Santa Buddies
By Sierra Filucci,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Popular puppy series adds a cheery holiday message.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Based on 15 parent reviews
Terrible Quality and Offensive
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What's the Story?
Up at the North Pole Santa Claus and his buddy Santa Paws notice that the Christmas spirit icicle is melting. They attribute this not to climate change but to a lack of Christmas spirit in the world, where people have forgotten about the "unselfish spreading of love and kindness" and instead think only of themselves and material things. At the same time, young Puppy Paws is itching to get away from the North Pole to become a normal puppy. He escapes to the real world where he meets up with the familiar Golden Retriever pups who he hopes will help him become a regular dog. These efforts go badly. Simultaneously the cold-hearted dog catcher gathers stray dogs and eventually gets Santa Paws. In the end, the true spirit of Christmas wins out.
Is It Any Good?
Few people will argue that this story is predictable, formulaic, and lacking in any nuance; but hey, it's got puppies. To determine if the Buddies franchise is "good" depends partly on one's opinion of talking animals in movies. Some might find this a disturbingly unnatural quality in a movie that does little to make the characters feel relatable. Others might find a collection of fluffy, cute puppies irresistible and the fact that they speak even more appealing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Christmas spirit. What is Christmas spirit and why are the characters in this movie so concerned about it going away?
If you celebrate Christmas, what do you consider to be the most important part of the holiday? What kinds of activities do you do that help you stay in the Christmas spirit? What would Christmas be like without presents?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 24, 2009
- On DVD or streaming: November 24, 2009
- Cast: Christopher Lloyd, Danny Woodburn, George Wendt
- Director: Robert Vince
- Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Holidays
- Run time: 88 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- MPAA explanation: Nada que pueda ofender a los padres para ser visto por los niños.
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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