Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kids might enjoy the silly humor, but adventure lacks charm.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
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The Gold Retrievers
What's the Story?
In THE GOLD RETRIEVERS, hard times are coming to Josh's (Noah Centineo) home town. Corporate chain UltraMart threatens his dad's business, money is tight, and their home must be sold as his family will be forced to move in with his grandmother, where no dogs are allowed. That means Josh will have to give away his precious Bosco, a bright Labrador retriever. But if he can find the legendary treasure buried by conquistadors centuries earlier among the nearby hills, he just might be able to avoid all that. As he embarks on his quest, Josh comes upon like-minded Ana (Courtney Biggs), a girl who's also hoping to go back to the way things were. But when the two find themselves stalked and chased by two loud, bungling crooks (Steve Guttenberg and Curtis Armstrong), the fortune could go to anyone.
Is It Any Good?
It's a fair bet that lots of kids will like this silly, slapstick-prone movie. The Gold Retrievers is meant to appeal to young viewers who like to laugh at clueless bad guys falling down, stepping into traps, and calling one another names. Guttenberg and Armstrong couldn't get any more ridiculous here, and the prospect of children finding a treasure and saving their families is always fun. Despite that, it's hard to recommend this amateurish effort. The film has one-dimensional characters, a sketchy plot, and is missing three basic elements that make a family movie successful—logic, wit, and charm.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the lead characters in The Gold Retrievers react to changing lifestyles. Have you experienced big changes in your life? What do you think helps make transitions less stressful? Do you think the characters here react realistically to change?
Who do you think is the audience for this movie? What would have made it better?
Josh was faced with some harsh bullying. What would you do in the same situation? Who do you turn to for help?
Josh and Ana start the film as outsiders. Do you think their friendship changed that for them? What are some of the qualities that make a good friend?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : July 6, 2010
- Cast : Courtney Biggs , Curtis Armstrong , Noah Centineo
- Director : James D.R. Hickox
- Studio : Alpine Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : December 18, 2025
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