Common Sense Media Review
By Tracy Moore
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Ridiculous, dreadful film doesn't feature cute puppies.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
A Magic Puppy (A Halloween Puppy)
What's the Story?
Linda (Kristine DeBell) thinks her relationship with Ted (Eric Roberts) is in a rut, so she plans a weekend getaway to a cabin. But when her son, Adam (Evan Crooks), and his friend Molly (Stephanie Shemanski) accidentally turn him into a dog when they misread a magic spell, the weekend is ruined. Or is it? The teenagers buy some time and take the dog along while they hastily try to figure out how to correct their mistake.
Is It Any Good?
A MAGIC PUPPY (A HALLOWEEN PUPPY) may be the least awkward of the David DeCoteau experiments in misleading filmmaking. It probably uses the least recycled footage, the least awkward dialogue, and the least awkward transitions, and it does actually have a major plot point about a dog. That said, it's not the dog on the cover, and it's still bad. Whether it's so bad it's good is up to the viewer, who will have to watch scenes that are entirely too long, with every possible plot point spelled out painfully in advance. Bonus points for figuring out why Eric Roberts appears in all these films or why every bit of dialogue sounds like it was recorded in a garage. Plus, the magic is never really explained. That said, aside from a few bullies who get their comeuppance, everyone is incredibly well-intentioned here. Perhaps you too would do the same thing if your son turned your boyfriend into a pit bull for the weekend.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the film's bait and switch. Why do you think this director has a different image on the cover from what's in the film? Do most movies seem to be similar to what the covers suggest? What do you think the message is, and why?
Why is it so important to follow the directions? Have you ever messed something up by not following directions? What happened?
How does this film compare to other films you've seen about magic spells?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 2, 2012
- Cast : Kristine DeBell , Eric Roberts
- Director : David DeCoteau
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Rapid Heart Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Animals
- Run time : 80 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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
Suggest an 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