Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Some cartoonish violence in so-bad-it's-good dog tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Cool Dog
What's the Story?
Jimmy's best friend is his dog, Rainy. When Jimmy's father lands a promotion that moves them from Eagle Rock, Louisiana, to Manhattan, they must leave Rainy behind until they find a place to live that takes dogs. They leave Rainy with an unscrupulous carny in charge of the local fairgrounds and proceed to start a new life. Little do they know that Rainy will figure out a way to escape the clutches of the carny and travel 1,300 miles of trains, tugboats, subways, and busses until he's reunited with his master. Together, Rainy and Jimmy stand up to bullies at his school and the unethical, pet-hating new landlords who conspire to make their lives miserable.
Is It Any Good?
No, this movie is very far from "good." In fact, the acting is a level of awful that should be fun for families who enjoy movies of the "so bad, it's good" variety. The plot and special effects are absurd, and the characters are either bland or annoying. Perhaps if younger kids are looking for a movie as wacky and unreal as possible, COOL DOG could be the film to watch, but even that would be a stretch, and they're just as likely to find humor in the scenes that are not deliberately funny.
Furthermore, Rainy the Dog doesn't seem all that "cool," as the title would suggest. He's amazingly loyal (making it to Manhattan from Louisiana to reunite with Jimmy and all) and has talents that would put most renaissance men to shame (tugboat operating, harmonica playing, checkers winning), but aside from wearing headphones and an iPod from time to time, he's not exactly Keith Richards.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what dogs can and cannot do. What are some of the talents Rainy possesses that animals don't normally possess? How do you think they made it look like Rainy was doing all sorts of human-like things?
What are the many differences between growing up in a rural area like Eagle Rock, Louisiana, and a big city like New York?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : January 4, 2011
- Cast : Cameron Ten Napel , Jackson Pace
- Director : Danny Lerner
- Studio : Millennium Films
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mild rude humor, action, brief bullying
- Last updated : September 21, 2019
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