Review · 26 October 2026
Big Hero 6 (2014)Feeling ill and asking “are you okay?”
🎯 Today’s focus
Feeling ill and asking “are you okay?” — the morning you wake up with a headache, and the day a friend looks ill. Five phrase beats to rate your pain on a scale of one to ten, say you don’t feel well, ask someone if they are okay, say what is wrong with you, and tell a friend to take it easy. Every one of them appears in the story before it is explained.
🎬 Episode script
Transcript
4 chapters · about 6 minutes of reading🎭 Intro
Teacher Teddy’s whole script for Big Hero 6 is below, in slow, clear English, from the welcome to the verdict, with a note beside every question about pain, every way to say you are ill and every way to check on a friend.
Hiro tells everyone he is fine. Then a robot scans him and says he isn’t. What would you say if a robot nurse asked you how you felt?
Welcome back for another English movie review lesson — I’m Teacher Teddy, and today, let’s talk about Big Hero 6.
Today’s lesson is about feeling ill: the morning you wake up with a headache, and the day a friend looks ill. By the end of this video, you’ll say how you feel, and ask how others feel, in natural English. And listen out for one line in particular: “On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your pain?” A robot nurse asks it the first time we meet him. He asks it again the next time Hiro says “ow”.
Hiro tells everyone he is fine. Then a robot scans him and says he isn’t. What would you say if a robot nurse asked you how you felt?
📜 Plot & how the story is told
The story begins in San Fransokyo, a city that is half San Francisco and half Tokyo. Hiro Hamada is fourteen and makes robots. He lives with his aunt Cass, above her café. His big brother, Tadashi, studies at the university. At night, Hiro goes to illegal robot fights and wins money. Tadashi wants a better life for him.
So Tadashi takes Hiro to his lab and shows him his own project: Baymax, a big, soft, white robot nurse. To wake him up, Tadashi pulls a piece of tape off Hiro’s arm. Hiro says “Ow!”, and Baymax asks, “On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your pain?” This is the line to listen for. Doctors and nurses ask it in every hospital. “Rate” means give it a number. One is almost nothing. Ten is the worst. Used in real life: “On a scale of one to ten, how bad is the headache?”
Hiro builds thousands of tiny robots, called microbots, and wins a place at the university. That same night, there is a fire, and Hiro loses his brother. For weeks, he stays in his room, and when his aunt knocks, the words he needs are “I don’t feel well”. It means “I am ill”. You can also say “I feel ill”. Be careful with “I feel sick”. In Britain, that means you might vomit. Your boss will send you to the toilet, not to bed. Used in real life: “I don’t feel well, so I’m staying at home today.”
One day, Hiro drops something on his foot and says “Ow” again. Baymax wakes up, and Hiro says he is fine. “Are you okay?” is the question we ask when someone looks hurt or sad. “I’m fine, honestly” is the answer everyone gives. “Honestly” makes it stronger. People say it most when it is not true. If you think someone is not fine, say “You don’t look well”. It is kind, not rude. Used in real life: “Are you okay? You’ve been quiet all morning.”
Back in the bedroom, Baymax scans Hiro from top to bottom before he says a word. A real doctor has to ask. In Britain, you answer with “have got”: “I’ve got a cold”, “I’ve got a headache”, “I’ve got a temperature”. Americans drop the “got”: “I have a cold”. “I’ve got a temperature” means it’s high. You’re hot, and you’re ill. Used in real life: “I’ve got a cold, so I’ll keep away from the baby.”
Hiro’s last microbot leads him and Baymax to an old building, where a man in a mask is making millions more. Hiro builds Baymax a suit of armour, and Tadashi’s friends join them. After every crash, Baymax checks Hiro and tells him to rest, which in English is “Take it easy”. It means “don’t do too much”. The other phrase is “Get well soon”. You say it, or write it in a card. Used in real life: “Take it easy this weekend. The work can wait.”
The man in the mask is using Hiro’s tiny robots for something big. Who is behind the mask, and what Baymax does when Hiro asks him to do something terrible — I won’t tell you here.
What I can tell you is that Baymax cannot run, so Hiro gives him rocket boots, and that their first flight is the happiest scene in the film.
📖 Vocabulary spotlight
This episode also has three bonus vocabulary words — the words real critics reached for when they wrote about this film, and the ones you’ll want when you talk about it yourself.
— so soft and lovely that you want to hug it. Critics called Baymax so huggable you could squeeze him with your eyes. Used in real life: “Our new dog is so huggable.”
— making you feel interested and full of energy. The Wrap called it sweet and sharp and exciting and hilarious. Used in real life: “The last ten minutes of the match were exciting.”
— full of fights, chases and fast scenes. The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes calls it briskly paced, action-packed and often touching. Used in real life: “We had an action-packed weekend with the kids.”
Now the whole story again, with every word from today in it. See how many you catch. Tadashi shows Hiro a robot nurse. The robot asks, “On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your pain?” Then Hiro loses his brother, and the words he needs are “I don’t feel well”. Baymax wakes up. The question is “Are you okay?”, and Hiro’s answer is the one everyone gives: “I’m fine, honestly”. He doesn’t look well. Baymax checks whether he’s got a temperature. Hiro builds him armour, and Baymax tells him to take it easy. Baymax is huggable, the first flight is exciting, and the robot fights are action-packed.
💬 Critic reception
Now, let’s talk about how critics have described Big Hero 6.
