Fire, explosions, and danger at a wrecker’s yard! Also, a new villain has stolen a powerful electromagnet! People need to be rescued and it’s just business as usual for PAW Patrol, everyone’s favourite search and rescue pups, back for another furry adventure! And this time, they’re supercharged!
Led by 10-year-old Ryder (Finn Lee-Epp), The PAW Patrol are a team of amazing talking dogs. Each with their own special vehicle, these heroes protect the citizens of Adventure City. All this as the team’s littlest member, Skye (Mckenna Grace) hopes to prove herself as capable as her friends.
One day, the mad scientist Vee (Taraji P. Henson) causes a meteor to crash into the middle of the city. Thanks to quick action by PAW Patrol, nobody is harmed but examining the meteor has unintended consequences. Each pup is blessed with superpowers thanks to the magical crystals contained within!
Now dubbed ‘The Mighty Pups’, each member is more capable than ever to help the city. Sent to prison for her crimes. Vee joins forces with PAW Patrol’s arch-nemesis already serving time, Mayor Humdinger (Ron Pardo). Before long, the dastardly duo escape and set out on their evil scheme to steal the magical crystals from The Mighty Pups and use the powers for their own nefarious intentions. It’s up to PAW Patrol to save the day and for Skye to prove to Ryder that “No pup’s too small” to make a difference.
Based upon Keith Chapman‘s insanely successful children’s TV series ‘PAW Patrol’ this film is actually a sequel. Following the events of 2021’s ‘PAW Patrol: The Movie’, Chase (Christian Convery), Rubble (Luxton Handspiker) and the rest of the crew are joined now by new recruit Liberty (Marsai Martin), in a surprisingly action packed and touching adventure that’s sure to thrill young audiences who may be too young for your average superhero film.
I only had a small amount of knowledge of PAW Patrol when I went to see this film so I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed it. Returning director Cal Brunker has worked in various roles on some of the biggest CGI kids films in recent memory. From Minions to Ice Age, his resume is impressive. Little wonder then that the action and animation in PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie is top notch and a step above what one who is more used to the TV series may expect.
The film is fully aware of the silliness of its premise and proudly embraces it, allowing for a story which can be enjoyed by adults just as much as by children. There are a few gags here and there which by design may go over some kids’ heads, but they had me rolling. There is fourth wall breaking humour around merchandising and other topics are lampooned, however refreshingly so, the film is never cynical or inappropriate in its approach.
While a follow up to its 2021 predecessor, the characters and story are instantly accessible to the film’s young target audience. Impressively so in fact as I noticed just how much the film kept even the smallest audience members engaged at the screening I attended. While there were inevitably some kids with ants in their pants, the mix of action and comedy kept majority of the audience firmly planted in their seats.
Upon the introduction of every character, you could hear exclamations of recognition from young fans, as well as joining in howling along with their favourite four-legged friends and even eventual cheers and clapping when PAW Patrol saved the day. All this with a fun atmosphere and a great soundtrack, including the new song ‘Learning to Fly’ by Christina Aguilera.
I think this is what I find so endearing about PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, the earnestness of the film is something lacking from mainstream superhero films actually aimed at my age range. This may be a children’s film but it’s a cute, exciting, and funny one which kept me just as interested as the youngsters around me.
PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie is a heartwarming story about good versus evil and contains great messages about believing in yourself and having faith in your friends. This is an animated film which succeeds not only in entertaining its pint-sized target audience, but also the grown-ups who tag along. Fun not only for fans of the series but also ‘paw-fect’ first time movie experience for film fans of the future.