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Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
By Sandie Angulo Chen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Familiar adventure centers rude humor, slapstick violence.
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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
Community Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Generic, shallow kung-fu trope factory
What's the Story?
PAWS OF FURY: THE LEGEND OF HANK takes place in an animated universe reminiscent of Japan during the age of the samurai. Hank (voiced by Michael Cera) is a dog who naively travels to an all-cat village, where nefarious ruling cat Ika Chu (Ricky Gervais) assigns Hank to be the new samurai of Kakamucho. Ika Chu's hope is that Hank's ineptitude will cause the destruction of the town. Unbeknownst to Ika Chu, the town is home to the retired, once-great samurai Jimbo (Samuel L. Jackson), who agrees to train Hank to pass a series of tests of cat-like agility to prove that he's got what it takes to be a samurai (an honor typically bestowed on cats, not dogs). The townsfolk are initially unwelcoming, but eventually they warm to Hank. Young Emiko (Kylie Kuioka) even hopes that she, too, can become a samurai. But will Hank's newfound skills be enough to defeat Ika Chu? An announced visit from the shogun (Mel Brooks) gives Hank a small window to be good enough to successfully defend Kakamucho.
Is It Any Good?
Recognizable story themes and plot points make this a decent comedic adventure. But it's not as memorable as similar movies like Kung Fu Panda or Rango. Cera's familiar voice is ideally cast to play the well-meaning but slightly bumbling Hank, who has to work hard to transform into a samurai. Jackson is also a selling point as the curmudgeonly -- and clearly troubled -- former samurai who's willing to train newbie Hank. Gervais sounds villainous most of the time, so he's more than believable as a narcissistic cat ruler with evil plans and an obsession with a giant toilet bowl.
The screenplay by Ed Stone and Nate Hopper is based on Blazing Saddles, but that's likely to be lost in translation for the movie's young target audience. Most of the jokes rely on bathroom humor, which seems over the top here even for a kid-oriented film. A few of the gags land, but there's only so much laughter to be had from a fart joke. What is funny is that the filmmakers were able to include a small role for nonagenarian Brooks, whom it's legitimately delightful to hear as the shogun. And kids will particularly enjoy the younger cats, who, like Hank, aspire to be samurai protectors of their village. Directors Rob Minkoff, Mark Koetsier, and Chris Bailey haven't created anything truly original here (not only is the movie Saddles-inspired, but it's also incredibly reminiscent of Kung Fu Panda), but that doesn't mean it won't entertain kids for an hour and a half. Paws of Fury is fine, but it's just not as singular and special as Hank.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the samurai violence in Paws of Fury. How does the violence here compare to what you've seen in similar movies? Does animated violence have more or less impact than realistic violence?
What makes Hank different from the other characters in the movie? What do the townsfolk learn from Hank, and what does he learn from them and from Jimbo?
Which characters do you consider role models? How do they demonstrate courage, empathy, and teamwork? Why are those important character strengths?
Discuss the movie's recurring references to catnip. How does Jimbo's catnip reliance mirror substance use/abuse? Is that appropriate in a kids' movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 15, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: August 16, 2022
- Cast: Michael Cera , Samuel L. Jackson , Ricky Gervais
- Directors: Mark Koetsier , Rob Minkoff , Chris Bailey
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: Paramount Pictures
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts , Cats, Dogs, and Mice , Friendship
- Character Strengths: Courage , Empathy , Teamwork
- Run time: 97 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: action, violence, rude and suggestive humor, and some language
- Last updated: February 22, 2023
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