The words reviewers reach for are the three bonus words above. Critics found the robot nurse so soft and cuddly that simply looking at him feels like a warm hug. The Wrap praised a film that is kind and clever at once, thrilling to watch and very funny. And the Rotten Tomatoes critics’ consensus describes a quick story, crowded with fights and chases, that moves you more often than you expect.
Try it yourself. At the start I asked what you would say if a robot nurse asked how you felt. Hiro tells Baymax he is fine. Baymax does not believe him. What would you tell Baymax today? Write two sentences in the comments here or on the website, and use “I don’t feel well” or “I’m fine, honestly” in one of them.
So, what’s the final verdict on Big Hero 6? Here’s mine. As a film, it is exciting and warm. Baymax is the best robot in any Disney film. For English learners, Baymax is the reason to watch: a robot nurse who speaks slowly, one clear line at a time, and never stops asking how Hiro feels. Hiro’s friends are the hard part. They talk over each other in the lab, and the fight scenes are loud, so you may need the subtitles for those. And if someone asks how you are today, be honest. It’s okay not to be fine.
That’s my verdict. I’d like to hear yours — let me know in your review in the comments, or get in touch! If this helped you improve your English today, subscribe on YouTube, or follow along on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, for more episodes unlocking native English phrases and vocabulary pulled straight from your favourite movies. Free interactive learning materials for this lesson are in the description. Thanks for your time, and have a lovely day.
⭐ The verdict
Rating
As a film, it is exciting and warm, and Baymax is the best robot in any Disney film. For English learners, Baymax is the reason to watch — a robot nurse who speaks slowly, one clear line at a time, and keeps asking how Hiro feels. Hiro’s friends are the hard part: they talk over each other in the lab, and the fight scenes are loud, so you may need the subtitles for those. And if someone asks how you are today, be honest. It’s okay not to be fine.
Rated PG in the UK · Beginner
📚 Study tools
Learning focus recap
Five phrase beats for feeling ill and asking “are you okay?”, each with a fresh example — plus the three bonus words.
The question doctors and nurses ask about pain; rate means give it a number.
On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your pain? — About a six, I think.
A gentle way to say you are ill; “I feel ill” means the same.
I don’t feel well, so I’m going to leave work early.
Ask it when someone looks hurt or sad; if they say they are fine but look ill, try “You don’t look well”.
Are you okay? — I’m fine, honestly. — Hmm, you don’t look well.
The British way to say what is wrong; Americans say “I have a cold”.
I’ve got a headache and a temperature, so I’m going back to bed.
Don’t do too much; rest. Add “Get well soon” in a card.
Take it easy for a few days, and get well soon!
A simple way to remember it all: Tadashi pulls a piece of tape off Hiro’s arm, and Baymax wakes up to ask, On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your pain? When his aunt knocks on his door, Hiro needs I don’t feel well. Hiro drops something on his foot — are you okay? — and he says he is fine. Baymax scans him from top to bottom, but a real doctor would hear I’ve got a cold. And after every crash, the robot nurse says take it easy.
📖 Bonus words
Huggable
So soft and lovely that you want to hug it.
Exciting
Making you feel interested and full of energy.
Action-packed
Full of fights, chases and fast scenes.
✏️ Practice
Fill in the blank
0 of 5 correctType the missing word or phrase from this episode, then check. Stuck? Tap Hint to see three options.
In Tadashi’s lab, Hiro says “Ow!”, and Baymax asks, “On a of one to ten, how would you rate your pain?”
For weeks, Hiro stays in his room. When his aunt knocks, the words he needs are “I don’t feel .”
Hiro drops something on his foot, and Baymax wakes up. Hiro gives the answer everyone gives: “I’m fine, .”
Back in the bedroom, Baymax scans Hiro from top to bottom. In Britain, you tell a doctor, “I’ve a cold.”
After every crash, Baymax checks Hiro and tells him to rest: “Take it .”
🧠 Check you understood
Comprehension questions
0 of 6 answeredWhere does the story begin?
- In Tokyo, in a school for robots
- In San Fransokyo, a city that is half San Francisco and half Tokyo
- In a small town by the sea
Who does Hiro live with?
- His aunt Cass, above her café
- Tadashi’s friends, in the lab
- Baymax, in a flat near the university
How does Tadashi wake Baymax up in the lab?
- He presses a big red button on Baymax’s chest
- He calls Baymax’s name three times, very loudly
- He pulls tape off Hiro’s arm
Why does Baymax wake up in Hiro’s room?
- His aunt knocks loudly on the door
- Hiro drops something on his foot and says “Ow” again
- Hiro turns him on to ask for help
What can Baymax do that a real doctor cannot?
- Scan Hiro from top to bottom before he says a word
- Give Hiro medicine through a small hole in his arm
- Take Hiro to hospital on his back
Why does Hiro give Baymax rocket boots?
- Because the man in the mask has taken Baymax’s armour
- Because Baymax wants to fly back to Tadashi’s lab
- Because Baymax cannot run
✍️ Your turn
Try it yourself in the comments
At the start I asked what you would say if a robot nurse asked how you felt. Hiro tells Baymax he is fine. Baymax does not believe him. What would you tell Baymax today? Write two sentences in the comments here or on the website, and use “I don’t feel well” or “I’m fine, honestly” in one of them.
For example: “I don’t feel well today, Baymax — I’ve got a cold and a headache. On a scale of one to ten, my pain is about a four.”Write a comment ↓📚 Keep learning
Leave a Reply