Mighty Oak is for those who hold out hope no matter what. It may be the movie you’re looking for to help you get through a pandemic. These characters certainly go through tough times, but it’s how they deal with them that causes you to root for them.
Gina Jackson (Janel Parrish, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”) is the manager of rock band Army of Love. The group, led by her brother Vaughn, has landed an incredible gig that could help them strike it big. On the way home from their performance, their van is hit head-on by a drunk driver, killing Vaughn and destroying Gina, causing the band to break up.
10 years later, Gina still hasn’t moved on from her brother’s death and is struggling coping with life. Enter Oak Scoggins (Tommy Ragen), a 10-year-old musical prodigy who has a musical gift and reminds her a lot of Vaughn. Could that be Vaughn reincarnated?
Some of the band members are tired of Gina’s shenanigans, but are also excited about the possibility of reuniting Army of Love. However, Oak’s mom is not on board with Gina using her son.
Amongst all this you’ll find a story of family, heart, and redemption.
Mighty Oak Movie Parents Guide
Is Mighty Oak kid friendly? Parents, be aware there is some language (sh–, a–, hell, bastard), drug and alcohol use, and addiction. There is also mature content regarding death, suicide, and a scene with passionate kissing.
Mighty Oak is rated PG-13, and I’d recommend it for kids ages 12 and up. If your kids are younger and could handle some emotional scenes, and they love music, then they’d probably be ok.
Tweens and teens will want to watch for stars Janel Parrish, Raven-Symone (That’s So Raven, Raven’s Home), and Alexa PenaVega (Spy Kids). Overall, all the members of the band had a lot of chemistry, and their friendship and cheekiness had me laughing.
Tommy Ragen is a star, and it’s nice to see his musical talents showcased. Too mature for a School of Rock vibe, Mighty Oak still hits the right chords when it needs to.
Some of the story is predictable, and at times, a bit unbelievable and choppy. Oak’s stardom is no doubt, but what was hardest for me to get past was that a 10-year-old would somehow fit in as a lead singer of an adult band, reincarnated brother or not. But maybe that’s just my cynicism.
Through it all, Gina remains hopeful, almost to the point of delusion. But sometimes we need that glimmer of hope to hold on.
What Mighty Oak does teach is that no matter how old or young, keep chasing those dreams, and you can find family in the most unexpected places. This world needs more love, and I left watching Mighty Oak feeling more hopeful and loving. Though not perfect, Mighty Oak gives us a glimpse into grief from the outside and hopefully helps us feel empathy and kindness for those whose stories we do not know.