Common Sense Media Review
Cute but predictable puppy adventure has peril.
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Space Buddies
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 14 kid reviews
Kids say the movie offers a mix of adventure, action, and humor, appealing to younger audiences with talking dogs and space themes, though some reviews indicate potential concerns about violence and stereotypes. While some found it entertaining and perfect for family viewing, others described it as childish or boring, suggesting it may not suit everyone, especially older viewers.
- action-packed
- family-friendly
- violent themes
- childish humor
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
SPACE BUDDIES focuses on five adorable golden retriever pups, the offspring of AirBud, who each have distinct personalities and work together as a team to get in and out of scrapes. In this adventure, after hitching a ride on a school field trip, the pups accidentally stow away on a test flight for a commercial space vehicle. A trip to a long-lost Russian space station puts them in contact with Spudnik the space dog (voiced by Jason Earles), and together the canines get a chance to be the first dogs on the moon.
Is It Any Good?
The screenwriters of this formulaic film appear to be phoning it in. Space Buddies dispatches with any parent figures for either the dogs or most of the movie's kids. And the puppies, like B-Dawg (Skyler Gisondo), Buddha (Field Cate), and Budderball (Josh Flitter), each have cringey schticks—from rapper to Zen master to girly girl. Still, if your child loves cute puppies—and who doesn't?—this movie could hit the spot. Scenes of puppies in the mud, puppies on the moon, and puppies floating in space will tickle young funny bones, and Spudnik's yearning to return to his earthbound owner might even elicit a tear or two from the sentimentalists in the crowd.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of Space Buddies. Why did you decide to watch this particular movie? Was it put in front of you or recommended by someone? How do movies find their audiences?
Families can also discuss the five puppies and their distinct personalities. Which one do you think you're most like, if any?
Which one would you most like to have as a pet? Do you think it would ever be that easy to climb aboard a spaceship unannounced?
What do you think agencies like NASA do to make sure something like that doesn't happen?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 3, 2009
- On DVD or streaming : February 3, 2009
- Cast : Bill Fagerbakke , Kevin Weisman , Lochlyn Munro
- Director : Robert Vince
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Animals ( Dogs ) , Space
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : January 19, 2026
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