PAW PATROL: THE MIGHTY MOVIE
Cert U ★★★
In cinemas now
For many members of the intended audience, this TV spin-off will be the first film they see on the big screen. Its zippy plot and slick animation could get them hooked on the magic of cinema.
It also serves as a primer for the fare that awaits them as young adults.
Like many grown-up blockbusters, The Mighty Movie delivers superheroes, mind-numbing action sequences, celebrity cameos and a shamelessly rehashed plot.
The setting is Adventure City, a sprawling metropolis that has ceded its emergency services to a 10-year-old boy and a pack of small dogs.
As in 2019’s Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups, their powers are upgraded by a crashing asteroid. Now, firefighter Marshall (Christian Corrao) can summon balls from flames, sea rescuer Zuma (Nylan Parthipan) can turn into water, pilot Skye (Mckenna Grace) can fly, and construction pup Rubble (Luxton Handspiker) transforms into a wrecking ball.
The film’s lessons about responsibility and teamwork are voiced by Ryder (Finn Lee-epp), the patient 10-year-old who acts as the dogs’ manager and viewers’ surrogate parent.
The action scenes are high octane enough to earn the film a “very mild
threat” warning on its BBFC certificate. But the villain, a mad scientist called Victoria Vance (Taraji P Henson), is more goofy than scary.
At least bored parents can play a game of “spot the cameo”.
Serena Williams and Chris Rock are listed in the credits and apparently Sir Trevor Mcdonald and Roman Kemp took a couple of parts for a UK version.
I didn’t notice either of them but, to my eternal shame, I recognised that a poodle was speaking with the voice of Kim Kardashian.
Apparently her tots voiced the balls of fluff who have signed up to the Paw Patrol’s youth training programme.
Nepotism is rife in the movie business and your kids will just have to get used to it.