Parents' Guide to

Rescue Dogs: The Movie

By Yvonne Condes, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Talking-dog comedy means well but lacks depth.

Movie PG 2016 87 minutes
Rescue Dogs: The Movie Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

In RESCUE DOGS: THE MOVIE, Tracy (Paul Haapaniemi) and his talking rescue dog, Charger (voiced by Peter Oldring), fight to save their beachside restaurant from an evil banker who wants to buy the land and turn it into a golf course. Tracy is barely able to pay rent as it is, and once the banker schemes to take him down, Charger runs away. Of course, that's just because he's trying to save the day!

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1):

Rescue Dogs is a harmless, cartoon-like movie about a nice guy trying to save his restaurant. Tracy and Charger are a team both in the kitchen and in life, and their adventures yield some positive lessons about loyalty, following your dreams, and taking care of your family. But while the movie certainly good intentions -- all of the animals are rescued (and they all talk, which is sometimes cute and sometimes annoying) -- it's more like a long sitcom episode than a film; even at just 90 minutes, Rescue Dogs feels a little long.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it's like to worry about or miss a pet. Have you ever had a pet run away (like Charger) or pass away? How did you handle it?

  • Which of the characters in Rescue Dogs are meant to be role models? How can you tell? Are any of the characters stereotypical? Why does that matter?

  • Why do you think movies about dogs are so popular? How does this one compare to others you might have seen?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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