CJ7
A winsome Chinese family comedy with strong moral values.
Should You Watch It?
CJ7 is a charming family movie with an unusual science-fiction premise, appealing characters, and strong moral values. Its central lesson is clear: poverty is no excuse for lying or stealing, and children should study hard and become responsible.
The movie’s cartoony slapstick may take some adjustment, especially for teenagers and adults. Pet-dung humor, nosepicking, and three obscenities also keep it from being completely clean.
If your family can handle those concerns, older children and adults may find CJ7 a winsome, worthwhile choice.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESLittle Dicky Chow and his father live in a Hong Kong hovel and struggle with poverty. One day, Dicky’s father brings home a small ball from a junkyard. The strange object soon becomes an unusual alien pet.
Dicky hopes the creature’s apparent powers will help him at school and against the rich boys who bully him. But the pet has ideas of its own, and Dicky must learn that friendship and responsibility matter more than getting what he wants.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means CJ7 is a good, enjoyable family film with some rough edges. It is amusing and charming, and the characters are finely drawn.
Stephen Chow gives a convincing performance as Dicky’s father. The unrealistic, cartoony slapstick comedy takes some adjustment, particularly for teenagers and adults, but the film remains winsome overall.
The Worldview
CJ7 strongly affirms honesty, responsibility, hard work, and gratitude. Dicky’s father teaches him that poverty does not justify lying or stealing, and he encourages Dicky to study hard so he can make something of himself. Bullying is rebuked and transformed, while Dicky eventually becomes more responsible and counts his blessings.
The film also includes an answered prayer to God and another appeal to God. At the same time, it references aliens and UFOs, although its wishful thinking is somewhat rebuked. The story’s moral center is stronger than its science-fiction ideas, but the film does not present a distinctly biblical account of God or creation.
The film’s casting includes Xu Jiao, a girl playing the rambunctious boy Dicky. She does a great job in the role, which adds to the movie’s distinctive comic appeal.
CJ7’s central longing is for a better life shaped by love, honesty, and responsibility. Scripture says, “The integrity of the upright guides them” (Proverbs 11:3).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong moral worldview with admonishments not to lie, steal or say bad words, but to be honest and study hard, plus an answered prayer to God and another appeal to God, but references to aliens and UFOs, though wishful thinking is somewhat rebuked; boy says BS twice and is admonished one time, plus one other obscenity and some scatological humor involving pet dung and a man picking his nose; some slapstick cartoony violence, including some martial arts kung fu, man’s glasses smashed, boy beaten up and thrown a ridiculously long distance, father spanks son three times in one scene, man falls in construction accident, pet is squished but bounces back like rubber, and two deaths, but handled in a light manner; no sex; no nudity; no alcohol; brief smoking; and, bullying rebuked and transformed and child rebels but eventually counts his blessings and becomes more responsible.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Dicky’s father says that being poor does not make it acceptable to lie or steal. Why can honesty matter even when doing the right thing costs you?
Proverbs 12:22 · Ephesians 4:25Dicky wants CJ7 to solve his problems at school. When have you wanted an easy solution instead of taking responsibility?
Galatians 6:5 · Luke 16:10The film rebukes bullying and shows Dicky becoming more responsible. What does it look like to respond to someone who is being mistreated?
Ephesians 4:32 · Philippians 2:3–4Dicky’s father encourages him to study hard and make something of himself. How can diligence honor God, regardless of your family’s circumstances?
Colossians 3:23 · Proverbs 14:23The Final Word
CJ7 offers older children and adults a winsome story about honesty, hard work, responsibility, and gratitude. The scatological humor and three obscenities require discernment, but families who can handle those concerns may find it a charming choice. WORTH THE TRIP — OLDER CHILDREN AND UP
