Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cute puppies, slapstick silliness in sweet sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Puppy Star Christmas
What's the Story?
PUPPY STAR CHRISTMAS opens with the marriage of longtime sweethearts Tiny (voiced by Kaitlyn Maher) and P.U.P. (Mackenzie Sol), followed some months later by the birth of their three pups, Rose, Charlie, and Cindy. The pups are eager, mischievous, and adorable. The growing canine family, together with their human family, "Dad" Stephen (David Deluise), "Nanny" Ida (Denisse Ojeda), and young Lou (Makenzie Moss), are getting ready to celebrate their first Christmas together. First up is their television program's Christmas special. Excitement reigns. But into every holiday celebration a little rain must fall. Troublemakers Bark (voiced by George Newbern) and Kano (Diedrich Bader) manage to spoil the show while it's on the air. And that misdeed doesn't compare to the villains' even bigger plan: The Bark-Kano team are going to the North Pole and will spoil Christmas for everyone! They're out for money and they don't care who they hurt to get it. Their evil plot almost succeeds. It's only because of four accidental "stowaways" on Santa's reindeer-driven sleigh that Christmas, as well as Santa and Mrs. Claus, are saved -- with no time to spare.
Is It Any Good?
Young audiences who've warmed to the Pup Star gang with its goofy dogs, even goofier humans, exaggerated performances, and not-so-dazzling musical numbers won't be disappointed by this new entry. Robert Vince and company have been making low-budget crowd-pleasers for two decades, beginning with Air Bud in 1997. When you're a kid and you're fully engaged, it's not hard to overlook cheesy special effects, some truly awkward editing, and overblown performances. Quite the opposite: That's what makes movies like Puppy Star Christmas so endearing. The dogs are always cute, cuter, cutest. Their human buddies are dopey, but always warmhearted. There are no surprise endings. Messages are earnest and on the nose. Kids who can watch Santa Claus and his wife get kidnapped but clearly understand that the old guy will be rescued in time to take his fantastical ride on Christmas Eve will find plenty to enjoy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why it's fun to watch dogs talk, both with one another and with the humans in their world. If animals could talk, what might you ask them? What would you like to tell them about yourself?
"Anthropomorphism" is a big word that means portraying an animal or other object with very human characteristics -- like Tiny or Bark, Bugs Bunny, or even the teapot from Beauty and the Beast. Can you create an anthropomorphic character? What animal or object would you choose? What would it sound like?
"Bad guy" characters Roland and Julio learn important lessons and change their behavior. Will you be surprised if, in the next Pup Star movie, they team up with Bark and Kano again? Will you mind? Why or why not? How important is it for the filmmakers to be consistent?
Did you notice any stereotypes in the movie? Did you find them funny? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 20, 2018
- Cast : Kaitlyn Maher , David Deluise , Richard Riehle
- Director : Robert Vince
- Studio : Air Bud Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Animals , Holidays , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Run time : 91 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mild rude humor
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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