PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie Parent Guide
Preschoolers will love it. Adults? Not so much.
Parent Movie Review
The people of Adventure City are safe thanks to the efforts of the PAW Patrol, a group of puppies who use their skills to solve problems and respond to emergencies. But when a scientist named Victoria Vance (Taraji P. Henson) uses a powerful magnet to draw a mysterious meteor to Earth, the pups get a little more than they bargained for - the meteor’s crystals grant them superpowers. They’ll need these powers to prevent Victoria and Mayor Humdinger (Ron Pardo) from using the crystals to become super villains.
If you’ve ever watched any episodes of the TV series PAW Patrol, I think you have a good idea of what to expect for this feature length adventure, and I can guarantee that you are right. This production has exactly the type of story, writing, level of adventure, and production value I predicted walking into it. There are no surprises, either good or bad. Just the consistent product that the producers of PAW Patrol have been churning out for a decade.
Was I bored out of my mind in the theater? Yes. Did I contemplate who I am as a person when I lightly giggled at an animated dog making a bland joke about dog treats? Also yes. But I am an adult, and this movie was not made for me. My six-year-old, on the other hand, had a great time. He was laughing and cheering along with all the other young children in our screening. He’s starting to get a little past the age for this franchise, so he did say he was bored at one point, but the younger kids in the theater seemed to be having the best day of their lives. There were a few big cheer moments from the youngsters, as well as some big laughs.
Parents will be delighted to know that there are next to no content concerns, aside from a little bit of superhero fighting and mild peril, which stays well within the levels set by the TV show. Young audiences are sure to love this full-length adventure with their favorite pups, some cool new gadgets, and simple messages about self-worth, teamwork, and resilience. Adults are sure to tolerate it without wanting to rip their eyes out, which is more than I can say for most media aimed at this age group.
Directed by Cal Brunker. Starring Mckenna Grace, James Marsden, Kristen Bell. Running time: 92 minutes. Theatrical release September 29, 2023. Updated September 29, 2023Watch the trailer for PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie
PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie
Rating & Content Info
Why is PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie rated PG? PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie is rated PG by the MPAA for mild action/peril.
Violence: There are moments of mild peril. The Paw Patrol use their superpowers to fight a villain.
Sexual Content: None.
Profanity: None.
Alcohol / Drug Use: None.
Page last updated September 29, 2023
PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie Parents' Guide
How does Skye feel about her size? What other qualities does she have that are more important than size? What motivates the pups in PAW patrol to help others?Loved this movie? Try these books…
If you’re trying to get a pre-schooler excited about books, their favorite TV heroes might help. For short attention spans, you can try PAW Patrol 5-Minute Stories Collection, published by Random House. The Big Book of PAW Patrol, published by Golden Books, will provide young fans with lots of detail about the canine characters. For a longer tale, they can read PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie: The Official Storybook, written by Frank Berrios and illustrated by MJ Illustrations.
Moving further afield, your kids will enjoy picture books that feature dogs. The Adventures of Honey & Leon by Alan Cumming and illustrated by Grant Shaffer, sees two dogs on a covert mission. Peggy Rathman authors Officer Buckle & Gloria, the comic story of a police dog who becomes the star of the show at school safety assemblies. A helpful dog wants to make the world a better place in Walter Does His Best, a picture book written by Eva Pilgrim and illustrated by Jessica Gibson.
For real life stories of helpful dogs, you can turn to Amazing Dogs. Written by Laura Buller, this book tells true stories about helpful pooches, and it’s well illustrated and full of interesting facts. Seeing eye dogs and other service animals are highlighted in Rescue & Jessica: A Life Changing Friendship, written by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes and illustrated by Scott Magoon. When children are suffering from diphtheria in 1925, sled dogs undertake a dangerous journey across Alaska to obtain life-saving serum in Togo and Balto: The Dogs who Saved a Town. Geared at kids, this book has bright illustrations provided by Keiron Ward. (The author is Jodie Parachini.)
Home Video
Related home video titles:
If you just can’t get enough of protective pooches, the first feature length film in this franchise is Paw Patrol: The Movie.
Dogs save the day (and their superhero humans) in DC League of Super-Pets.
Bolt tells the tale of a dog who thinks he has superpowers thanks to his antics on a TV set: reality teaches him some complicated lessons.
In Underdog, a disgraced police dog trainee is accidentally exposed to a chemical concoction that gives him special powers. His new human makes a caped costume and persuades him to become a canine crime-fighter.
Parents will get a kick out of the smart, silent dog, Gromit, who comes to the aid of his hapless human in Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
Guinea pigs develop unusual abilities and save the world from a tech apocalypse in G-Force.