Parents Television Council Reviews

PTC reviews aim to provide you with advance information about an entertainment offering so that you can be the final arbiter of what you and your family see.

Valiant
By Caroline Schulenburg

Release Date: August 19th, 2005
MPAA Rating: G
Genre: Cartoon, Comedy, Family

It is spring of 1944 and Britain's Royal Homing Pigeon Squad is in desperate need of members. Ready to answer his country's call is Valiant, a small, but spirited young pigeon who is ready and willing to risk his life for what he believes in. This brilliantly animated and clever film is possibly Disney's most enjoyable offering this summer, and suitable for children age 9 and older.

Set against the landscape of Britain during World War II, Valiant tells the tale of homing pigeons used during the course of the war. The movie's namesake, Valiant, is ready to leave the nest and "do his bit" for Britain after the evil General von Talon and his cohorts have dealt heavy blows to the Royal Homing Pigeon Squad. He sets off for London and meets a pigeon named Bugsy in Trafalgar Square. Bugsy, for whom bathing is not a high priority, has ripped off two birds and finds himself accidentally enlisting with the squad to save his skin. The two pigeons join up with three others to form a rag tag group of trainees who learn to work together as they train among the pillars of Stonehenge. Gutsy, the decorated leader of the Royal Homing Pigeon Squad comes to the camp to inform Sarge, the pigeon in charge of training, that he will need to use the newest group of pigeons for his support as he flies to pick up an important message from occupied France.

Meanwhile, the murderous General von Talon tries to extort information from Mercury, a captured pigeon from the last squad who is being held in an impenetrable German lair. "Vee haf vays of making you squawk," threatens von Talon just before blaring yodeling music into Mercury's cage. Mercury is able to resist talking until von Talon injects him with truth serum, and then launches into a long and funny discourse about himself: "I used to think my favorite color was blue because blue is for boys, but it's pink. Not hot pink, or pastel pink, but just pink-pink." After sharing this personal revelation with von Talon, he accidentally discloses the location of the contact point for the Royal Homing Pigeon Squad.

Gutsy and the newest members of the homing squad land in France where they soon find themselves trying to outfly General von Talon and his cohorts, Underlink and Cufflink. The falcons successfully break up the pigeon squad and capture Bugsy, who is carrying the critical message. Valiant cannot give up knowing that his friend is in enemy hands. He takes it upon himself to break inside the lair and rescue Bugsy. The sequence inside the lair is not as frightening as it could be. Humorous situations such as the drawn-out process during which General von Talon selects what cape he should wear when he presents his prisoners with the message they have intercepted to his superiors offset the bleak imagery of the lair and the tenuousness of Valiant's situation.

Valiant, Mercury and Bugsy ultimately escape the lair. Valiant, who is carrying the important message, finds himself being pursued by none other than General von Talon. When he is nearing home, Valiant finds himself alone and realizes he needs assistance which he gets many friends, including the friendly bartender who first encouraged him to join the RHPS and his mother, who wanted nothing more than for her son to come back alive. With their help, Valiant is able to escape von Talon and present the message to his leaders. Valiant's spirit and bravery are heralded by everyone, and he is presented with the Dicken Medal, an award presented to animals who performed exceptionally during World War II.

Valiant is a welcome alternative to the fluffier fare that is usually offered as children's entertainment. While young children won't pick up on many of the historical references interspersed throughout the film (such as one to Hitler's vegetarianism) adults will, and it will make it all the more enjoyable. Children will find themselves identifying with plucky little Valiant and his quirky friends. Parents will appreciate that even though he proves that he is just as strong and brave as the biggest pigeon, Valiant still needs his mother and his friends, and what's more, they need him.
This film is recommended for children 9 years and older for intense pursuit sequences and mild cartoon violence.

Questionable content:

- Scatological humor. Bugsy passes gas occasionally and brags that he can burp on command.

- Mild violence. The falcons dive and swoop and try to attack the pigeons while they are flying. There is also discussion of the falcons possibly eating the pigeons if they are captured by them. When the pigeons deploy over France, bombs explode beneath them and bullets pierce the plane they are in.

- Death. Bones belonging to pigeons are used to intimidate Mercury and Bugsy when they are imprisoned in the falcon's lair. Valiant finds himself facing the stuffed bodies of pigeons who have been captured and killed by the falcons.

- Language. The expression ‘Shut-up' is used once.
 

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