101 Dalmatians

Movie review by Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
101 Dalmatians Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 5+

Lovable cartoon classic with cute dogs and a mean villain.

G 1961 79 minutes
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Parents say

age 5+

Based on 19 reviews

Kids say

age 6+

Based on 24 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Disney's classic puppy tale 101 Dalmatians is rated G but may contain a few disturbing scenes featuring one the studio's vilest villains, Cruella de Vil. As the song goes, "if she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will." For an animated movie, there's a considerable amount of smoking and drinking (Roger smokes a pipe; Cruella is always shown with her long-stemmed cigarettes; and her two henchman drink wine straight out of the bottle). Language is limited to several insults like "idiot," "imbecile," "fools," mostly said by Cruella. On the bright side, the dog parents and their human pets are relentless in their goal to save the puppies -- all of them, not just their own.

Community Reviews

doctora
doctora Adult
June 6, 2022
age 5+

Has not aged well...

I would argue you can put this in the list of Disney films that have not aged well (I'm looking at you Peter Pan!). It is not too egregious but it is enough to turn me off to the film. The gender dynamics are tired and worn thin. The violence towards the villains is over the top and unfunny to my taste and Cruella de Ville is seen as a disfigured tantrummy non-person by the film's end. Also the female lead and Perdy are also portrayed as whiny and helpless.
1 person found this helpful.
meydiana.rizki
meydiana.rizki Adult
April 24, 2021
age 5+

Best Cartoon Movie Ever!!!!!

This movie is amazing because the animation is so realistic and different; some of of the color is outside this lines and you can still see some pencil lines. In the art department... totally would give it a six star if I could. As far as character development and character personality, you can totally feel what they feel and see the sadness or happiness in their faces. The animation is so impeccable and moving that you can relate to the characters and see their points of view. So as far as the characters this movie, again, six stars. And of course we have the villain. Cruella DeVil is such an easy person to hate and loathe, and that is what makes her such a great villain. She doesn't waver or switch sides and sometimes that would be great, but in this case her pure evilness ties the whole movie together. So villains, this round you get five stars. Overall, this movie would get six stars. Amazing job, Disney.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 19 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Like Lady and the Tramp, 101 DALMATIANS is told from the perspective of dogs, this time two dalmatians, Pongo and Perdita, the cherished pets of Roger and Anita. Anita's old friend, one of the most notorious villains in movie history, is the aptly named Cruella De Vil. Her henchmen kidnap Perdita's puppies and 84 others so she can make them into a dalmatian fur coat. Pongo and Perdita, with the help of their animal friends, undertake a daring rescue.

Is It Any Good?

The puppies are adorable, and the movie is exciting, funny (with a sly poke at television and the kids who watch it), and fun. Cruella is still one of the most memorable villains in the history of the movies -- for good reason. She's loud and mean, and she's willing to wear a coat made of 101 puppies -- what could be worse?

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the responsibilities of raising a pet, as Roger and Anita do in 101 Dalmatians. Do kids think they would be able to maintain enthusiasm for their pet? Would they be responsible for feeding, brushing, playing, and walking it? What kind of commitment is it to raise a pet, particularly a dog?

  • What makes Cruella scary? Can you think of any other villians as scary as her? What similarities do all villains share?

  • How do the dogs in 101 Dalmatians demonstrate teamwork? Why is this an important character strength?

Movie Details

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