Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen, based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 4+
Barbie and her sisters have sweet, magical, Swiss adventure.
-
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Barbie and Her Sisters in A Pony Tale is a direct-to-DVD offering starring the popular Mattel doll. Like all Barbie features, this one has a direct merchandise tie-in to a set of equestrian Barbie (and her sister) dolls and their corresponding horses. The movie is fine for younger kids but does contain one potentially scary moment when wolves menacingly creep up on Barbie and her horse until another more powerful horse intervenes and scares the wolves away. The language includes some colorful insults exchanged by bitter rivals such as, "You hair of a child's nostril" and "You pig of a dog of a mule." It's not a major plot point, but there is a little romance between Skipper and a Swiss equestrian. Kids might learn a thing or two about equestrian competitions.
To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
-
Products & Purchases
some
Barbie movies are made as a tie-in to the dolls. Every time a new Barbie movie comes out on DVD, the accompanying line of related toys is available in stores. Skipper frequently uses an iPad-like tablet.
-
Language
very little
Colorful insults exchanged between the rival brothers: "You hair of a child's nostril" and "You pig of a dog of a mule."
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Sex, Romance & Nudity
very little
Skipper ends up having a crush, and they end up flirting and dancing at a party.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Violence & Scariness
very little
Wolves are about to attack Barbie when a horse intervenes, saves her, and drives the wolves away. A man is cruel to his horse and overuses the riding whip.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Positive Messages
some
Barbie's relationship with her three sisters promotes healthy sibling relationships through kindness (as opposed to the rival brothers). Healthy competition also is highlighted but more as a way to find one's strength, not necessarily to win. Lastly, being gentle to animals is encouraged.
-
Positive Role Models
a little
Barbie is a kind, understanding big sister who encourages and supports her younger siblings. The girls' Swiss aunt is loving and wants the girls to do their best in the equestrian competition without putting too much pressure on them to win.
-
Educational Value
very little
Barbie movies aim to entertain, not educate, but young viewers will learn about the discipline needed to be a competitive equestrian as well as the various events in which equestrians compete (dressage, jumping, cross country). They will also learn that the Alps are in Switzerland, the movie's location.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Barbie & Her Sisters in A Pony Tale
Parent and Kid Reviews
See all
- Parents say (4)
- Kids say (4)
age 8+
Based on 4 parent reviews
vector_BADMAN Adult
December 8, 2020
age 17+
Why didn't the pony have a pony-tail?
The movie title is really misleading if you ask me. My daughter and Son, hated this, as it made them cry when the Barbie almost got lost (too emotional for children if you ask me). I hated the overuse of the colour pink as well. Like where are we CANDYLAND. Not good for children under 17 due to the mature themes of horses. Also a cameo from vector, the smurfs and Shrek would have massively improved it!
BrittaB Parent of 6 and 9-year-old
September 9, 2022
age 7+
Mindless fun and more wholesome than other Barbie shows.
The sisters version of Barbie seems more gentle than the other iterations of Barbie television. Sometimes the attitudes displayed aren’t fabulous but generally pretty harmless movie length Barbie. Scary when rider falls off horse and is lost and surrounded by wolves but magic saves the day!
See all 4 parent reviews
What's the Story?
In BARBIE AND HER SISTERS IN A PONY TALE, Barbie (Kelly Sheridan) and her three younger sisters, Skipper (Kazumi Evans), Stacie (Claire Corlett), and Chelsea (Ashlyn Drummond), travel to Switzerland for the summer to visit their Aunt Marlene (Alex Kelly), who runs a horse stable and a riding academy. Barbie, a renowned equestrian, is there not only to compete as part of her aunt's academy but also to pick out a horse to take back home to Malibu. Barbie soon becomes enchanted with a mysterious wild horse she encounters while riding in the beautiful Alpine terrain. While Barbie obsesses about the magical-seeming horse, Aunt Marlene delivers the terrible news that if the academy doesn't win an upcoming competition, she'll be forced to close it.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (4):
These direct-to-DVD Barbie movies aren't exactly a marvel in modern animated storytelling. But for what they are (a way to attract kids to the Barbie brand by creating a rich backstory to their doll lines), they're pretty decently written and conceived. The backgrounds, landscapes, and other CGI details aren't up to par with theatrical animated movies, but the story should appeal to kids, especially children who love horses.
Barbie isn't for every family, and if you have all boys, chances are slim they'll be interested in this franchise of DVDs, but that's not to say boys won't enjoy the competition angle and the fierce rivalry between the two riding academy managers, who enjoy sparring verbally with creative insults. Older girls may get a kick out of how Skipper ends up having a little romance with one of the other academy's top riders. As for lessons learned, this particular movie will teach young kids about the power of sibling relationships, being kind to animals, and rising to the challenge.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the allure of horse stories. Why do you think horses appeal to audiences, especially young girls, so much?
Talk about how to separate the movie and its characters from the Barbie products in stores. We have tips on how to manage product placements and advertising in pop culture.
How does this particular movie compare to others in the Barbie universe? Do you prefer the Barbie movies where she's a fairy tale or fantasy character or the more realistic ones? Do you like the movies with the sisters or ones only about Barbie?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 22, 2013
- Cast : Claire Corlett, Kazumi Evans, Kelly Sheridan
- Inclusion Information : Female actors
- Studio : Universal Studios Home Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Brothers and Sisters
- Run time : 75 minutes
- MPAA rating : NR
- Last updated : June 20, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Barbie & Her Sisters in A Pony Tale
Suggest an Update
Your privacy is important to us. We won't share this comment without your permission. If you chose to provide an email address, it will only be used to contact you about your comment. See our privacy policy.
