Up, Up, and Away! 6 Things Parents Should Know Before Taking Their Kids to Dumbo

While I'm a complete sucker for every Disney movie ever made, I remember bawling uncontrollably when I saw Dumbo for the first time as a kid. I was a pile of tears, and planned according by bringing a box of tissues to the screening.

For example, as soon as the stork drops off Dumbo to his mom in the original film — a plot point which is omitted in the remake — Mrs. Jumbo is quickly deemed crazy after she attacks a pack of unruly boys who were tormenting her baby. While the pair are still separated in the 2019 film, Dumbo has a support system to lean on, making the scene a little more bearable. The storyline certainly starts out glum, but it's nothing kids can't handle. Phew!

Although the remake isn't as much of a tearjerker as the 1941 animation, the plot points are similar. It's no secret that people dying is sadly a part of life, so when Holt Farrier — aka Colin Farrell — loses his wife to influenza while fighting in World War I, it's not that jarring. Suddenly tasked with raising two kids — Joe (Finley Hobbins) and Milly Farrier (Nico Parker) — on his own, he admits that his late wife was better at talking to them than he ever was. Is Dumbo worse than any other Disney flick out there in this aspect? Absolutely not! But be prepared to have that conversation if you're watching with young kids who have never broached the topic before.

It's also worth noting that Holt returns home missing an arm. While he briefly addresses his injury, it might be worth discussing the topic with your own children if they're not familiar with amputees.

While this for-kids movie certainly ends on a happy note, there are a few spots where I literally found myself holding my breath. Without giving too many details away, there's an emotional bullying scene that will make your heart ache, and a few scenes where Dumbo is up high in the air — and clearly petrified — which will make you want to burst through the screen to help him.

One of my favorite parts about Dumbo was how Joe and Milly will jump through hoops to help others. When they found out Dumbo could fly, they spent hours with him perfecting his craft. And the second the sweet little elephant was separated from his mother, the pair swore they'd do whatever it takes to reunite them down the road, proving a little empathy for others can go a long way.

Both Milly and Joe also have no qualms about standing up for causes they believe in. Although several adult characters tell Milly that science is something only boys can be interested in, she persists, using the scientific method to eventually get Dumbo off the ground. And Joe doesn't back down either: the second adults suggested separating Dumbo and Mrs. Jumbo, Joe immediately fought back.

Not unlike Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmatians, the bad guys — V. A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton) and Joseph Gatt (Neils Skellig) — are completely motivated by greed. There's only a scene or two with full-brown yelling, as most of the drama comes from underhanded decisions meant to exploit the Medici family circus workers.

Although Max Medici (Danny DeVito) isn't technically a villain, there's no denying he makes a few bad decisions that are — surprise! — a result of greed, that put Dumbo and the gang in a handful of precarious positions. Fortunately, Max learns the error of his ways by the end of the movie.

The biggest takeaway — and a solid reason for actually crying during the movie — are all the touching scenes between Mrs. Jumbo and her big-eared baby, Dumbo. As soon as Mrs. Jumbo gives birth, her main priority becomes taking care of her son, no matter what. And yes, anyone who's had children will totally be able to identify with this sentiment because come hell or high water, we'd do anything for our babies.