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The Shaggy D.A.

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 5; suggested age 5.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Dad turns into a dog in this vintage Disney movie.

Themes in this movie include:   family relationships

Why We Rated This on for Ages 5 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    This movie goes to show that even important dads can have their shaggy moments. The gangsters who are affiliated with the crooked current D.A. get their comeuppance.

  • Role models:

    The Daniels family works together to get Mr. Daniels' campaign off the ground. Some adults are portrayed as greedy, crooked or unintelligent, but the good guys come out in front in the end.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    The crooks are a bit seedy. One of them uses a tranquilizer gun on the dog. The Daniels' neighbor has a shotgun, which he uses to shoot at trespassers. The dog punches a crook. Scary ladder climbing and walking on a high plank.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    '70s era cigarette-smoking by gangsters and people in a bar. Adults drink beer in a bar.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Shaggy D.A.

Parents need to know that there's some 1970s-era smoking and beer drinking in a bar. There's also some mild peril. The bad guys are pretty crooked, stealing and cheating to keep control of the local government. Actually, more of this comedy is concerned with the adult world than a kid's world. In fact, there's only one kid in the whole movie! Kids will like the slapstick and dog moments, though.

Read our full review by Joly Herman

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about all the choices kids have in the entertainment world these days. When today's parents were growing up, they didn't have as much programming geared to them. Here's an interview with a star from some classic 1970s films -- Jodie Foster -- who talks about how media has changed since she was starring in kid's movies.
  • Here's a movie where a kid is wearing headphones and riding a skateboard. But check out the size of those headphones and the skinny banana board! Can you imagine a life without MP3 players and cell phones? How about life before video games? (Ask your grandparents about that one.) Here are some guidelines for creating a good family media plan.
  • Is this a good example of how government works? Do politicians always have their constituents in mind? Who are good politicians in your opinion, and why? Will Wilby Daniels make a good D.A.? Why or why not?
Tools and tips that can help

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