 | 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. |
The Search for Santa Paws
- Review Date: November 14, 2010
- G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2010
Common Sense Media says
Kids will love Santa's puppy, but watch out for sad moments.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this extension of the popular "Buddies" puppy franchise will be appealing to kids, but the movie's themes of loss, neglect, and abandonment might be too intense for very young or sensitive children. Some action takes place in a foster home, where a mean caregiver locks kids in a basement and takes away mementos of their dead parents. There are also mixed messages about the "true" meaning of Christmas (loot or love?) and how adoption works. But if kids can stomach the harsh stuff, the talking puppy and jolly Santa will surely bring them joy.
What's the story?
Santa's workshop is operating at full tilt -- until Santa (Richard Riehle) gets a message on his birthday that his friend Mr. Hucklebuckle has passed away. This sad news is accompanied with the gift of a very special dog, whom Santa calls Paws. Meanwhile, Mr. Hucklebuckle's grandson has taken over the toy store, which is near a foster home. Santa plans a visit but has an accident on the way and needs the help of Paws and the girls from the foster home. But can they work together to save Santa -- and Christmas?
Is it any good?
This musical take on the modern-day Christmas story holds a lot of appeal for kids, since there are talking puppies, a jolly Santa and elves, and brave girls. But the emotional punches delivered might be too intense for the youngest viewers, who are confronted with the notion that parents die and kids are put into foster homes, plus the idea that if prospective parents "think you are cute, then they will take you home."
This isn't a new theme -- there are lots of hard-luck stories out there. But this movie is embellished with cute puppies and lots of toys, which makes the gritty scenes of girls being thrown into the basement look more like child abuse than something a kid can simply shake off. That said, the payoff is pretty great when it comes. The rosy times glow a little brighter, but viewers might be a touch too sad to enjoy the rewards of a happy ending.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the spirit of Christmas. How does this movie define it? What does the spirit of Christmas or the winter holidays mean to your family?
Quinn and Will are in a foster home. What are foster homes really like? What purpose does this movie's negative depiction of foster homes serve?
When you see all of the toys in this movie, do you want to have some of them? Check out some of the ways that media influences kids to buy stuff.
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Parent of 3, 5, and 9 year old
December 2, 2010
AGE
NOT a happy holiday movie.
Grandma bought this for my kids to get them in the holiday spirit - it was horrible. All three of my kids 3,5 and 8 were in tears at more than one point in the movie. Its just sad thing after sad thing - there is nothing happy until the very end. We won't watch it again. Don't waste your money.
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Parent of 7 year old
December 10, 2010
AGE
Very Bad Holiday Movie
After trying to watch this movie twice,I must
say, it is not a very good movie. My granddaughters were terrorized by it. The furnace scene certainly should not have been in the movie. Even Santa was not attractive.
Why make such an awful "Christmas" movie. I had to turn the movie off as soon as that furance scene came up. The children started to cry. I wish that Disney would read some of the negative reviews this film is receiving. Too bad DVD's can't be returned to the store. I think I might send it to Mr.
Robert Vince, Walt Disney
stodios Home Entertainment Director.
What other families should know:
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Adult
December 6, 2010
AGE
True horror for a real dog!
I work for an animal hospital and saw first hand a real life tragedy for a small dog. A 3 1/2 year old child put her dog in a heated oven after watching this movie several times...at least that's the grandmother's story. The oven had just been turned on to preheat, and the mother realized within a minute's time what had happened. The dog suffered great burns, and may or may not survive. What if the child had burned herself while acting out this part of the movie? What if the mother had discovered the horror 5 minutes later?
As for common sense, don't let young children watch tv and movies without previewing or watching with them. Just because it looks cute doesn't mean that it's appropriate.
Adults who make movies like this must not remember being kids themselves.
What other families should know:
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Parent
November 26, 2010
AGE
Not a family movie, just scary and inappropriate
The horrible woman who watches over the kids in the orphanage incinerates their toys as she does not allow toys in the home. (Going so far as to take a three year old child's toy given to her by her dead mother.) Children are forced to sleep in basement when they misbehave. This is not a childrens' movie and was frightening to our daughter . Not a family movie!
What other families should know:
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AGE
A fine film, but some sick person added a dirty special feature.
I am simply appalled by this movie, more specifically it's special features. There is an "Easter egg" at the bottom right hand corner of the main title screen that appears after about 30 seconds. When you click on it, scantily clad women come onto the screen and start dancing around Santa in a very tight swimsuit drinking a martini. This movie is okay for your young ones, but please DO NOT view the special features with children in the room. I have no clue how that made it past production!!
What other families should know:
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AGE
A fine film, but some sick person added a dirty special feature.
I am simply appalled by this movie, more specifically it's special features. There is an "Easter egg" at the bottom right hand corner of the main title screen that appears after about 30 seconds. When you click on it, scantily clad women come onto the screen and start dancing around Santa in a very tight swimsuit drinking a martini. This movie is okay for your young ones, but please DO NOT view the special features with children in the room. I have no clue how that made it past production!!
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Kid, 10 years old
November 27, 2010
AGE
A very heartwarming story for anyone to enjoy
The movie is bittersweet.Some happy and sad moments.
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Adult
December 14, 2010
AGE
I rented this movie without knowing there was adoption/foster care content as one of the themes. As an adoptive parent, I am concerned that my 6 yr old daughter will not understand that how these concepts were portrayed is not real. I'm particularly concerned with how Miss Stout was portrayed as a mean foster parent who punishes children by taking away beloved possessions and incinerating them and by locking children in the basement overnight. I plan to talk with my daughter to clarify things tomorrow. The other themes about Santa, the elves and the dogs was somewhat cute. Overall, I have some concerns about this movie.
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Parent of 8, 12, and 16 year old
December 30, 2010
AGE
Santa get hit by car, looses memory, later passes out, almost dies. Foster kids talk about their parents being dead, woman who runs foster house if extremely mean. When Santa Paws is in stuffed animal form the foster woman throws him in the incinerator. Foster woman takes away kids toys and burns them.
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Teen, 13 years old
December 28, 2010
AGE
Not for little kids at all!!!
This movie is adorable, but do not let little kids watch this. It can be very scary for them. The lady at the orphanage is way to mean to the orphans, and she hates Christmas. But at the end of the movie, it sends a positive message, and in the end, it is really cute.
What other families should know:
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| Topics: | holidays |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment |
| Director: | Robert Vince |
| Cast: | Bonnie Somerville, Madison Pettis, Wendi McLendon-Covey |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 96 minutes |
| DVD release date: | November 16, 2010 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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