Puppy love abounds for PAW Patrol in its first film adventure
Streaming now
Every dog has its day in the first film outing for the small screen hit PAW Patrol which comes to Netflix next month.
PAW Patrol: The Movie wags the tail of its ardent fanbase to repeated blasts of a catchy theme tune that reminds us “No job’s too big, No pup’s too small”.
Directed at speed by Cal Brunker, the film does not get its “lead in a knot” with a complicated plot or subtle character development, choosing the quickest route to thrills and spills including the daredevil rescue of a driver of a lorry hanging precariously off Adventure Bay’s bridge.
The script, co-written by Brunker, Billy Frolick and Bob Barlen, remains cheerfully upbeat and distils easily digestible lessons about courage and self-belief without coming across as heavy-pawed preaching.
Scheming arch-villain
Humdinger, voiced by Ron Pardo, remains lightly comical, creating sufficient chaos and conflict to sustain a running time just shy of 90 minutes.
Ryder, Will Brisbin, and his canine crew, police dog Chase, Iain Armitage, firefighter dog Marshall, Kingsley Marshall, recycling dog Rocky, Callum Shoniker, construction dog Rubble, Keegan Hedley, air rescue dog Skye, Lilly Bartlam, and aquatic rescue dog Zuma, Shayle Simons, are dismayed to learn that Humdinger has been elected mayor of Adventure City.
A rival candidate dropped out of the race in mysterious circumstances, leaving Humdinger as the only name on the ballot.
The newly elected official introduces sweeping changes including three loop-the-loops on the city’s train system.
When rain clouds threaten the fireworks at his victory party, Humdinger and hapless security guards Butch,
Randall Park, and Ruben, Dax Shepard, storm the university’s Department of Meteorology and commandeer a Cloud Catcher device belonging to chief scientist Kendra Wilson, Yara Shahidi.
Disaster looms and Ryder and the gang enter the fray. There are some high-tempo action sequences and the voice cast deliver wholesome life lessons and howls on cue.
It comes to Netflix from June 11.
Scheming arch-villain Humdinger, voiced by Ron Pardo, remains lightly comical, creating sufficient chaos and conflict to sustain a running time just shy of 90 minutes