At The Movies

Sammy, the Way-Out Seal Runtime: 52 minutes Studio: Walt Disney Productions Franchise: Standalone, N/A Ratings: My Rating: 7.0 The Dove Foundation: Family-Approved IMDb: 6.5 Rotten Tomatoes: N/A Metacritic: N/A Plot Summary: Sammy, a playful and mischievous seal, causes chaos and hilarity at a seaside amusement park. Through his antics, the humans around him learn patience, understanding, and the joys of friendship between humans and animals. The story highlights the bond between Sammy and his caretakers as they navigate challenges and unexpected adventures. Critics Review: Critics noted the charm of the animal star and the lighthearted comedy. While short in length, it was praised for its wholesome entertainment and family-friendly humor, capturing the classic Disney approach to live-action animal stories. Christian Perspective: The story demonstrates values of patience, kindness, and stewardship of God’s creatures. The care and respect shown for Sammy reflect lessons about compassion...

Rascal Runtime: 106 minutes Studio: Walt Disney Productions Franchise: Standalone, N/A Ratings: My Rating: 7.4 The Dove Foundation: Family-Approved IMDb: 6.8 Rotten Tomatoes: 72% Metacritic: 70 Plot Summary: Based on Sterling North’s novel, Rascal tells the story of a young boy, Sterling, and his pet raccoon, Rascal, during the early 20th century in Wisconsin. The boy learns lessons about responsibility, empathy, and the bittersweet nature of growing up as he navigates the challenges of caring for a mischievous but lovable raccoon while dealing with family, friendships, and community. Critics Review: Critics praised the film’s heartfelt storytelling, gentle humor, and scenic depiction of small-town life. The emotional depth and moral lessons were highlighted as strengths, though some noted that the pacing felt slow for modern audiences. Christian Perspective: The story emphasizes Christian values such as stewardship, responsibility, compassion, and respect for creation. Sterling’s care...

The Fox and the Hound Runtime: 86 minutes Studio: Walt Disney Productions Franchise: Standalone, N/A Ratings: My Rating: 8.0 The Dove Foundation: Family-Approved IMDb: 7.3 Rotten Tomatoes: 74% Metacritic: 71 Plot Summary: A young fox named Tod and a hound puppy named Copper form an unlikely friendship despite their natural instincts and the societal pressures around them. As they grow, circumstances and loyalty to their respective human masters threaten to pull them apart, ultimately testing the bonds of friendship, trust, and forgiveness in the face of inevitable change. Critics Review: Critics praised the film’s emotional depth, charming animation, and mature themes of friendship and loss. Some noted the bittersweet ending as a brave choice for a Disney animated feature at the time. Christian Perspective: The story highlights Christian values of friendship, loyalty, forgiveness, and compassion. The characters’ struggles reflect moral lessons about choosing love and kindness over inst...

The Pack Age Rating: PG Runtime: 98 minutes Studio: Warner Bros. / Sequoia Pictures Country of Origin: United States Franchise: Standalone Franchise Position: N/A Abandoned pets forge a savage new order on an island resort, turning from companions into ruthless predators after being left behind by their owners. Ratings: My Rating: 5.5/10 The Dove Foundation: Not listed IMDb: 5.9/10 Rotten Tomatoes: N/A Metacritic: N/A TMDb: N/A Plot Summary: After a busy tourist season ends, vacationers leave their pets behind on a remote island. Hungry, frightened, and leaderless, the abandoned dogs form a predatory pack. Former Marine Jerry and his family have recently moved to the island, unaware of the danger growing in the woods. As the dogs turn from scavengers to killers, Jerry and a small group of residents must fight for survival, barricading themselves in their homes while the pack attacks relentlessly. The film builds toward a tense standoff between man and nature, exploring both the cruelty...

Garfield: The Movie Runtime: 80 minutes Studio: 20th Century Fox Country of Origin: United States Franchise: Garfield Franchise Position: 1 (First live-action film adaptation) America’s favorite lazy orange cat makes his big-screen debut — full of lasagna, sarcasm, and mischief — as he tries to save his owner’s new dog from trouble. Ratings: My Rating: 6.2/10 The Dove Foundation: Approved for All Ages IMDb: 5.0/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 14% Metacritic: 27 TMDb: 5.6/10 Plot Summary: Garfield (voiced by Bill Murray) lives a pampered life with his owner Jon Arbuckle (Breckin Meyer), ruling the house with snarky charm and a love for lasagna. His routine is disrupted when Jon adopts a sweet but dim-witted dog named Odie, who quickly steals the spotlight — and Jon’s attention. When Odie is kidnapped by a greedy television host seeking fame, Garfield must leave his comfortable home to rescue the pup, discovering courage, friendship, and a little humility along the way. Critics Review: Critics were ...

Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties Runtime: 86 minutes Studio: 20th Century Fox Country of Origin: United States Franchise: Garfield Franchise Position: 2 (Sequel to Garfield: The Movie) Garfield crosses the pond for a royal misadventure when he’s mistaken for a pampered palace cat in England. Ratings: My Rating: 6.0/10 The Dove Foundation: Approved for All Ages IMDb: 5.0/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 12% Metacritic: 37 TMDb: 5.7/10 Plot Summary: Garfield (Bill Murray) joins Jon Arbuckle (Breckin Meyer) and Liz (Jennifer Love Hewitt) on a trip to England, where he’s mistaken for Prince, a royal cat who has just inherited a castle. With identical appearances, Garfield enjoys the luxury of his new life — endless food, servants, and admiration — until he realizes that Lord Dargis (Billy Connolly), the greedy estate manager, plans to get rid of Prince to seize the property. When the real Prince returns, the two cats must team up to outsmart Dargis, save the estate, and teach him a lesson about greed an...

The Black Stallion Runtime: 115 minutes Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Country of Origin: United States Franchise: Black Stallion Franchise Position: 1 A young boy forms a powerful bond with a wild stallion after being shipwrecked on a deserted island, leading to incredible adventures and horse racing triumphs. Ratings: My Rating: 8.2/10 The Dove Foundation: PG IMDb: 7.3/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 93% (Critics), 82% (Audience) Metacritic: 76/100 TMDb: 8.0/10 Based on a Book: The Black Stallion by Walter Farley Plot Summary: After surviving a shipwreck, Alec Ramsey discovers a wild stallion on a deserted island. They form an unbreakable bond, and upon returning to civilization, Alec trains the horse for competitive racing. The story highlights themes of trust, friendship, courage, and perseverance, portraying the deep connection between humans and animals. Critics Review: The film was praised for its cinematography, particularly the desert island and race sequences, and for its faithful adaptat...

Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion Runtime: 85 minutes Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Country of Origin: United States Franchise: N/A Franchise Position: N/A A heartwarming adventure featuring a cross-eyed lion and the staff of an African wildlife preserve as they navigate the challenges of caring for animals and humans alike. Ratings: My Rating: 7.6 The Dove Foundation: G IMDb: 7.2 Rotten Tomatoes: 8.0 Metacritic: N/A TMDb: 7.6 Plot Summary: The film centers on Clarence, a cross-eyed lion living at an African wildlife preserve, and his interactions with caretakers and visitors. When a young boy comes to the preserve, Clarence becomes part of his adventures. The story weaves together comedy, drama, and wildlife conservation, highlighting both the challenges of animal care and the bonds that develop between humans and animals. Critics Review: Critics generally praised the film for its charm, humor, and family-friendly content. The novelty of featuring a live lion in a central role was seen as e...

The Art of Racing in the Rain Studio: 20th Century Fox Based on a book: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein Franchise: standalone Franchise position: N/A Release date: August 9, 2019 Runtime: 108 min Tagline: Life is full of challenges. Plot summary Art of Racing in the Rain tells the heartwarming story of Denny Swift, a race car driver, and his loyal dog, Enzo. Narrated from Enzo’s perspective, the film explores themes of love, perseverance, and the human condition. Enzo believes that he will be reincarnated as a human in his next life and reflects on the lessons he learns from his family’s trials, triumphs, and tragedies. The story emphasizes resilience, family bonds, and pursuing one’s passions despite life’s obstacles. Critics review Critics praised the film for its emotional storytelling, Enzo’s narration, and the performances, particularly Milo Ventimiglia as Denny. Some reviewers noted that the film can feel overly sentimental, but its uplifting message and appeal to an...

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Release Year: 2011 Runtime: 86 minutes Age Rating: PG Studio: 20th Century Fox / Regency Enterprises Franchise: Alvin and the Chipmunks Franchise Position: 3 Tagline: Time to shake things up! Trailer link :  Cast Ratings My Rating: 5.5/10 Dove Foundation Rating: Family Approved — suitable for all ages with some mild cartoon violence (dove.org) IMDb Rating : 4.1/10 —  Rotten Tomatoes : 13% —  Metacritic : 28/100 —  Plot Summary Alvin, Simon, Theodore, and the Chipettes embark on a cruise vacation, but their trip takes a wild turn when they are shipwrecked on a tropical island. Forced to survive together, the chipmunks and chipettes encounter hilarious obstacles and learn valuable lessons about teamwork, friendship, and family. The film combines live-action and CGI animation with catchy musical numbers and comedic antics, delivering lighthearted family entertainment. Critics Review The movie received mostly negative reviews, critici...

Alvin and the Chipmunks Release Year: 2007 Runtime: 92 minutes Age Rating: PG Studio: Fox 2000 Pictures / Regency Enterprises Franchise: Alvin and the Chipmunks Franchise Position: 1 Tagline: They’re tiny. They’re trouble. And they’re ready to rock! Trailer link :  Cast link:   Ratings My Rating: 6/10 Dove Foundation Rating: Family Approved — suitable for all ages, with mild cartoonish humor (dove.org) IMDb Rating: 5.1/10  Rotten Tomatoes: 28%  Metacritic : 30/100  Plot Summary A struggling songwriter discovers three singing chipmunks—Alvin, Simon, and Theodore—who have incredible talent but cause chaos everywhere they go. With the help of their new manager, Dave Seville, the chipmunks aim to become music stars while navigating the challenges of fame, friendship, and family. The movie blends live-action and CGI animation to bring the beloved characters to life in a contemporary setting, filled with humor, music, and heartwarming moments. Critics Review Critics ...