Turner & Hooch
Turner & Hooch
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Turner & Hooch is a TV series spin-off of the same-named 1989 movie. While younger kids may be attracted to a show that co-stars a cute dog, there's some edgy content here. Many violent scenes feature gunfights, a gun put to a character's head, and visible bullet wounds -- though no one gets shot on camera. You can also expect verbal hostility, threats, and fistfights. And the suspense factor is high: Characters (both human and dog) are often in peril, and there are a few surprise explosions, car chases, and the like. The villains sometimes get in trouble for their negative behavior, but not all of them are caught. Besides the violence, there's moderate language throughout (including "ass," "hell," and "oh my God"). Dating and romance are a big part of the plot. Themes include loyalty, perseverance, and trying to do the right thing.
Community Reviews
Great show, but definitely some strong language for PG
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Absolutely AMAZING
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What's the Story?
TURNER & HOOCH picks up decades after the 1989 Tom Hanks vehicle left off. Scott Turner Jr. (Josh Peck of Drake and Josh) is an uptight deputy U.S. Marshal desparately trying to climb the career ladder with his ex-military partner, Jessica Baxter (Carra Patterson). When his father dies, Scott inherits an unruly French mastif named Hooch who immediately destroys his apartment and upends his life. He asks for help from Erica, a Marshal K-9 trainer, and she develops a crush on the romantically clueless Scott. Scott realizes that Hooch's mischevious doggie behavior actually helps him solve a few cases, and Scott, Jessica, and Hooch become a K-9 unit. Together they investigate jewel heists, botched witness protections, and terrorists. Meanwhile, Scott's sister Laura is cleaning out their father's house and finds a bunch of detective files suggesting that their dad was trying to solve a mystery before he died. They team up with his old partner, David Sutton (Reginald VelJohnson), and together with Hooch try to piece together the clues before it's too late.
Is It Any Good?
After watching this so-so reboot, you may wonder whether Disney+ will eventually realize the diminishing returns of mining its back catalog for material. While 1989's Turner & Hooch was fine as a stand-alone movie, the premise is a bit weak to base a whole series around. Peck lacks Hanks' charm and charisma, though the modern dogs playing Hooch give pretty adorable performances.
It's also a bit confusing to understand who exactly the audience is for this sequel. On one hand, it's a man-and-dog buddy story that would appeal to kids, and the overly simplistic writing makes the plot easy for tweens to understand. Conversely, there's quite a bit of violence, which makes the show iffy for this age group. Dog-loving teens may enjoy this show, which is relatively tame in most aspects besides the violence, but many will roll their eyes at the cheesy dialogue and storylines.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the amount of violence in Turner & Hooch. What do you think is an OK age for kids to see gun violence in media? Do you feel like you were ready to watch this show? Why, or why not?
What do you think about the ethics of Hooch (and other real-life police dogs like Hooch) being put in dangerous situations without being able to understand? What do you think it's like for their officer partners, who care a lot about the animals and spend a lot of time with them?
Does your family have a dog or another pet? How much work is it to care for an animal? Do you help out with your family's pets?
TV Details
- Premiere date: July 21, 2021
- Cast: Josh Peck, Brandon Jay McLaren, Anthony Ruivivar, Lyndsy Fonseca, Reginald VelJohnson, Vanessa Lengies
- Network: Disney+
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Adventures, Cats, Dogs, and Mice
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Turner & Hooch
Dog-buddy comedy has lots of slobber and some violence.
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Bolt
Super-dog adventure is fun, age-appropriate for kids.
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A Dog's Purpose
Tearjerker is sweet, poignant, and occasionally violent.
For kids who love animals
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
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