FIREHOUSE DOG

by Jane Louise Boursaw

MPAA Rating: PG for sequences of action peril, some mild crude humor, and language.
Suggested Ages: 8+
Released in Theaters: April 4, 2007
Reel Rating: 2.5 out of 4 Reels

Should you bring the kids? Yes, but don't expect an Academy Award winner. It's a cute kid-flick, but tame and predictable. For more info, see "Bringing the Kids" below. 

THE STORY: "What are you? Some kind of freak show circus dog?" So begins the friendship between a 12-year-old boy and a Hollywood stunt dog.

Shane Fahey (Josh Hutcherson) is a misfit kid with no mom and a firefighter dad, Connor (Bruce Greenwood) who works all the time. Shane doesn't get a lot of family time, and the kids at school aren't all that friendly either.

Rex is a pampered pooch and one of Tinseltown's hottest stunt dogs. He's got all the perks of an A-list celeb: Kobe beef, a poodle harem, and a diamond-studded collar. But when a botched aerial stunt lands him in the back of a produce truck, Rex ends up on the street being chased by animal control. He takes refuge in a grubby abandoned loft, a far cry from his former diva lifestyle. Meanwhile, his handlers believe they've lost the dog for good.

When Rex enters Shane's life, the two don't exactly hit it off right away. Unaware of the dog's Hollywood status, Shane puts up flyers trying to find his owner. But Rex's spectacular stunt skills earn him a special place in Connor's fire station – a run-down place in need of some good karma.

The crew there consists of veteran firehouse cook Joe (Bill Nunn), strong-willed mother hen Pepita (Mayte Garcia), exhausted family-man Lionel (Scotch Ellis Loring), and calendar-worthy rookie Terence (Teddy Sears). The team is still coping with the loss of their former captain, Connor’s brother, who died in a fire.

When Rex starts making headlines for his daring rescues, he draws the attention of his Hollywood handlers. And they want him back.

BRINGING THE KIDS:

PRESCHOOLERS (ages 2-5): With a PG rating for mild peril, crude humor, and language, this movie's not for little ones. A better hero story for preschoolers: "Higglytown Heroes: To the Rescue" (released on DVD 1/2/07), which deals with rescue professionals. Another is Barney: Let's Go to the Firehouse" (released on DVD 3/13/07). The purple dinosaur and his gang visit a firehouse, Riff and Baby Bop take an exciting ride on a fire engine, and BJ meets a very special dog. A great way for kids to learn about fire safety.

GRADE-SCHOOLERS (ages 6 - 10): This family movie has lots of action, a few laughs, and some warm, fuzzy moments. It also has a nostalgic feel to it because Rex is a dog with real personality, rather than just a prop for the humans. Makes you think about beloved dogs like Benji and Lassie. Overall, a great movie for this age group, although the PG rating makes it best for kids 8 and older. Language is mild, with "hell," "suck," and "crap" the worst of the bunch. There's also some crude humor involving gas and burps, and one really gross scene where Rex poops into a pot of stew on a table (after sniffing it and deciding it's inedible).

TWEEN / TEEN (ages 11+): While this movie skews towards the grade-school crowd, it has a good message that celebrates families. The story is inspiring because it's about a bunch of misfits who have to figure out how to get through the rough patches in life. The sooner we figure that out, the better. All in all, though, it seems more like a made-for-TV movie than a feature film. 

SCORE: 2.5 out of 4 Reels.

JANE'S REEL RATING SYSTEM:

One Reel – Pathetic. Even the Force can't save it.
Two Reels – Tolerable. Coulda been a contender.
Three Reels – Thought-provoking. Something to talk about.
Four Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

Read my other reviews HERE.