Parents' Guide to

Jingle and Bell's Christmas Star

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Sweet sequel's friendly messages outshine product tie-ins.

Movie NR 2012 30 minutes
Jingle and Bell's Christmas Star Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 3+

Based on 1 parent review

ViannaR
ViannaR Adult
January 25, 2015
age 3+

Utter sweetness

The Hallmark Channel gets it right for littles! We are so starved for wholesomeness. I so hope they make more of these films and more like them. The hand-made quality and the details are lovely and heartwarming--think Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer style stop-motion animation, but more refined and updated. My five-stars is not a rating in the sense that it's a masterpiece, but in the sense that it provides perfectly appropriate entertainment for the preschool to six crowd, and peace of mind for the parents who won't regret allowing these images and storyline to enter into their children's minds and imaginations. That, and it's very well-done technically and artistically. Beautiful :-)
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What's the Story?

In JINGLE AND BELL'S CHRISTMAS STAR, happy husky pup Jingle (voiced by Thomas Stroppel) and his best friend, Andrew (Ryan Bley), make new friends when Sofia (Ami Shalabh) and her pup, Bell (Julie Reiter), move in next door. Sofia's not excited about the move that took her away from her friends and sunny Palm City just in time for a snowy Christmas in Pineville, but Andrew goes out of his way to make her feel welcome in her new home, and together the two learn about the true spirit of the holiday.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Jingle and Bell's Christmas Star follows Hallmark Channel's well-received holiday special, Jingle All the Way, with similar animation and an equally heartwarming story that will delight fans. Andrew is a model of friendship, compassion, and thoughtfulness, and his efforts are rewarded in Sofia's eventual adjustment to her new surroundings. Even better, the fact that the story coincides with the holiday season is a great reminder to cherish the relationships with family and friends that make this time of year so special.

Jingle -- and now Bell -- are heavily marketed images in Hallmark retailers, so if your kids do fall in love with these darling huskies, they might find a similar draw to the toys and books that bear their images. Product placement aside, though, this is a sweet tale of friendship and love that celebrates the most basic Christmas joy -- spending time with those you love.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about their holiday traditions. With whom do you spend Christmas? What makes this time of year so special for your family? How do your traditions reflect your family's faith, values, and heritage?

  • Kids: Why does Sofia have a difficult time adjusting to her new town? How does she feel when she first moves there? How does Andrew help make her happy?

  • Have you seen Jingle and Bell toys or books in stores? Does seeing the characters in this story make you like them more? Who are your favorite TV or movie characters? Do you have any products with their faces on them?

Movie Details

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