Parents' Guide to

Chihuahua: The Movie

By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Mean woman turns into a dog in awful redemption tale.

Movie NR 2011 90 minutes
Chihuahua: The Movie 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 5 parent reviews

Helena R.
Helena R. Parent of 5-year-old
December 17, 2022
age 4+

Surprisingly Good

When I picked up this movie at a local yard sale at the request of my son (he’s going through a chihuahua phase), I wasn’t sure what to expect. But, as I watched the movie, I was pleasantly surprised. My five-year-old loved it, and I quite enjoyed it as well. It was a little cheesy, but the simple plot helped my son develop his precognition skills. I also appreciated the inclusivity for witches like me, even though the use of the dog-charm was a little over dramatic. Not many movies nowadays portray witchcraft in such a positive light—as a tool to do good. By the end of the film, Sandra has become a better person as a result of the magic used on her. In addition, the humor was pretty remarkable, to say the least. My son especially loved the part where the grandma fell unconscious, though I’m not sure if this part was meant to be so humorous. Overall, fellow witches and regular people, I would 100% recommend this movie as a lighthearted flick for the whole family. Dolorem ipsum!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
3 people found this helpful.
Evelyn H.
Evelyn H. Parent of 2, 14, 16 and 18-year-old
December 17, 2022
age 16+

Should have won an Emmy!

This is one the best movies I’ve seen in years. The character development is touching. The only reason I rate it 16+ is that younger people may not grasp the brilliancy of this film. They also might find the dogs scary, if they’ve had a negative experience with dogs. I highly recommend this movie, which single handedly improved Hollywood into what it is today. To quote this masterpiece, “life is what you make it.” Two of my children I’ve shows this movie to (16 and 18) loved it, but my fourteen year year old didn’t understand it. “Why is she a dog! What’s going on?” So silly! I’m sure she’ll love it when she’s old enough to understand, and so will my two year old.
3 people found this helpful.
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Sondra (Anya Benton) is a successful nutritionist who is so focused on her own career and personal needs that she doesn't have time to listen to her boyfriend's feelings. She runs a tight ship and keeps meticulous to-do lists, then nonchalantly decides to fire her assistant when the assistant forgets to write down an appointment. Slowly it's revealed that grumpy Sondra had been a happy child until she became ill and her medical bills depleted her parents' finances, leading to their bitter divorce. A childhood friend shows up from the past and, rubbing a crystal, causes Sondra to grab her head in pain, stagger and fall, then convulse into a coma. For most of the story, she's hooked to a respirator, lying motionless in a hospital bed. Sondra's sweet assistant, Jeannie (Renee Pezotta), owns Bella the Chihuahua, a therapy dog. As Sondra is incapacitated, her persona jumps into Bella, and all manner of fussy and complaining commentary begin to zip through the mind of the dog. As Bella, Sondra is forced to help seriously ill, hospitalized children cope with their conditions. Gradually, Sondra learns compassion from the experience. Her journey to goodness is quickened as she overhears conversations about her unpleasantness from everyone who knew her. She dies and comes back much nicer.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (3):

It would be difficult to find a more badly written, directed, and acted movie than this. Performances are amateurish across the board with the exception of Pezotta as Jeannie. But more worrisome is the inanity of the plot, the unquestioned acceptance of the "magic" that causes the main character's weird ordeal and ultimate rehabilitation. If this is meant to be a religious film, than it should have said so. At least the otherworldly emphasis would seem rooted in some philosophy. No one questions Sondra's return from the dead; Sondra doesn't question how she became a dog. Absent the mention of where Sondra's great punishment and redemption come from, the movie makes little sense.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether some people who hurt others might be mean because they were hurt themselves. Would that make it OK to hurt others? Why, or why not?

  • Sometimes people become so caught up in their own problems that they can't see how others are suffering. Is it possible for selfish people to learn compassion if they meet others who are suffering more?

  • Would it be possible for a human to be trapped in the body of a dog? Do you think the movie wants you to believe that such a thing could happen?

Movie Details

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