Parents' Guide to

Dog Gone

By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Lackluster Home Alone clone fails to inspire or engage.

Movie PG 2008 108 minutes
Dog Gone Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

Owen (Luke Benward), an all-around nice kid with a paper route, a crush on a neighbor girl, and a gift for building neat inventions, has recently lost his beloved family dog. Three criminals are deposited on his suburban turf on their way to delivering a silky dog in which they're smuggling diamonds. Owen, who has seen the news about the heist, bonds with the dog and plots her rescue. A chase ensues through nearby woods that Owen knows inside out. He has long described to his family a "mountain man" living near Owen's woodsy hand-built "fort," but his mom, dad, and sister treat this story as a boy's fantasy. Of course, the "mountain man" saves the day when all other grown-ups in this film prove useless at best or criminal at worst. Ultimately, because Owen's sister has a dog allergy and because Owen has a kind heart, he sacrifices his beloved new dog by giving her to the "mountain man" to assuage his loneliness.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (2):

Every single component in Dog Gone was stolen, copied, or otherwise purloined from another, better movie. Although Luke Benward does a decent job of embodying the good-hearted Owen, the rest of the cast is as lackluster as the script. Even younger kids will know the difference between the boisterous fun of Home Alone and the plodding desperation of this lesser knockoff.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Owen handled the situation with the villains. What should you do when you come across criminal activity? Would Owen have minimized his danger if he had called the police?

  • Owen doesn't tell his parents that he's being bullied. Do you think a parent or other grown-up might be able to help a kid with a bullying problem?

  • Why might someone retreat to the woods after experiencing tragedy? Would it be difficult to be around old friends after losing a cherished family member?

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