Parents' Guide to

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta!

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Entertaining talking-dog threequel has whole-family humor.

Movie G 2012 89 minutes
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta! Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 4+

Based on 1 parent review

Antoinette V.
Antoinette V. Adult
April 30, 2018
age 4+

wil gaan kijken maar lukt niet

See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Now married Rachel (Erin Cahill) and Sam Cortez (Marcus Coloma) still live in her wealthy aunt's Beverly Hills mansion with their beloved dogs Papi (voiced by George Lopez), Chloe (Odette Annable), and their five puppies. While the couple is applying for live-in jobs as a sous chef and a landscape designer at a luxury hotel, manager Mr. Hollis (Cedric Yarbrough) spots Chloe and says that Rachel and Sam can have the jobs if Chloe can be photographed as the hotel's dog model for their various pet-friendly amenities. Meanwhile, the youngest pup, Rosita (Kay Panabaker), prepares for her traditional quinceañera party, while Papi and his brother, Pedro (Ernie Hudson), uncover a rival's plot to steal the hotel's clientele and ruin the Cortez family's livelihood.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (4):

While it's rare to find a direct-to-DVD sequel that stands up against its theatrically released original, this one's surprisingly amusing and considerably less frightening than the first two movies. The quinceañera plotline is particularly entertaining, as Papi and the event coordinator pug audition several bands with names obviously aimed at parents, like Bob Marley and Me, Black Labbath, and more. The dogs even "sing" in the same style as the human bands they're tributing. The discussions of the cultural significance of the quinceañera are also a nice multicultural lesson for kids unfamiliar with the tradition.

Although the secondary story involving the humans is pretty thin, this isn't a movie you watch for the people. It's all about the dogs, and at least in this one, the action focuses primarily on Papi and what an attentive and unconditionally supportive husband, father, and pet he is -- making sure his pups are safe and well-educated, doting on his overworked wife, trying to help his brother land the dog of his dreams, and uncovering a rival hotelier's plan. Lopez is a talented comedian, and it's ultimately his voice that makes this Chihuahua flick work.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the continuing popularity of talking pet movies. Why are live-action films with dogs that speak such an enduring trend?

  • What does Papi teach the puppies about the Mexican tradition of the quinceañera? How does Rosita finally feel independent enough to deserve the party?

  • All three Beverly Hills Chihuahua movies deal with the theme of status. How is Pedro's romance with the VIP dog similar to Papi and Chloe's or Sam and Rachel's? What finally wins her over?

Movie Details

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