Life Is Ruff
Common Sense says
- NR
- 2005
- 85 minutes
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What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Life Is Ruff is a fun Disney TV movie comedy about a boy who adopts a dog and subsequently must learn the responsibility of having a pet. Initially main character, Calvin (Kyle Massey) adopts the dog in order to enter a show so that he can use the prize money to complete his comic book collection. The movie addresses the nature of dog shows and whether they are exploitative. There are also scenes inside an animal shelter in which it is made clear not all the dogs will make it out, which may upset younger viewers. Calvin is likable and popular, but his entrepreneurial spirit involves him lying, cheating, and manipulating those around him to get what he wants. He takes his best friend for granted and constantly tries to trick his parents and evade his responsibilities. There is mention of a severe asthma attack and characters are paid to beat up other characters -- though they never do.
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What's the story?
In LIFE IS RUFF, 13-year-old Calvin Wheeler (Kyle Massey) is a popular kid obsessed with comic books who needs $3,000 to complete his collection. The best way to do that? The local Top Dog show. The only problem? He doesn't have a dog. On a trip to the local animal shelter, volunteer Emily (Kay Panabaker) convinces him to take Tyko -- a huge, untrained St. Bernard cross, who proves more than he can handle. With the help of his best friend Raymond (Mitchel Musso) he must try to train Tyko in time for the competition -- all the while keeping him hidden from his parents. When the local rich boy and Top Dog champion Preston (Carter Jenkins) catches a whiff of his competition, he does everything in his power to stop the new entrants from competing. Can Calvin convince his parents to let him keep the dog? Can he convince Emily he's changed and has grown to love Tyko? And can he really beat the thoroughbreds and their snooty owners to the prize?
Is it any good?
Animals are easy to like and, luckily, so are the human characters in this movie. Calvin, though selfish, is funny, goofy, and lovable, and Raymond and Emily are equally well-drawn. There are numerous chase scenes and Beethoven-esque moments of chaos that you'd expect in a movie that centers on a giant dog -- from running amok at the local market to trashing the kitchen in search of a snack.
Calvin's arc is familiar but well-acted and it's easy to relate to his world and root for his eventual turnaround -- once he's got the cheating at basketball and interviewing potential prom dates out of the way. The message about dog shows is slightly confused, but the overall message about responsibility and the importance of love, partnered with Calvin's enduring optimism and belief that anything is possible, make Life Is Ruff a heartwarming and uplifting film full of family fun.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the responsibility of owning a pet as portrayed in Life Is Ruff. What can owning a pet teach us about other things in life?
What are Calvin's character traits and how does he change throughout the movie?
Did you find any scenes upsetting? If so, which ones?
Name some instances in the movie where Calvin does something he shouldn’t have. What were the effects of these actions?
Movie details
- On DVD or streaming: July 15, 2005
- Cast: Kyle Massey, Kay Panabaker, Mitchel Musso
- Director: Charles Haid
- Studio: Disney Channel Original Movies
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice
- Character strengths: Compassion, Perseverance
- Run time: 85 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 26, 2020
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