Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups

Nickelodeon’s Canadian CGI heroic dog sensations get their first superhero makeover in feature film Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups. Series director Charles Bastian and writer Keith Pullman deliver eager-eyed pre-schoolers an action-packed hour of high-octane thrills and perilous feats from these loveable pups as they defeat the (not-so-bad) baddies and ultimately save the day.

A mysterious asteroid is heading to the make-belief shores of Adventure Bay. Ryder, the boy leader of the Paw Patrol, tells the town’s inhabitants to “clear the streets and run for cover” as he deploys the six pups – Chase, Sky, Rocky, Zuma, Everest and Marshall – to go and investigate the giant rock which has landed. Glowing cracks of luminous light bestow secret superpowers on the puppies as they approach and there are some really sweet and humorous moments as they clumsily discover and fine-tune their magical new skills.

The ongoing rivalry between Mayor Goodway of Adventure Bay and Mayor Humdinger of the neighbouring town of Foggy Bottom reaches dizzy heights as the latter’s nephew, Harold Humdinger (Chance Hurstfield), decides to steal the meteor for himself by trapping Ryder in the Paw Patrol look-out base, causing all sorts of mayhem for the rest of the crew.

Frantic lasers and hypersonic animation swirl over our screens, we are met by a whirlwind of pink tornado haze as Sky discovers her new wings, and freezing icy pathways are instantaneously whipped up by the loveable husky Everest. Lightning speed displays help hold the attention of the little ones,  but the huge giant robot that Harold has made to ultimately destroy all the pups and take over the town seems a little bit frighting as it clumsily makes headway through the sleepy little town.

This colourful presentation is jam-packed with action, but in its undercurrent, it also delivers a positive message of what makes a great leader. Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups fulfils its aim to provide a fun first-time cinema experience for young children, but perhaps it won’t be so pleasing for the parents when they inevitably bring our their new range of superhero merchandise.

Ezelle Alblas

Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups is released nationwide on 17^th May 2019.

Watch the trailer for Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups here: