Knowing what kids like is an art. Here’s some proof that film critics generally don’t understand what kids like. Who does know? Those who get it right are, to name a few, Waldorf school kindergarten teachers, puppeteers, and Pee Wee Herman (before his career implosion).
Speaking of Pee Wee, kid-humor is a field of study unto itself. New York acting coach to the stars, Allen Savage, who once ran a children’s theater in New Mexico (one company member was Doc Brown of “Back to the Future,” Christopher Lloyd) said the best laughs were achieved by simply standing behind the curtains, prior to the actual show, and waggling them. That produced instant roars of kid laughter.
