Threequel Is What You Expect

The villainous Mayor Humdinger in the PAW Patrol television show and movies is not a character with whom one should sympathize. But I have to admit that I identified with him more than a little while watching the animated characters’ third big-screen effort. When his canine enemies are mentioned in PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, he asks, “PAW Patrol? Are they still a thing?” And later he admits, “There are so many of them I can barely remember their names.” So true, so true.

These are not movies for adults by any stretch, but younger, and I mean younger, audiences have clearly embraced the adorable puppy search-and-rescue team, so their adult chaperones might as well give in and bring them to a matinee showing. And it must be said that while the material is thoroughly juvenile, the films impart valuable messages to their impressionable viewers.

Here’s a sampling from this one alone: “Making mistakes is how you learn and get better, and never give up.” And, “I don’t need you to be perfect, I just need you to give it everything you’ve got.” Or, “Once you set your mind to something, there’s nothing you can’t do.” You half-expect an animated version of Tony Robbins to make an appearance.

The PAW Patrol crew must be doing well, because as this film begins, they’re on the high seas with their 10-year-old human leader Ryder (Henry Bolan) in what looks like an aircraft carrier. In the first of many action sequences, they rescue a family whose fishing vessel has caught fire. The father is played by Snoop Dogg, who, it must be said, has come a long way image-wise from “Gin and Juice” and “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang.”

Not long afterward, their ship runs aground on an uncharted island heavily populated by dinosaurs. Oh, and a rescue pup, Rex (Hayden Chamberlen), who’s a dino expert and doesn’t let his disability prevent him from getting around easily with the aid of a doggie wheelchair (I told you the film had positive messages).

At first the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, I mean Dino Island, seem menacing. But of course, they’re not, with the cutest being Rhubarb, a baby T-Rex whose inflatable riding version is already available on Amazon for a mere $39.95. Because let’s face it, the only thing kids like more than puppies are dinosaurs.

Mayor Humdinger, once again voiced by the invaluable Ron Pardo, provides the evil vibes along with his criminal gang of felines. Newly released from prison, he immediately abandons his plans to go straight when he sees news coverage of Dino Island and recognizes huge diamonds in the background. Along with his henchman Harper (Meredith MacNeill) and explosives expert Alistair (Terry Crews), he heads to the island to cause the sort of trouble for which he’s become infamous.

Along the way, PAW Patrol get to do what they do best, namely engaging in harrowing missions including the daring rescue of a Brontosaurus stuck in a ravine. There’s also a scary dinosaur stampede, a volcano eruption and, oh yes, dino poop jokes. It’s all accompanied by Pinar Toprak’s score doing its best John Williams impression.

The plucky pups are as endearing as ever, including dalmatian fire dog Marshall (Carter Young), who’s prominently featured in a flashback depicting his dogged (sorry) try-out for the team, and cockapoo aviatrix Skye (Mckenna Grace, the ringer in the canine voice cast). As for the others, did I mention there are so many of them I can barely remember their names?

Speaking of names, the starry voice cast includes the likes of Jennifer Hudson, Fortune Feimster, Bill Nye, and Paris Hilton, and one can only hope that parents can appropriately explain to their youngsters who exactly each of them are. There’s also the obligatory jaunty pop song, “Bottle Up,” sung by the Backstreet Boys and whose composers include Ed Sheeran.

I could go on, but that would take away from your time online ordering the latest PAW Patrol products, including the Kids’ Bike ($119.99 at Target), the Dino Rescue Responder ($26.88 at Walmart), the Megasaurus Dino Vehicle ($64.99 at Amazon), and countless others. What are you waiting for? Christmas is just around the corner.