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Paw Patrol: Ready, Race, Rescue!
By Danny Brogan,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Race car fun will please Paw Patrol fans; positive themes.
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Paw Patrol: Ready, Race, Rescue!
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What's the Story?
In PAW PATROL: READY, RACE, RESCUE! the pups have built a racetrack at Adventure Bay and are excited to be working as part of the pit crew for racing superstar, Whoosh (voiced by Joseph Motiki). But after rival Cheetah (Addison Holley) causes Whoosh to skid out of the race, injuring his arm, he can no longer drive. Whoosh asks Marshall (Lukas Engel) -- his biggest fan -- to take his place in the race. But does Marshall have what it takes to beat Cheetah?
Is It Any Good?
In the gang's second big screen adventure, this story makes a handbrake turn and takes a different direction to the TV series. All of the pups, along with the group's leader, Ryder -- arguably a blessing for some parents -- are sidelined, apart from Marshall. Basing Paw Patrol: Ready, Race, Rescue! around just one of the pups is likely to divide younger audiences, depending on how much affection they have for the Dalmatian puppy. Thankfully Marshall navigates his leading role with ease, offering humor, a contagious enthusiasm, and a few important life lessons along the way. There's also something to be enjoyed from the two villains of the piece -- Cheetah and Mayor Humdinger (Ron Pardo) -- both caricatures of skulduggery, complete with mustache twirling and cackling.
That's not to say some of the franchise's existing issues are overcome. Any sense of realism needs to be left at the door -- a round-the-world race takes only a few minutes to complete. And the decision to give a new female character a pink car seems baffling -- particularly as the series has been criticized for gender stereotyping in the past. But with a runtime that's just about right for its target audience, Paw Patrol: Ready, Race, Rescue feels like a treat for fans of the series. Albeit one that could be watched at home rather than warrant a trip to the theater.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the positive messages in Paw Patrol: Ready, Race Rescue! What lessons does Marshall in particular learn? Why is it important we believe in ourselves? What character strengths does this sometimes require?
Cheetah tries to win at all costs. Why is important that we try to win in the correct way?
Marshall takes center stage in the movie. Did you mind that the other pups weren't in it as much?
How does this movie compare to the TV series? What are the main differences?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 2, 2019
- On DVD or streaming: September 3, 2019
- Cast: Anya Cooke , Cathal J. Dodd , Isaac Emberson-Heeks
- Director: Charles E. Bastien
- Studio: Viacom Media Networks
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Cars and Trucks , Cats, Dogs, and Mice , Friendship
- Character Strengths: Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time: 66 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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