First Dog
By Brian Costello,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Ludicrous dog romp with some violence, consumerism.
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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Based on 1 parent review
Simple but beautiful world
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What's the Story?
The president of the United States (Eric Roberts) is in Ohio to give a speech at a high school named in his honor. In the frenzy of an attempted assassination, he escapes in a speeding limo, leaving behind his beloved FIRST DOG Teddy. Lost, Teddy wanders into a pet store and then into a truck, which takes him to California. It is there he meets Danny, a shy young boy who lives in a foster home. When Danny learns that the dog he has found is the president's dog, he decides to go on a journey to Washington D.C. in the hopes of reuniting dog and owner. Along the way, Danny meets colorful characters - -some good, some bad -- while trying to elude men who Danny doesn't realize are in the Secret Service.
Is It Any Good?
First Dog is a mindlessly heartwarming romp. The one caveat: You have to be willing to so thoroughly suspend your disbelief that you'd believe a dog belonging to the president of the United States wouldn't be microchipped in case he goes missing, and that the same dog would travel from Ohio to California in a semi-truck and meet a boy who is so willing to take him home that he seems to have no reservations about getting into cars with strangers.
Besides all this, there is some mild violence and consumerism, and the feeling that the film is about 20 minutes longer than it really needs to be. There are plenty of other "boy and his dog" films out there that are far more heartwarming and far less ludicrous. Skip this and check those out instead.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why it would be a terrible idea to throw a lit firecracker into a Secret Service vehicle. What criminal penalties might someone incur if this was done in real life?
How is this film similar to and different from other films about "a boy and his dog?"
In the film, Danny catches rides with people he does not know. What do you think about this idea?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: September 6, 2011
- Cast: Eric Roberts, Pricilla Barnes, Tiny Lister
- Director: Bryan Michael Stoller
- Studio: GAIAM
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice
- Run time: 90 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 25, 2022
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