Parents' Guide to

My Magic Dog

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Low-budget dog-from-heaven story is emotionally intense.

Movie G 1997 90 minutes
My Magic Dog Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 10+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Chiefthegsd
Chiefthegsd Adult
December 12, 2020
age 14+

Traumatizing

I watched this movie many years ago as a kid, I found it at blockbuster and thought it was a cute looking movie my parents left me alone to watch it and 30 mins into the movie I ran upstairs sobbing my eyes out at how sad the movie was. Granted my family dog had just passed away a few months before this so it hit me way harder than most. I understand the whole life and death aspect and how to teach kids in a positive way but at the same time I couldn’t stop crying so this is not a movie for sensitive animal adoring kids and when my mom asked if I wanted to finish the movie I refused. It’s funny because now I’m in school to become a veterinarian so I mean could it have pushed me in the right direction I don’t know. The cover of this movie was false advertisement to me looked very happy go lucky and ended up pushing me into a depressing state.

This title has:

Great messages
dvdgirl
dvdgirl Adult
June 26, 2020
age 5+

Cute

It was a cute movie.

This title has:

Great messages
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What's the Story?

Mean Aunt Violet wants to take 12-year-old Toby (Bryan Mendez) away from his loving stepfather, Chet (Leo Milbrook). Toby will one day inherit a fortune, and if Violet controls Toby, she'll be able to enjoy the money for herself. She hires a couple of neighborhood bullies to sneak into Toby and Chet's house to steal the will that proves Toby's mother wanted Chet to have custody of Toby. While chasing the robbers away, Toby's pet dog Lucky is hit by a car and dies. But in answer to Toby's prayers, Lucky is sent back in ghostly form to help Toby find the culprits and prove to the courts that he belongs with Chet. But can MY MAGIC DOG find the proof against Aunt Violet before she whisks Toby away?

Is It Any Good?

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

This drama, while cliched, is strong on positive role models and refreshingly free of potty humor. Unfortunately, instead of building characters and a story to care about, the plot mostly lurches from one trope to another -- and then another. Younger kids may find some humor in the cartoony slapstick, but most gags fall flat, and sensitive younger viewers may be too upset by the death of Lucky to find comfort in his help from the afterlife. The acting falls as flat as the gags, except for poor Russ Tamblyn, who's woefully miscast and unable to lift those around him enough to make the 90 minutes worthwhile.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about when a loved one dies. How does Toby cope with his losses? Have you lost a family member or pet? How did you handle it?

  • Why are movies with dogs so popular? What other movies with dogs have you seen? How does this one compare?

  • How does Toby deal with the mean bullies at the park? Does he handle them well? What would you do if you were Toby?

Movie Details

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