Paw Patrol: The Movie

The stars of animated film Paw Patrol: The Movie are a team of puppy heroes and a boy, Ryder, who acts as their leader. The group respond to emergency calls from citizens in distress and deal with virtually any kind of trouble, intervening with their high-tech, impressively equipped vehicles. 

Many will already be familiar with the characters from the popular series that began airing in 2013. Produced in Canada and loved by preschoolers, the show has already seen the canine squad accomplish plenty of missions and come to the rescue in many different settings. The movie takes the action to another level, giving the protagonists more depth and assigning significant social value to their mission.

An emergency call from neighbouring Adventure City alerts the Paw Patrol team to a worrying event that could potentially have catastrophic consequences. An intrepid puppy named Liberty informs Ryder and his squad that Humdinger, their most impassioned enemy, has been elected as Mayor in her city after a dubiously run election. The egocentric, fame-thirsty villain immediately starts implementing policies and initiating new projects that could be detrimental to the wellbeing – and perhaps the very survival – of humans and dogs alike. 

The rescue team tries to keep up with all the perilous incidents that start taking place around Adventure City, but they are held back by an unexpected setback. Team member Chase remembers the traumatic experience of being abandoned in that very city as a tiny pup, and the painful memory prevents him from acting as bravely as he normally would. Meanwhile, Liberty dreams of becoming a Paw Patrol member, but she must prove her worth at a very challenging time. 

The use of tried-and-tested plot devices means that the narrative is predictable. Dialogues are simple and basic, and there is little to no humour aimed at children and none reserved for adults. Little ones will delight in the animation, however, and sympathise with the characters’ emotional journeys. Touching on serious themes such as climate change and political corruption, the film lightheartedly imparts valuable messages about nurturing a civic sense of duty, sticking together as a community and standing with those who need practical or emotional support.

Mersa Auda

Paw Patrol: The Movie is released nationwide on 9^th August 2021.

Watch the trailer for Paw Patrol: The Movie here: