Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 8+
Some peril and name-calling in animated animal adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
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Violence & Scariness
some
A grandfather nearly chokes on a ball while asleep, and there's mention of him going to hospital when it happened before. A person falls down the stairs, but is unhurt. An animal threatens another, saying "I'll neuter you all over again." Pets get stuck on a dangerous conveyor belt at the airport, crashing into things and falling from great heights. Mention of potentially getting "the gas" at the pound. Animals get shot at with tranquilizer darts, hit by a car, stepped on, and tied up, but aren't seriously hurt. Frightening animals include a two-headed snake who chases a character, coiling around him and referring to him as a "snack," and a bird of prey with huge claws who locks characters in a cage and intends to eat them (skeletons of other animals are seen). Dogs and cats scratch and bite humans. People throw things through an office window, breaking the glass. Ominous, threatening detectives chase characters. There's dangerous driving and fast horse riding. A person falls into a river but survives. Characters are stuck on a rollercoaster that's falling apart, with carts and rails crashing to the ground. Animals get lost in the desert. A character vomits over a room and another character, and there's also a photograph of someone throwing up.
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Language
some
Frequent name-calling includes "princess," "brat," "doofus," "undersized, overbred halfwit," "fish brains," "buffoon," "dumb dumb," "undersized otter," "slow-witted," "ugly," "feeble feline," "dumb bunnies," "second-rate doodle poo," and "limey lemur." Language like "shut up," "darn," and "hurl" is also used, and a character says "hell" when talking about a "train to hell."
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
very little
A man brings a woman to his penthouse suite in Vegas. The implication it's sexual will likely go over the heads of younger kids.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
very little
A rabbit drinks what appears to be a cocktail.
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Positive Messages
a lot
Home isn't a place or a building, it's being with your family and the people you love. Change can be scary, but it's a natural part of life. Empathy, communication, and teamwork are great character strengths. Friendship, loyalty, and family are important. Never give up on the ones you love. Don't judge others on first impressions. It's important to appreciate similarities and respect differences.
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Positive Role Models
some
Pedro is a rescued alley cat, who was abandoned by his previous owners. He's used to fending for himself and has picked up bad habits on the street. Though he loves his family, he resents fancy purebred dog Gracie, and the two constantly fight, causing destruction in the process. Gracie is a purebred cat from England. She prides herself on behaving well and obeying the rules. At the beginning of the film, she and Pedro concentrate on their differences and fail to find common ground, but gradually learn to communicate, show empathy for each other, and work together as a team. Human siblings Sophie and Gavin also argue sometimes, but similarly learn to put aside their differences and appreciate each other's skills to try and get their pets back.
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Diverse Representations
a little
The movie doesn't adhere to gender roles in humans, with Sophie and Gavin's father cooking breakfast in the morning and their mother dressed formally in what looks like office attire. However, female cat Gracie worries about her appearance and likes shiny jewelry, which leans into gender stereotype. Gavin communicates through a voice app on his phone and signs some words. This doesn't define his character and he's still able to make himself heard and appreciated. Two rats with Italian-American accents wear gold jewelry and steal things, which is a damaging criminal stereotype. They're both played by Canadian actors. The ethnicity of the lead human characters isn't specified, but Sophie and Gavin's mother has darker skin than their White father. "Limey" is used toward a British character.
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Educational Value
very little
Intended to entertain rather than educate, this movie may teach kids positive messages rather than facts or concepts.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Gracie and Pedro: Pets to the Rescue is an animated family adventure about two pets who get lost when their family moves house and must try and find their way to their new home. There are threatening moments on their adventures, with some scary animal characters, but nobody is seriously hurt. Frequent name-calling includes "doofus," "buffoon," and "slow witted," a rabbit drinks what appears to be a cocktail, and slot machines are seen in Vegas. A scene shows a character vomit all over a room and another character, there's a photograph of someone throwing up, and mention of flatulence. Thoroughbred dog Gracie (voiced by Claire Alan) and rescued alley cat Pedro (Cory Doran) struggle to get along at first, but eventually show empathy, communication, and teamwork to make it through. A father does calming breathing exercises with his children, which is seen to have a positive effect, and there are plenty of positive messages about family, loyalty, and appreciating similarities and respecting differences. Supporting voices are provided by the likes of Bill Nighy, Brooke Shields, Danny Trejo, Alicia Silverstone, and Susan Sarandon, although they don't appear for long. The movie also goes by the title Gracie and Pedro: Mission Impossible. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
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Gracie and Pedro: Pets to the Rescue
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What's the Story?
In GRACIE AND PEDRO: PETS TO THE RESCUE, thoroughbred dog Gracie (voiced by Claire Alan) and rescued alley cat Pedro (Cory Doran) live together with their beloved family, but fight all the time. When the family moves house, their carrier gets lost and they find themselves all alone. As they set off on a journey to try and find their new home, kids Sophie and Gavin make a viral video to appeal for the return of their pets. But with such a distance between them, will they ever be reunited?
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated Rate movie
Kids say: Not yet rated Rate movie
This animated adventure is full of big names—Bill Nighy, Brooke Shields, Danny Trejo, Alicia Silverstone, and Susan Sarandon—voicing supporting parts, but these characters spend little time on-screen. Thankfully, lesser-known actors Doran and Alan are likable enough in the lead roles of Gracie and Pedro: Pets to the Rescue that it's not too much of a disappointment. There are sweet messages throughout about family, friendship, and loyalty, though while animal adventures can't help but be cute, the story is pretty simplistic and there's little in terms of layers for adults or older kids to enjoy. However, younger children will likely find Sophie's fledgling songs catchy and be inspired by her and Gavin working together to create a viral video about their missing pets. Overall this is an enjoyable adventure that ticks most of the boxes, but never quite thinks outside of one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the theme of differences and similarities in Gracie and Pedro: Pets to the Rescue. Why do you think Gracie and Pedro didn't get on at first? What did they learn about themselves and each other that helped them to bond? Why is it important to find similarities with other people, but still respect their differences?
The movie has some threatening moments and scary characters. Did any stand out to you? How did it compare to other animated animal adventures you've seen—was it scarier, less scary? How did you feel about the central characters when they were put in danger?
Gracie and Pedro showed empathy and communication skills, and learned to work together as a team. Why are these important character strengths? How did they help the pair get through their scary situation?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 18, 2024
- Cast: Claire Alan, Cory Doran, Bill Nighy
- Directors: Kevin Donovan, Gottfried Roodt
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Female writers
- Studio: Second Chance Productions
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Adventures, Brothers and Sisters, Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Friendship
- Character Strengths: Communication, Empathy, Teamwork
- Run time: 87 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: mild action/peril and rude material
- Last updated: October 13, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Gracie and Pedro: Pets to the Rescue
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