The Ugly Dachshund

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Slow-moving story is for dog lovers only.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this 1966 movie is a product of the era in which it was filmed, and the treatment of two Asian characters would be considered offensive by today's standards. The roles of husband and wife also seem dated. Lots of scenes of adorable puppies getting up to mischief will make this a winner for dog lovers.

  • The dynamic between the bossy wife and milquetoast husband, as well as the wife's social ambitions played out through her dogs, may not be something to model, but it certainly reflects human nature. Mutual devotion between dog and human is sweetly depicted.
  • Not applicable.
  • Married couple exchange numerous affectionate embraces and kisses, but sleep in 1960s-issue twin beds.
  • Husband tells wife to "shut up" during a fight, then apologizes profusely.
  • Not applicable.
  • An anxious character drains a few glasses of champagne; another is teased about being drunk at a past social event.

What's the story?

THE UGLY DACHSHUND is a live-action Disney movie that follows the trials and tribulations of Fran (Suzanne Pleshette) and Jim (Dean Jones) as they raise a litter of puppies born by their beloved dachshund Danke. Unbeknownst to Fran, Jim and the vet slip a Great Dane puppy into the litter, in Jim's quest for a more masculine companion. The Great Dane, Brutus, is forever getting into trouble for the mayhem caused by the other puppies, and Fran wants to get rid of him. Jim decides the only way for Fran to understand Brutus's value is to have him win a dog show which she, of course, has entered with Danke and her daughters.


Is it any good?

 

While scenes of puppies getting into mischief may entertain dog lovers of every age, neither plot nor the characters will win over other viewers. Fran is an unlikable nag who seems strangely vindictive to the hapless Great Dane pup, while Jim's passiveness masks a willingness to manipulate or hide facts to get his way. Plot threads are introduced and then left unresolved, like the presence of a cat burglar in the neighborhood. By the third scene of the puppies getting Brutus into trouble, we all know how it will end.

Scenes of beehive hairstyles, a milkman making a home delivery, a themed backyard barbecue, and fins on the automobiles lend a nostalgic '60s feel to the movie. Characters making fun of a Japanese character who embodies all the negative racial stereotypes of the era do not. The movie is appropriate family fare, but one viewing is probably all anyone will request.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about Jim's decision to sneak home a Great Dane puppy without telling his wife first. Was there a different way he could have handled it? Why does Fran finally start to like Brutus? What do you think that says about her character?


This review was written by Nancy Davis Kho
Teen, 18 years old
July 12, 2009
 
A great family movie!
I'm an avid dog lover, and this movie shows that even if you have a bad dog(which is the owners fault for letting them get that way) you don't just take it and drop it off at the shelter. They truly love Brutus and they work out their problems to become a happy family. A very humorous movie and great for families.

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This review was written by Nancy Davis Kho
Studio:Walt Disney Pictures
Director:Norman Tokar
Cast:Charles Ruggles, Dean Jones, Suzanne Pleshette
Genre:Family and Kids
Run time:93 minutes
Theatrical release date:February 16, 1966
DVD release date:July 6, 2004
MPAA rating:NR

This review was written by Nancy Davis Kho
 

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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