 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Hotel for Dogs
- Review Date: January 15, 2009
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Young pet lovers will get a kick out of dog comedy.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this Nickelodeon-produced comedy about an orphaned brother and sister (played by tween faves Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin) who set up a secret refuge for stray dogs is targeted squarely at the family market. Because the main characters are orphans living in foster care, there are some references to dead parents, but it doesn't get too emotional. And with no swearing or consumerism and only mild flirting (though there are a couple of kisses), the movie is age-appropriate for grade-schoolers while still appealing to tweens.
What's the story?
Based on Lois Duncan's children's book series, HOTEL FOR DOGS follows orphaned siblings Andi (Emma Roberts) and Bruce (Jake T. Austin) who secretly care for their beloved dog Friday while they live with self-absorbed, dog-hating foster parents. After Friday runs into a condemned old building, Andi and Bruce discover two dogs already living in the once-grand hotel and decide the place would make a perfect safe haven for the city's strays. With Bruce's knack for expertly engineered contraptions and the help of three local teens, the young animal lovers christen their little sanctuary the Hotel for Dogs.
Is it any good?
If Marley and Me can be considered one of the most realistic -- and emotionally wrenching -- depictions of life with a dog, Hotel for Dogs is probably one of the least realistic (talking-canine flicks aside). Even if you go along with the concept that a boarded-up hotel would still be filled with furniture (even gym equipment!), it will be difficult for adults to believe that an 11-year-old could come up with all of Bruce's intricate inventions (a self-cleaning golden hydrant where the dogs can raise a leg, an automatic dog-bowl filler, a car-window ride simulator, etc.). That said, the kooky contraptions are probably the best part of the movie, and kids will get a kick out of the whole thing.
The movie's subplot is about whether the siblings will ever find a permanent home. When their bad-hair, rock-wannabe foster parents (played by Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillon) find out about the kids' antics, Andi and Bruce are forced to go to group homes. Luckily for them, their social worker, Bernie (Don Cheadle), is determined to find them a sanctuary -- just like they're intent on saving the city's endangered dogs. Predictably enough, there's a warm-and-fuzzy ending. Be warned, though: Young kids may want to go straight from the movie theater to rescue a dog at the pound.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why so many movie kids are orphans. Do you feel more sympathy for kids who don't have parents? Do they seem like bigger heroes than other kids?
Do movies like this ever make you anxious about your own family?
Parents: Talk to your kids about any fears or worries they might have
about being without you.Kids: Can you think of ways that your
actions can make a positive change in your community?
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AGE
this movie is very good. and almost 100% kid friendly. however, the workers at the pound treat dogs like they are just nothing more than some mangey muts of trouble, and they act as if they must be eliminated. the kids sneek out food from thier foster parents home without permission. they also "cheat" by selling fake cell phones at a pawn shop. towards the end of the movie, the foster parents discover the hotel for strays and use the word "crap" a couple times. also at the end, two of the teenage characters share a lovely kiss. on the good side, the kids and the guy searching for thier new homes, would often remind everyone that the dogs are not just mangy muts of trouble, but they are also family. but because of the use of "crap", i recommend it for kids 8+.
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AGE
Great family movie, 5 1/2 and up
I am very conscientious about what my kids watch. Although there were some bad examples of appropriate behavior, in context and when explained, my kids understood that sometimes there are "good" (or seemed good) reasons for this behavior. Example...the kids sell a rock in cell phone box to a pawn shop. They do this because their foster parents feed them terrible food and they're hungry, and to feed their dog, who they are hiding at the foster parents place, and they are there because their parents died. The kids are GOOD kids in a tough spot. It brought up conversation about foster parents and adoption. My kids loved the animals and their antics. It was a family movie that we all enjoyed. There wasn't inappropriate humor geared at parents...It was a cute and fun movie that didn't cross any lines anywhere.
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Kid, 11 years old
August 7, 2011
AGE
Funny
Happy and silly.
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AGE
I like it! to many dogs the problem is the crime and the police will bust the dogs it is VIOLENT! and the old place of hotel it is dirty a little bit...
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Kid, 12 years old
October 12, 2009
AGE
Awesome movie
I've only seen it once but I think it's good and bad.
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AGE
Cute movie but discuss crime/police elements with your kids.
Cute factor with the dogs and various inventions is great for kids. However... the kids (main characters) are constantly getting into trouble with police, are involved in some kind of scam and there is some stealing and plenty of lying. Somehow this is done without the fast paced tension that is in a lot of kids movies, but there's a bit of a message that crime is OK if you have a reason so definitely discuss this with your kids.
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AGE
Don Cheadle does his best (as do the kid actors), which help Hotel for Dogs maintain decency
Hotel for Dogs will probably go down in history as the first pet movie to be entertaining (unlike Marley and Me, which was rubbish). Unfourtunately, it doesn't make a stride to be unpredictable or truly comedic. For instance, the jokes are clean and funny enough, but they don't quite feel like they belong in a comedy. More like slapstick actionier. Still, Hotel for Dogs features some great performances (most notably from Don Cheadle) and gives kids a great message. Content issues: There are some kisses, as well as a few flirty remarks towards girls. But I am scraping the barrel, since there really isn't anything (technically) wrong with this movie. Kids might get scared at a tense part in the beginning, so this is best left for ages 6+.
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AGE
Cute, but a bit boring...
My title says it all. I mean, it's not like I hated the movie. But, I've seen wayyyy better dog movies then this. There was good messages in it though. The acting was pretty bad. If you like cute, short dog movies watch this. Otherwise, don't.
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Kid, 11 years old
June 3, 2011
AGE
Great storyline!
Hotel for dogs is a great movie for dog lovers. It has some really sad parts in it but has a really good storyline. There are two kids that live in this foster home. They cause all sorts of trouble. Also they have this secret dog, he wonders the streets sometimes, his name is Friday. The three of them are being chased by the police and run into this run down hotel. There, they find lots of other dogs and decide to take care of them. This is a must see movie and i really enjoyed it.
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AGE
Another Animal Flick.
This movie is funny,cut,and entrtaining,it might inspire kids to save an animal.
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| Topics: | book characters |
| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Thor Freudenthal |
| Cast: | Don Cheadle, Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 100 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 16, 2009 |
| DVD release date: | April 28, 2009 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | brief mild thematic elements, language and some crude humor |
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