Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Artless time waster with talking dogs and grieving kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
A Christmas Wedding Tail
What's the Story?
In the picturesque world of Southern California wine country, two dogs initiate an autumn romance between their owners, both of whom are widowed and have young children. "City girl" Susan (Jennie Garth), an out-of-work art curator, and "small-town boy" Jake (Brad Rowe), a vineyard owner, fall in love quickly and attempt to unite her three boys and his two girls in time for a Christmas wedding. But their plans are interrupted when Susan gets a job offer from a famous New York museum and has to reevaluate her life's goals.
Is It Any Good?
If only helping children deal with the loss of a parent and uniting two families with dissimilar backgrounds were as easy as this lightweight romance tries to make it seem. But lame attempts at comically planning a wedding, talking dogs whose bearing and expression have no resemblance to the words they utter, and cheap laughs at the expense of a variety of stereotypical wedding planners, musicians, and an agent (Tom Arnold is the worst of the lot) take an already shallow premise and make it offensive.
That doesn't even take into account the lack of logic throughout the movie, the far-too-easy dismissal of a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity, and finally the complete lack of suspense, since the film opens at the wedding, then flashes back. It's a harmless movie, but except for the visual beauty of its setting, it's a time-waster.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the many different types of family that are successful and happy. What are some of the issues that a family like Susan's and Jake's might encounter? What kinds of challenges might their family face in real life?
Think of some other movies you've liked that have talking animals. What makes them funny? How do they comment on the world around them?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : December 6, 2011
- Cast : Brad Rowe , Jay Mohr , Jennie Garth
- Director : Michael Feifer
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Anchor Bay Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals , Holidays
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mild language
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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