12 Dogs of Christmas: Great Puppy Rescue
By Renee Longstreet,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Cute dogs can't save muddled sequel with constant peril.
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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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What's the Story?
12 DOGS OF CHRISTMAS: THE GREAT PUPPY RESCUE picks up six years after 11-year old Emma saved the day in the original film. Now a teen, Emma (a feisty Danielle Chuchran) returns to Doverville for the funeral of Cathy Stevens, her beloved surrogate mom. After an accident paralyzes Cathy's son, Emma learns that the Stevens farm for orphan dogs, which she helped to establish, is in grave danger. The mustache-twirling "richest-man-in-town" (a badly miscast Sean Patrick Flanery) wants the land for a dog-racing track, and he's willing to do anything to get it. The farm's mortgage hasn't been paid either! Summoning her old friends, Emma decides to stay in Doverville and (once again) put on a show to raise money and save the farm. But the obstacles and story-lines multiply... Emma encounters a deceitful doctor, an evil animal control officer, a rabies threat, a cowardly bank officer, a would-be clairvoyant, "Bing Crosby," AND an irresistible teen basketball player who may or may not be in league with the villain. Everybody's counting on Emma, but can she deliver miracles again?
Is It Any Good?
Too many story elements, characters, and threats combine to keep everything underdeveloped, hurried and slapdash, and, in many instances, entirely unresolved. In addition, amateurish and/or miscast actors in some of the roles and the filmmakers' decision to make a sequel with the very same structure as the first movie (kids coming together to put on a show and save the adorable dogs from evil-doers) contribute to the overall inadequacy of the project.
The film is earnest and tries hard to be heart-warming, but it's done in by not having the most elementary of "must-haves" -- an intelligent script, accessible plotting, and an original idea.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the right choice for Michael -- should he go to veterinary school or stay home to take care of the orphan dogs? Why? How might his accident influence his decision?
Why are movies with animals so popular? What makes a good animal movie?
Discuss the many threats to the orphan dogs in this movie. What were the filmmakers trying to accomplish by placing them in jeopardy so often? Were they successful in building suspense, or did it become confusing?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: January 9, 2012
- Cast: Danielle Chuchran, James Gaisford, Skylar Holman
- Director: Kieth Merrill
- Studio: Sony Pictures
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Friendship, Holidays
- Run time: 102 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: mild thematic elements including an accident
- Last updated: April 1, 2022
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