Adventures of Rufus: The Fantastic Pet Parent Guide

Best friends Scott and Emily are staying at Scott’s grandmother’s mansion when they discover a magical creature named Rufus and a wizard named Abbott. Rufus and Abbott are from another world that has been destroyed by greed and apathy, and in order to restore it, they need to gather ingredients for a spell. The four companions set out on a quest for the items, but they soon discover that they are being pursued by a witch named Lilith, who will stop at nothing to get Abbott’s spell book.

I love fantasy. When I was growing up, I had a rule that I wouldn’t read books unless they had a fantasy or sci-fi element because I didn’t see the point in reading books about real life. That said, I had very low expectations for Adventures of Rufus: The Fantastic Pet. The first ten minutes did not bode well. The writers choose to use a grandfather reading a story to his grandkids as a framing device for the actual story in an obvious rip-off of The Princess Bride. The child actors are not good and the CGI is laughably bad. However, once I adjusted to the badly rendered Rufus, and the story’s action kicked in, I started to enjoy myself. I might even admit that I liked it.

What the movie lacks in good acting and realistic effects it makes up for in story. The plot is fairly standard for a children’s fantasy: the protagonists meet a magical creature, go on a quest, overcome obstacles, and defeat evil. There are no major twists or surprises; the writers are not trying to subvert expectations or reinvent the genre. And that’s what makes this film a great introduction to the fantasy genre for a young audience. It has a lot of heart, and a few great messages that I think are important. One of the main themes is that we need to take care of our earth, because it’s the only one we’ve got. Another is the importance of courage in the face of obstacles. It’s refreshing to see a straightforward fantasy story unburdened by trying to build a cinematic universe or sell merchandise. If you’ve been wanting to introduce your young ones to the genre, this is a good option.

I have very few content concerns for this movie. There is fantasy action, of course, which involves some moments of minor peril and fighting (mostly with magic). My three-year-old watched it with me and he said it wasn’t scary, aside from one jump scare. The fire breathing dragon might be a little intense for the more sensitive viewer. I think this production was done with kids in mind, because the action is pretty tame, and never moves beyond what the story needs. I wouldn’t bet on your teen being super into Adventures of Rufus, but for kids this is a fun watch, and it’s decent enough that adults won’t mind sitting through it.

In the words of my three-year-old: “I liked watching the mousey fight the fossil.”