events he experienced in his past helped shape how he interacts with the herd.

The film’s message is that as long as we remember those we love, they are never truly gone. It also reminds us to be willing to accept help from unexpected places and how important it is to be kind and accepting of those who are different. Be aware that there are some alcohol references, mild violence between animals, and death.

I give The Sheep Detectives 5 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. The Sheep Detectives releases in theaters on May 8, 2026.

The Sheep Detectives
By Beatriz D., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

I really loved watching The Sheep Detectives! This is a humorous, but profound murder mystery that is very heartfelt.

The storyline follows a flock of sheep who attempt to uncover the murder of their shepherd (Hugh Jackman) after he unexpectedly dies. The sheep find ways to communicate to the police officer (Nicholas Braun) every time they find a clue, which made me laugh because the way they show the humans is very funny.

The movie is paced well and the plot develops with precision. I really love the animation of the sheep especially that of the lamb, which made me want a baby lamb because they are so cute. The actors’ performances are very well executed; each actor skillfully plays their part. My favorite character is Sebastian, voiced by Bryan Cranston, because he goes through so much and has so much knowledge and, even though it doesn’t seem like he cares for his friends, he would do anything for them. My favorite part is when the two main sheep, Lily (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Mopple (Chris O’Dowd) attempt to cross the street for the first time, while being led by Sebastian (Bryan Cranston) , a more experienced sheep. This scene is so funny because Sebastian easily crosses the street while Lily and Mopple have a hard time even touching the concrete.

The film’s message is that you cannot judge a book by its cover. Be forewarned that there are death related topics discussed.

I give The Sheep Detectives 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters May 8, 2026.

Sometimes the wrong place is right where you need to be. Anna impulsively jets off to Tuscany, Italy, to stay at a stranger’s villa without permission. Caught inside the house by the man’s mother, she convinces the woman that she’s his fiancée. That little lie soon becomes a big problem when Anna develops a growing attraction to the stranger’s handsome cousin.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Juliana S. comments, “I love You, Me & Tuscany! It is such a warm and charming romantic comedy. From the beginning, the film feels real and inviting, with a beautiful Italian setting and story. The movie is truly made through the talent of Halle Bailey and Regé Jean Page. They both bring personality and emotion to their roles, making every scene engaging and warm.” See her full review below.

You, Me & Tuscany

By Juliana S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17

I love You, Me & Tuscany! It is such a warm and charming romantic comedy. From the beginning, the film feels real and inviting, with a beautiful Italian setting and story. The movie is truly made through the talent of Halle Bailey and Regé Jean Page. They both bring personality and emotion to their roles, making every scene engaging and warm.

You, Me & Tuscany follows Anna (Halle Bailey), a young woman who feels stuck in life after giving up her dream to become a chef. When an unexpected opportunity brings her to a villa in Italy, she impulsively travels to Tuscany in hopes to raise her spirits. There, she meets Michael (Regé Jean Page), and the two quickly find themselves drawn together. However, she has a complicated relationship intertwined in a lie that is blocking her path.

One performance that stands out to me is Halle Bailey, who plays the role of Anna, the young woman trying to find her way to a happy life. Bailey uses so much heart and emotion to truly connect with her character and the audience. She perfectly captures Anna’s uncertainty, hope, and determination, and uses her expressions and delivery to create a genuine feeling, especially in the scenes where she questions her choices and her future. Bailey brings a softness and sincerity to Anna, allowing for the audience to find themselves in her. Another performance that impressed me is Regé Jean Page, who plays Michael. He brings a calmness and confidence to his character, drawing the audience in. His character, Michael, is charming and thoughtful, which counter-balances Anna’s crazy, lost feeling. Page brings a deeper meaning to the romantic moments in the film, creating a chemistry between him and Bailey that is authentic and heartfelt.

The film’s message is that sometimes, life’s unexpected turns can lead you to exactly where you need to be. The film shows that growth comes from taking risks and stepping outside of your comfort zone.

I give You, Me & Tuscany 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. You, Me & Tuscany releases in theatres on April 10, 2026.

Trailer: