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Parents' Guide to

Benji

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Adorable stray dog in '70s classic; some peril.

Movie G 1974 86 minutes
Benji Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 11+

Based on 10 parent reviews

Judi Y.
Judi Y. Parent
March 18, 2018
age 16+

NOT a movie for a sensitive persson or child!

We all remember the mild movie of our childhood. The violence was less & the scare factor was somewhat glossed over. This is not that movie. The story line is similar the violence is ramped up really high. The scare factor is too real and makes it too scary. Basically..... I took me a hour to stop my sensitive 14yr old child from crying and shaking after the kicking scene. We never finished the movie. It was bad. I have never seen him react this badly. He saw the original and never reacted like this because it wasn't ramped up to be bloody and excessively violent. I could never recomend this movie although we loved the original.

This title has:

Too much violence
1 person found this helpful.
Cassandra F.
Cassandra F. Adult
March 17, 2018
age 15+

Why would we want to scare the hell out of our kids?

My kids are 7 and 10. I skipped all of the parts with the kidnappers beacause why would I want to put the idea of being kidnapped into my children’s minds!!! I think it is very irresponsible film making and rating unless these people want to keep society scared. I do not recommend it. Luckily I also skipped the dog kicking scene.

This title has:

Too much violence
1 person found this helpful.
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Told largely from the dog's point of view, BENJI is the story of a stray dog. Benji is a rascal, but he's also smart, lovable, and very adventurous. He cavorts through his small town on a wonderful daily routine. He has longstanding relationships with two kids, a local policeman, a cafe owner, and a prissy white cat. And each night, Benji makes his way back to the giant abandoned house that he calls home. The two kids, Paul (Allen Fluzat) and Cindy (Cynthia Smith), would love nothing more than to adopt him. Unfortunately, though their housekeeper/nanny (Patsy Garrett) is a fan, they simply can't convince their dad (Peter Breck) to let them. The trouble starts in Benji's "home," just after he's met Tiffany, the pooch of his dreams, another adorable stray. An assortment of criminals has staked out the house to use as their headquarters for an unholy escapade in which they'll endanger the two people Benji loves most. Those villains, however, never thought they'd have to contend with Benji, superhero extraordinaire, who eventually calls upon his skills, his resourcefulness, and even some of his town buddies to save everyone's day.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10 ):
Kids say (3 ):

Sequence after sequence of Benji on his own -- romping, prancing, and acting very much like a dog with a plan through small-town streets and sumptuous woodlands -- is simply delightful. Director Joe Camp, who generated a franchise with this family film in 1974, makes the most of the captivating dog, his natural habitat, and small-town America. But even Camp couldn't just put up 86 minutes of dog home-movie. He had to provide a story as well. That story is a by-the-numbers kidnapping affair, with bickering villains who imperil both kids and beloved pups. There's a happy ending, of course, but caution: A boy afraid, a little girl crying, and a doggie mistreated may be unsettling for little kids or very sensitive ones.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about when it's appropriate to question the rules their parents set, as Paul and Cindy did. If Benji wasn't such a remarkable dog, would it have been OK to keep him?

  • What do you need to know before you adopt a pet? Why is it important to be aware of what owning a pet means before taking on such a wonderful responsibility?

  • In 1974, this movie was got a G rating. Now, after we know more about the effects of violence on kids, it would probably be rated PG. Which scenes or themes do you think might merit a PG rating?

Movie Details

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