Is Stephen Curry's 'GOAT' movie OK for little kids? A parent's guide

The following contains light spoilers for the new movie "GOAT," so beware if you want to go in totally cold.

Kids love animated comedies featuring talking animals. Kids also love NBA All-Star point guard Stephen Curry. Put all that together, and it sounds like a GOAT sort of family flick.

The Golden State Warrior is not only in the GOAT (greatest of all time) conversation when it comes to three-point shooting, but he's also one of the major creative forces behind the underdog sports movie "GOAT" (in theaters Feb. 13). "Stranger Things" standout Caleb McLaughlin voices an undersize young goat who gets a chance to live his dream and play professional roarball (which is like basketball but way more extreme, with all-gender teams full of assorted animals playing against one another in crazy intense environments).

"GOAT" has a wide appeal, from young hoopsters to small film fans. But is it OK for little ones? Here’s what parents need to know going in:

What is the movie 'GOAT' about?

Will Harris (voiced by McLaughlin) has been a fan of his hometown team, the Vineland Thorns, since his mom (Jennifer Hudson) took him to his first game as a little goat to see his idol, black panther Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union). Years later, he's got game, but this "small" can't even get on a court because the larger animals won't let him. A chance one-on-one pickup game between Will and cocky horse Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre) goes viral, and Will is signed by Thorns owner Flo Everson (Jenifer Lewis) as a publicity stunt to help her losing squad.

To get playing time, Will needs to prove himself to this motley crew, especially reluctant teammate Jett (who's determined to finally win a championship). He begins to find his groove and his place as an undersize dude in a game full of "bigs."

What is the age rating for 'GOAT'?

"GOAT" is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association "for some rude humor and brief mild language." There's nothing overly egregious on either count, though. Will gets sprayed with toilet water in one sequence, farts are weaponized, and you might have to explain a "diss track" to your children, since some players take their beefs off the roarball court. But if you're cool with a couple of instances of the word "suck" and the use of "Oh, sheep" instead of the other s-word, no one should be that offended by anything.

How long is the movie 'GOAT'?

"Goat" has a running time of one hour and 40 minutes. It's a little on the longer side for a kids' movie, but it moves at a pretty good clip. (The exciting roarball scenes help in that regard.)

Does Stephen Curry play a role in the 'GOAT' movie?

Curry, a producer on the movie, voices the giraffe Lenny, who is one of the Thorns players and also an aspiring rapper. Will's teammates include rhino dad Archie (David Harbour), weirdo Komodo dragon Modo (Nick Kroll) and speedy ostrich Olivia (Nicola Coughlan).

Among the rest of the supporting cast, Patton Oswalt plays the Thorns' coach Dennis, Grammy winner Jelly Roll is a grizzly baller named Grizz, and basketball pros A'ja Wilson, Kevin Love, Dwyane Wade and Angel Reese all cameo as animal roarball players.

Is 'GOAT' appropriate for little children?

"GOAT" is a slam dunk for kids of all ages, especially basketball fans. The littlest ones might not get all the references to sneakerhead culture and real-life animal behaviors (like Will's panoramic goat vision on the court) or thematic nuances, such as Jett's complicated history with Vineland as a celebrity who can't win the big one. Will they enjoy a goat throwing down with a beefy grizzly bear and a macho horse, though? Naturally.

The sweet spot here is around 6 or 7 to preteen: those kids who can understand Will's plight of being small but wanting to be able to play with others and not been seen as less than or an outsider. The main character is a likable hero in that sense, realizing how our differences make us stronger and respecting his friends and teammates while also honoring his beloved mom. (Will's mom dies sometime between the opening scenes and his young adult years, but the hows and whys aren't really shown or revealed. Instead, the movie leans into how much she still means to him and his journey.)

When does 'GOAT' come out?

"GOAT" is in theaters nationwide on Friday, Feb. 13. Parents and kids have some time before they can watch it at home: The movie should arrive on video-on-demand platforms in March and will likely hit a streaming service come spring. (Most of Sony Animation's movies wind up on Netflix.)