Movie review
November 15, 2017 · 86 min · PG · Kids · Fantasy · Animation · Comedy · Adventure · Family
Bo is a small donkey who works at a mill but dreams of carrying a king in a royal parade. After he escapes, he meets Ruth the sheep and Dave the dove, and the three animals follow a bright star. The star leads them to Mary and Joseph, who are traveling to Bethlehem while Mary is pregnant with Jesus. King Herod sends a hunter and two dogs to find the baby, so the animals become brave protectors. The film uses bright animation, jokes, songs, and chase scenes to tell a warm Christmas adventure.
The story presents the birth of Jesus as God's plan and treats the Nativity as the center of Christmas. Mary accepts her task with faith, while Joseph learns to trust God when his careful plans fail. Bo learns that a humble job can have a greater purpose, and Ruth learns that friendship can give her a new flock. The animals show courage, kindness, teamwork, and forgiveness as they protect the family from Herod. The film's message centers on faith, family, courage, and the meaning of Christmas.
Community feedback
Was our 4% Woke rating accurate?
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Star.
Woke representation / casting
Not present. The human characters are drawn loosely as people from the Middle East, which fits the Nativity setting. The large mixed voice cast mostly plays animals, and the film does not make identity or diversity a story point.
0%
Woke political dialogue
Not present. The dialogue talks about faith, prayer, courage, friendship, and the birth of Jesus. It does not present modern political arguments.
0%
Identity-driven story themes
Not present. The story follows animals who protect Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. Its main lessons are faith, kindness, teamwork, and trust.
0%
Western institutional / cultural critique
Not present. Herod is a cruel ruler, and the miller mistreats Bo. The film does not connect these villains to modern criticism of men, family life, religion, or Western institutions.
0%
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant. The film adds animal heroes and changes the order of some Nativity events to fit a family adventure. The established Biblical characters keep their basic identities and roles.
0%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Not present. Reviews and audience posts argue about the film’s humor, animation, faithfulness to the Bible, and scary scenes. No meaningful anti-woke complaint about DEI, identity politics, or activist messaging was found.
0%
Creator track record context
Lisa Henson has a public record of supporting gender and ethnic diversity and gay rights. DeVon Franklin has made some later comments about industry diversity, but his main work is faith-based. Timothy Reckart is described as a Catholic filmmaker who favors family-centered storytelling and resists heavy ideology in children’s entertainment. The writers, Brian Henson, and Jenni Magee-Cook have no high-confidence activist record in the stored context.
20%
Production
Movie · 2024
Inside of his book, adventurous Harold can make anything come to life simply by drawing it. After he grows up and draws himself off the book's pages and into the physical world…
Movie · 2019
A group of misfits encounter a young Yeti named Everest, and they set off to reunite the magical creature with his family on the mountain of his namesake.
Movie · 2024
A solitary cat, displaced by a great flood, finds refuge on a boat with various species and must navigate the challenges of adapting to a transformed world together.
Movie · 2022
When Van Helsing's mysterious invention, the "Monsterfication Ray," goes haywire, Drac and his monster pals are all transformed into humans, and Johnny becomes a monster.
Movie · 2020
When his best friend Gary is suddenly snatched away, SpongeBob takes Patrick on a madcap mission far beyond Bikini Bottom to save their pink-shelled pal.
Movie · 2019
Max the terrier must cope with some major life changes when his owner gets married and has a baby. When the family takes a trip to the countryside, nervous Max has numerous…
Movie · 2023
After a migrating duck family alights on their pond with thrilling tales of far-flung places, the Mallard family embarks on a family road trip, from New England, to New York City…
Movie · 2026
Living on a rundown shipwreck, Mr. Fish one day discovers a hyperactive young sea dragon Pip – who had mistaken his home for a junkyard – pilfering his belongings.
