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Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this doggy adventure includes unexpected dramatic elements -- like Shane's fear that his fire-captain dad will die. Known for ditching school and disobeying his father, Shane has behavioral and communication issues. He and his father also both deal with grieving the recent loss of a relative. A few fiery sequences may be too intense for very young kids, even though no one gets hurt. As for canine antics, Rex is so pampered that he's even set up with three female poodles waiting on a doggy bed. But he doesn't indulge, instead running to help save people from a fire.
Families can talk about how the movie deals with gender roles. When Pep shows up at the party in a dress, her friends act surprised that she looks like a girl. Is being a firefighter only for boys? Also, what messages does the movie send about society's values by contrasting Rex's Hollywood life with his adventures as a fire dog? Kids, would you rather be a Hollywood star or a firefighter? Why? Can you think of other movies that feature heroic dogs?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Sandie Angulo Chen
In the canine adventure genre, FIREHOUSE DOG isn't the next Air Bud or Beethoven franchise-in-the-making. But it's a sweet enough pooch pic with just enough laughs -- and heart -- to save it from the formulaic mediocrity of many family-friendly flicks.
Shane (Josh Hutcherson, whose considerable on-screen charm and expressive face make him destined for at least an entire adolescence in Hollywood) is asked by his fire-captain dad (Bruce Greenwood) to take care of an outgoing mutt who was saved from a local fire. But Dewey is no ordinary dog -- he's really Hollywood top dog Rex, star of such blockbusters as The Fast and the Furriest and Jurassic Bark. Presumed dead after a film stunt gone awry, Rex starts to dig his new life as Shane's -- and later the firehouse's -- wonder dog.
While the movie's marketing emphasizes all of Rex's dog tricks -- and there are plenty -- Firehouse Dog also touches on some heavier themes. Shane and his dad are still mourning the death of a relative who died in a mysterious fire. Shane skips school and disobeys his father's rules, and the captain's squad is quickly devolving into the fire department's "last on the scene" joke. To add to the drama, an arsonist threatens to destroy the entire neighborhood surrounding the firehouse.
But fear not, families, it's still a kids' flick -- so Shane, Rex, and the eclectic crew of firefighters eventually come to the rescue. Before the final fire is put out, father and son have a touching heart-to-heart, and Rex decides that living like a star (one whose celebrity extends to tabloid gossip about his dalliances with Paris Hilton's Chihuahua, no less) is nothing compared to being a hero. And that's not a bad message for media-saturated kids ... or their celebrity-obsessed parents.
Families who like canine adventures may also enjoy Air Bud, Because of Winn-Dixie, and Homeward Bound.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentThe two fire captains, their kids, and their dogs all flirt with each other. Rex's original owner and manager hug and hold hands. A female firefighter wears a sexy gown that makes her colleagues stare. |
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ViolenceA few flashbacks to the day a firefighter died and a couple of intense fire scenes that might frighten younger children, even though no one ends up hurt. |
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LanguageBasic PG curses: "suck," "crap," "jerk," "stupid," "dumb," "hell," etc. |
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Social BehaviorRex discovers that he prefers helping people as a firehouse dog than entertaining them as an overindulged Hollywood star. Shane has behavioral issues, but he and the captain finally communicate and work through their father-son problems. A female firefighter is a good role model: She's just as tough as her male counterparts but can also dress up in a fancy outfit. |
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CommercialismShane owns all of the following: Mac laptop, iPod, PSP, Play Station 2, Tony Hawk T-shirt, Green Day poster. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoA benefit gala includes a brief glimpse of partygoers drinking champagne. |
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