‘PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE’ Review: Jurassic Bark
Courtney Howard // Film Critic
PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE
Rated PG, 1 hour and 28 minutes
Directed by: Cal Brunker
Starring: Carter Young, Hayden Chamberlen, Ron Pardo, Rain Janjua, Nylan Parthipan, Mckenna Grace, William Desrosiers, Lucien Duncan-Reid, Henry Bolan, Fortune Feimster, Jameela Jamil, Terry Crews, Jennifer Hudson, Paris Hilton, Snoop Dogg, Meredith MacNeill
Three years after the events that took place in PAW PATROL: THE MIGHTY MOVIE, those plucky first responder pups and their 10-year-old pack leader are back and forging new turf on a lost-in-time jungle island in PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE. This installment relies on its well-established formula without feeling any sense of redundancy, delivering rousing action-packed peril and awe-inducing animation, along with adorable new characters and a focus on a specific team member’s anxiety for heartrending thematic resonance. And like its predecessors, it also offers subtly-coded ecological standpoints and thought-provoking messaging about political corruption, in addition to introducing cool toys for parents to purchase for post-screening playtime. Franchise stalwarts director/ co-writer Cal Brunker and co-writer Bob Barlen continually innovate, making the expected feel unexpected for all ages.
After a daring rescue of a wealthy family (voiced by Snoop Dogg and Paris Hilton) aboard their burning yacht at sea, the PAW Patrol – boy-in-charge Ryder (Henry Bolan), police dog Chase (Rain Janjua), pilot pup Skye (Mckenna Grace), construction expert canine Rubble (Lucien Duncan-Reid), water rescue Zuma (Nylan Parthipan), demolition dog Rocky (William Desrosiers) and firedog Marshall (Carter Young) – are headed back to Adventure City when an intense storm hits. Their specially tricked out aircraft carrier loses its way in the fog and rain, running aground on a mysterious tropical island that’s not on any map. Exploring the new terrain yields a shocking discovery: a prehistoric paradise where dinosaurs still exist (though they’re not carnivorous, as the adults in the audience will glean since none of dinos try to eat the pups).
The pack also meet paraplegic pup Rex (Hayden Chamberlen), who’s been stranded on the island for the past two years. He’s an expert on all things dinosaurs and has built a fantasy treehouse with gorgeous sunset-lit tropical vistas. As the rescue-minded pups alert the authorities, calling in scientists and paleontologists like Heidi (Jameela Jamil) and Eugenia (Fortune Feimster), the media attention catches the eyes of the formerly incarcerated Mayor Humdinger (Ron Pardo) and the Kitten Catastrophe Crew. Humdinger and his hired hands (voiced by Meredith MacNeill and Terry Crews) spot an opportunity to make money, mining gargantuan diamonds on the side of the island’s dormant volcano. Naturally, they awaken it and the pups must figure out a way to save everyone and every cretaceous creature from an extinction-level event.
Since our first silver screen outing was guided by Chase’s psychological struggles and the second revolved around Skye’s need to find her power, this third installment is centered on Marshall’s deep-seated performance anxieties. He’s worried his mistakes are impeding his heroic evolution and that he’s solely seen by others as the klutzy, bumbling comic relief. His grief over this feels potent, especially as we see the snafus begin to pile up – one that puts a dangling brachiosaur in further danger and, later, another slip-up that leaves their tiny T-Rex buddy Rhubarb lost overnight in scary unfamiliar territory. Pint-sized audiences (and possibly a few adults too) might feel seen by Marshall’s journey, learning to tap into his tenacity, core ethic and dedication.
These PAW PATROL films play like escapist fantasies, not just for the tykes, but for the grown-ups too. Aesthetically, they contain a filmic scale and scope that distinguishes them from the long-running TV series. Character design is, of course, adorable. Their environments, as well as water and fire elements, are immersive and give off an air of wonderment. Musically, Pinar Toprak’s orchestral compositions sound bigger and bolder, as intimately tender notes transform into sweeping Alan Silvestri-style soundscapes. Soundtrack cues from Backstreet Boys’ “Bottle Up” and Ava Max’s “Work” keep the peppy pop sonic signature of the franchise percolating.
Narratively, the animated film contains a heartening depiction of disability. Rex’s handicap never holds him back from adventuring, building or outwitting threats. He’s of added value to the team as a more capable individual than many of the able-bodied members. Also, what an encouraging thing to see a disgraced political leader like Mayor Humdinger be convicted of his dastardly crimes, sent to jail and serve his time. That’s more than we can say about any comeuppance overdue for our current administration, so this series genuinely has one up on reality. Our villain’s scheme is birthed by his overbearing greed, selfishness and arrogance, and when faced with accountability for his destructive actions, he cowers, deflecting and attempting an escape, only to learn a costly lesson being hoisted by his own petard.
Overall, this latest entry slots in gracefully with the first two films. We can only hope for continuing adventures to transpire to learn more of the individual backstories of these canine avengers and the virtues of overcoming difficulties, corruption and villainy as a community.
Grade: B+
PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE will be in select theaters on August 14.
