Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Comic mayhem, potty humor in amateurish dog comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Inspired by the true origin of Rin Tin Tin, early cinema's most famous dog, Lee Duncan (Tyler Jensen) finds "Rinty" in the wreckage of a village in France during World War I. Lee pleads with his superiors and the dog is allowed to join the American and French soldiers who live together. Lee enlists the dog training expertise of a German prisoner-of-war and Rin Tin Tin becomes a heroic, funny, and super-intelligent mascot, who plays a major part in the daily drama of the base. A special bond is formed between the dog and an orphaned French boy who is badly mistreated by the compound's cook.
Is It Any Good?
The movie makes conceptual missteps: over-the-top comic pratfalls, extended mistreatment of a young victim of war by a cruel army cook, and ridiculously unbelievable rescues. (Rin Tin Tin saves an entire village covered by an avalanche of snow by leading the soldiers to one rooftop.) What might have been an uplifting story about a talented, brave, and almost-smarter-than-human dog and his new friends, has little to recommend it.
The amateurish special effects, wooden acting, and the simplistic-in-your-face messages, certainly don't help. The best that can be said is that the dog is lovable, the relationship between Rinty and his master is heart-warming, and it's interesting to find out how the real Rin Tin Tin came to America.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what this movie's message is about war and the relationship between soldiers. What connects Lee, the American soldier, and Nikolas, the German prisoner-of-war?
How can you tell that it's meant to be funny when people fall, crash, get hit on the head by falling objects in this movie? Would these incidents be funny in real life?
Why was Jacques unable to speak for most of the movie? What helped him regain his voice?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 15, 2007
- On DVD or streaming : September 16, 2008
- Cast : Ben Cross , Tyler Jensen
- Director : Danny Lerner
- Studio : Emmett/Furla Films
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals , Friendship , History
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : brief action/peril and mild rude humor
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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