Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Talking animals, slapstick jeopardy in live-action misfire.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Paws P.I.
What's the Story?
It's been a year since Peter's mom died when PAWS P.I. opens. Peter (Neal Genys) still misses her, and so does Connor (Eddie Mills), his dad. In fact, because of his heartbreak, Connor has lost, among other things, his car and, more importantly, what was a thriving private investigation business. Peter's mission becomes getting his dad's life back together. The first step will be opening a detective office in their garage. Then Peter and his best friend Madison (Selah Atwood), together with his beloved pets Jackson the dog (voiced by Jon Lovitz) and Peabody the bird (Circus-Szalewski), help him flood the small town in which they live with flyers, announcing the new enterprise. The plan works. When a lovely veterinarian (Celesta Hodge) enlists Connor's services in the hopes of getting the inheritance that has been stolen from her, the game is on. Peter, Madison, and the pets don't just help Connor with his first assignment, they also uncover a mean-spirited plot and a dastardly villain and take on the menacing accomplices who work for him.
Is It Any Good?
Low budget doesn't have to mean low quality, but in this case, the script, the direction, most performances, and a pervasive shortage of logic leave a lot to be desired. A talking bird, some skateboarding scenes, and an earnest performance by Selah Atwood as young Madison are the only saving graces in this otherwise artless production. And yet the filmmakers hint that a sequel will follow. Let's hope for a better result if that happens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the fact that filmmakers so often tell tales about kids who have lost one parent. How does this plot point provide the filmmaker with easy emotional storylines? For the kids? For the single parent?
Why do you think talking animals are usually so much fun to watch? Be creative. Write or act out an imaginary conversation between two pets that you know or create your own characters.
Talk about the violence in Paws P.I. Is it meant to be scary or funny? Or a combination of the two? Why is it important to know the impact of violence on kids, especially young ones who don't yet understand the difference between real and pretend?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : May 28, 2018
- Cast : Jon Lovitz , Neal Genys , Selah Atwood
- Director : Danny Buday
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Animals , Friendship
- Run time : 86 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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