Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

A Dogwalker's Christmas Tale

By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Predictable, low-budget holiday romcom is a waste of time.

Movie NR 2015 86 minutes
A Dogwalker's Christmas Tale Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 6+

Based on 1 parent review

age 6+

Festive romance with dogs

This was quite a nice film with a little romance in it. A little tearjerker as long as you understand that it’s not real.

This title has:

Great messages

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

The title here is as unimaginative and awkward as the movie itself, with a simplistic script demonstrating no understanding of human nature or why people do what they do. The budget must have been low as party scenes are glaringly quiet, sparsely populated, and set in rooms that lack furniture. Great filmmaking can rise above financial restrictions, but not this one. A Dogwalker's Christmas Tale showcases the filmmakers' lack of imagination -- it doesn't take much money to make an audio recording of a few people talking and clinking glasses. Just as disappointing, when Luce speaks of herself as a stylish, snappy dresser, it seems odd that there is no evidence of this on the screen. The acting quality matches the script. Jonathan Bennett plays Dean as the only hint of fresh air. He is relentlessly cheerful, struggling to rise above the dreary movie he's stuck in.

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate