The Retrievers

Movie review by Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media
The Retrievers Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 7+

Adorable puppies are the highlight of illogical movie.

NR 2007 85 minutes
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Parents say

age 6+

Based on 4 reviews

Kids say

age 16+

Based on 1 review

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that while The Retrievers is generally family friendly, there's one sequence in which members of the Lowry clan have to deal with an animal death. The accident happens off-camera, with a suggestion of impending danger beforehand. There are two other situations with pets in jeopardy that end happily. Members of the Lowry family don't always use good judgment when making decisions. As a result, they behave in questionable ways in order to correct their mistakes.

Community Reviews

Elizlily101
Elizlily101 Adult
August 9, 2022
age 5+

I liked it, mostly.

I like this film. It was easy to watch and I feel like the negative reviews are people being a bit petty about the parents rehoming the pups to random people (that is the storyline after all). However I was upset by the news that one pup had been run over by a tractor, I felt this was unnecessary and without this the film would have been nicer and very happy without any sad undertones to it ( and if you are like me you wouldn’t have stopped thinking about the poor pup throughout the film ) anyway apart from that, overall I think the film was quite good. It is a sweet, simple story and doesn’t require much thought.
CnwyFam
CnwyFam Adult
October 1, 2021
age 5+

Good Family Movie, Some Odd Decisions

So, I almost didn’t turn this on after the reviews I read, but I’m glad we did. I think people have ping’ed on things they are particularly sensitive to, as opposed to outlandish issues with the movie itself. I thought it was an enjoyable family movie, that was quite clean. It had a late80s/early 90s feel to me, despite being listed as early 2000s. I would watch it again. My Opinions on some topics other reviewers ping’ed on (here and other sites): 1) mediocre acting - isn’t that expected in these 80s/90s-feel, family puppy movies?, 2) Dad briefly (a few seconds) entered a house through a window to look for a puppy. An obvious bad decision, but it wasn’t left hanging. The Mom called it out as a bad decision and asked “do you want to go to jail?” and it stopped there. They did stay on the property to talk to the owner when they got home. 3) It’s a bit odd to go around asking people to give their new pets back. Makes for an interesting movie but you may want to let your kids know that you can’t do that in real life. 4) There is a short scene where it is implied that a puppy was run over by a tractor (which is later confirmed in a conversation ). I was worried about this scene after the reviews but it really wasn’t overdone (in my opinion). The Dad found out from the farmer and had to tell the rest of the family. Kids might miss the scene or not understand it, but the Dad tells the son, the Mom, then the daughter, so they will hear that the puppy has passed. I honestly wouldn’t have even mentioned it, if I hadn’t read several reviews where people had a problem with it. Pros: Clean movie!! This seems hard to find anymore, but it was clean. Most bad decisions were turned around by the end of the movie(except asking for your puppies back). The Dad chose family over work, kids attitudes turned around, etc Pretty enjoyable
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What's the Story?

The Lowry family is starting a new life in an idyllic rural community. Tom Lowry (Robert Hays) is thrilled to be getting away from the stress-filled life of a big city advertising executive; his wife, Karen (Mel Harris), is enthusiastic and positive. Their two sulking kids (a teen and tween) are less enchanted. But when a beautiful stray golden retriever takes refuge in the family home, things start looking up. A visit to a local vet reveals that Pilot is pregnant -- and only a few days later, six puppies are born. In a whirlwind of flying fur, chewed slippers, and cuddly kisses, the dogs, the kids, and the grown-ups fall in love. But Tom reminds them that no family keeps six puppies; they'll soon have to find homes for Pilot's offspring. It's painful when adoption day arrives -- prospective owners come into the Lowry yard, pick a pet, and disappear as the family tearfully looks on. It isn't too long before everyone, especially Pilot, is sure they've all made a giant mistake -- they never should have given the puppies away! One and all, they vow to get their pets back, and their retrieving adventures begin.

Is It Any Good?

Adorable puppies and a beautiful Northern California setting save an otherwise bland, predictable story. And it's still hard to get past some of THE RETRIEVERS' dubious plot maneuverings. It's clear that the Lowry family should have been more responsible when giving away their puppies -- viewers might find themselves asking questions like: "Who are these people?" "Wouldn't it be a good idea to take their names?" and "Are you really going to give those two wonderful puppies to thugs?"

But if the filmmakers had asked those questions and then answered them, it would have been a very short film. The Retrievers is a good reminder that even the silliest stories require logic.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about animals in movies. What's the appeal of seeing dogs or cats in major roles in movies or on TV? Do you prefer realistic animals, or talking animals?

  • Pilot's puppies were funny and lovable. What are some of the responsibilities that come with having a pet? If you have a pet, how do you participate in caring for it?

Movie Details

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