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My Dog Skip

(2000, Rated PG, Drama, Starring Diane Lane, Luke Wilson, Frankie Muniz)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Great boy and dog tale; too intense for some kids.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    A theme of the movie -- depicts segregated 1940's
  • Violence & scariness:

    Characters in peril, references to war casualties, sad death.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Mild, including reference to undescended testicle.
  • Language:

    Mild epithets.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Character drinks to help handle pain.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About My Dog Skip

Parents need to know that there are a couple of strong words in the script, a deer is killed by hunters, a child tells a scary story, menacing bad guys threaten Willie and Skip, and Skip is badly injured. When Skip finally dies (of old age) it is still very sad. One four-year-old boy sitting was inconsolable and kept repeating, "Skip died?" all the way to the car.

Read our full review by Nell Minow

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about WWII-era America, with its ration books and scrap drives. Families can also talk about the era's segregation, including separate ticket booths and seating areas at the movie theater and an adult black man calling a white boy "sir." Families can also talk about what makes bullies behave the way they do and how the skills that make a child successful are very different from the skills that make an adult successful.

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    Not for sensitive children

    My girls were too sensitive with regards to what happens to Skip. The could not stop crying at the end and are now wary of these type movies. I guess kind of like Old Yeller was for me when I was their age.

  2. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Oregon
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 4.0

    Good movie, but the dog dies

    I really liked this movie and it kept my 7 year old engaged. However, he cried when the dog got lost and then again at the end when he died of old age (why is it that movie dogs always die?). I wouldn't show it to him again until he is a bit older.

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title off for age 6 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Negative message

    I didn't like it; animal cruelty

    It made me mad when the boy hit his dog! I think he's a jerk! The only thing I liked about this movie was that it was the same dog from Frasier.

  4. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

    One of my Favorite movies!

    Not a lot to say here other than MY DOG SKIP is one of my all time favorite movies!!! The soundtrack is the best I have ever heard, and the story is classic. I bought this for MY personal CD collection! My children (6 & 9) loved it and it always seems to find its way into our family Friday night pizza night. Whenever the kids are sick and are allowed extra TV time, this is the FIRST movie they request! Just one of those feel good movies that knows no age boundaries. I KNOW you will love this movie!

  5. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 5.0

    for once I agree with your age guidance

    I usually find the Common Sense rating a big conservative -- my six year old was usually fine with movies rated 8+. But in this case, I think 8 is the right cut-off. The scary scenes are truly scary, and much of the social message was over my almost-7-year-old's head. I enjoyed it, though. Terrific cast.

  6. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 4.0

    My dog (sniff) Skip

    My Dog Skip, was a very enduring movie, Boy and his Dog, I laughed, I cried, anyone who has had a dog can relate to this story. This movie teaches some good values along with how to take care of a pet, what happens to pets when they die, the bonds of friendship. all in all a real tear jerker, reminds me of Old Yeller, not for the faint of heart. this movie is rated PG for a reason, there is some violence and death. something that may be hard for younger viewers to understand.

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