3 Holiday Tails
By Jennifer Green,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Dogs aren't the focus in wholesome relationship tale.
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3 Holiday Tails
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What's the Story?
In 3 HOLIDAY TAILS, Lisa (Julie Gonzalo) meets her upstairs neighbor, retiree Katherine (Alley Mills), on her first day in a new apartment near the beach. They become fast friends, and Lisa tells Katherine about her ex-boyfriend, David (K.C. Clyde), whom she clearly still has feelings for. Not long after, Lisa runs into David on the beach as she's out walking her three puppies and Katherine's grown dog Jake. The dogs interrupt David just as he's about to propose to his new girlfriend (Kelly Jansen), and one of the puppies, together with David's engagement ring, go missing. The incident, and David's newfound friendship on a local basketball court with Katherine's husband, Rod (Bruce Davison), bring David and Lisa back into regular contact. Sparks fly, and Katherine, Rod, and the dogs all maneuver to get the couple together again. Meanwhile, Lisa's niece Myra (Alex Peters) has a crush on a schoolmate.
Is It Any Good?
This TV movie might not win awards, but it offers a well-structured, if predictable, tale with a big heart. It's pleasant, as much for the story as for the warm beachfront setting. The acting is also solid, with the women especially standing out in the ensemble cast: Argentina-born Julie Gonzales in the lead, Alley Mills (the mom on The Wonder Years) as her surrogate mother figure, and Alex Peters as the niece. Perhaps not surprisingly, this movie may draw a more female audience.
The title neatly alludes to the story's three couples in three different stages of life as well as the three puppies the main character has adopted. But caveat: don't watch 3 Holiday Tails just for the dogs. They're adorably present throughout, but they're not the stars. Besides a few acts of minor meddling, they seem mostly to serve as inspiration for the pun-ny title and a recurring joke about "puppy love."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the three couples in 3 Holiday Tails. In what ways do they represent different phases of life and even different stages in a relationship? Who is the wisest, and why?
How do the dogs alter events in the lives of the characters? How do you think dogs are trained to "act" in a film?
What other films have you watched with stories involving dogs? How does this one compare?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: November 15, 2011
- Cast: Julie Gonzalo , Kelly Stables , K.C. Clyde , Alley Mills
- Director: Joe Menendez
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Latino actors
- Studio: Doggie Holiday Productions
- Genre: Romance
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice , Friendship
- Run time: 88 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- Last updated: February 27, 2022
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