A heartwarming, high-energy reimagining of a classic tale, Robin and The Hoods promises to become a new family favorite for generations to come as it heads to all major digital platforms on August 27 from Shout! Studios, a Radial Entertainment company, and Epsilon Film. Fired by her imagination, Robin is the bright-eyed leader of a group of kids, the Hoods, who love to play fantasy games on a patch of land they nickname The Kingdom. While their biggest concern is a rival gang looking to take over their domain, things get serious when plans emerge to develop the area that’s their playground into a new leisure facility for the town. Faced with the ruthless spokesperson CLIP-BOARD, Robin and her friends must find a way to save their play area before it’s too late.
Evaluation comments:
“It should come as no surprise – given its title – that Robin And The Hoods draws inspiration from the classic tale of Robin Hood. In this modern-day version, Robin is an 11-year-old girl who leads her neighborhood pals in fantasy games versus their local rival kids who dress as knights. Their rather idyllic childhood play-world in the local woods gets turned upside down when a ruthless real estate developer arrives with plans to level the forest area and create a housing development that complete with day care and health spas – much to the adults/parents delight.”
“The enchanting, fun film delivers a strong message about the power of using your imagination. The filmmakers utilize a cool conceit of shifting between the real world and imaginary one of the kids’ game-playing – knights, for example, go from wearing armor and riding on horses to wearing makeshift outfits while riding bikes. This fantasy/reality shifts also continue when the kids take on the evil developer/witch and her workmen/henchmen. The wizard-y nature of the fantasy world suggests Harry Potter and other tales of that ilk, while the plotline about kids protecting the environment versus developers recalls the mid-00s family film Hoot and other eco-minded stories.”
“Set in England, the Shout! Studios-released movie features little-known youth actors in the kid roles, although they acquit themselves quite nicely. Darcey Ewart, in particular, stands out in the lead role of Robin. The biggest name actors are Naomie Harris (an Oscar nominee for Moonlight) and Gwendoline Christie (from the Game of Throne series). Harris is thoroughly hissable as the witchy developer, while Christie plays a “good witch”/hippie character who plays in key role in helping the kids.”
“The film feels aimed for older elementary school and younger middle schoolers. There are a few quick references to “grass” and “birds” that will jokes to adults but probably go over youngsters’ heads. What kids will take away from this magical, uplifting movie, however, is its messages about the joy (and power) of using your imagination, the fun that the outside world can provide, and the importance of safeguarding the environment. While these may seem like heavy messages, the endearing Robin and the Hoods delivers them in a thoroughly entertaining way.”