Show Dogs
By Sandie Angulo Chen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Talking-animal buddy comedy dogged by controversy.
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Show Dogs
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Based on 70 parent reviews
54 REVIEWS ARE FAKE!!
Enjoyable family movie
What's the Story?
SHOW DOGS follows Max (voiced by Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges), a Rottweiler New York City police dog who's forced to work with Frank (Will Arnett), an FBI detective, to track down a smuggling ring responsible for stealing a baby panda from a Chinese zoo. When it's revealed that the smugglers will be at a prestigious Las Vegas dog show, Frank and Max are assigned to attend as a handler and show dog pair. In Las Vegas, the duo teams up with Mattie (Natasha Lyonne), a respected handler who's also a police contact, to prepare to compete in the show. Max also gets help from Phillippe (voiced by Stanley Tucci), a pompous Chihuahua who was once a top show dog, and Daisy, an attractive border collie (voiced by Jordin Sparks) who sees through Max's bravado. As they work undercover, Frank and Max bond.
Is It Any Good?
It's quite possible that young kids may find this human-animal buddy comedy entertaining, but parents will have a hard time seeing past the fact that it's unnecessary and unfunny. There are too many pop culture jokes about Turner & Hooch, The Lego Movie, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and so on that will go over kids' heads and won't earn genuine laughs from adults. A few of the sight gags and jokes land, but most are just as likely to result in a cringe or an eye roll. Both the human and canine romances are bland, with no real viewer investment in either (although individually the female characters are more capable and likable than the males). And, of course, there's the biggest issue of all: the scenes in which Max is prepped for the dog show judges by having his genitals handled, which he doesn't like and which he's advised to get through by going to his "happy place." This controversial sequence struck some viewers as being uncomfortably close to the process of grooming kids for sexual abuse and led to the studio making some changes to the film: The groping and "happy place" line remained in the updated theatrical edit, but more were scheduled to be removed for the home-viewing version of the film, per the distributor.
Very few live-action talking-animal movies deserve to stand the test of time (The Adventures of Milo and Otis, Homeward Bound, Stuart Little, the pug in Men in Black are some of the only ones), and this one is no exception. But if parents can't contain their kids' enthusiasm for Show Dogs, chalk it up to the abiding appeal of movies featuring man's best friend.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the controversy surrounding Show Dogs. If you saw it in theaters, did you notice the scenes in which Max's private parts were touched by his human partner (and the dog show judge) and he was advised to zone out to get over it? If so, were they upsetting to you? If not, do you understand why they would be to others?
Why do you think talking animal movies are frequently popular with kids and families? Which ones are your favorites?
Who would you consider to be a role model in Show Dogs? How is teamwork portrayed in the movie?
Kids: What made you want to see this movie -- the story, or all the advertising for it?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 18, 2018
- On DVD or streaming: August 21, 2018
- Cast: Will Arnett , Ludacris , Alan Cumming
- Director: Raja Gosnell
- Inclusion Information: Black actors, Bisexual actors
- Studio: Global Road Entertainment
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice
- Run time: 92 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: suggestive and rude humor, language and some action
- Last updated: March 11, 2023
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