REVIEW: ‘PAW Patrol: The Movie’ Is Harmless Fun For Kids, Fans Of TV Show

SALT LAKE CITY — The most successful feature-length movies aimed at children always take into account that their parents have to watch the movie too, particularly in theaters.

The ones I have liked best are the movies that are kid-oriented but also have something to keep the parents interested and a good message rolled in.

“Paw Patrol: The Movie” debuts in theaters and streaming on Paramount Plus on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021.

Thankfully, Paramount Pictures’ “PAW Patrol: The Movie” does a pretty good job at this.

The movie is based on the children’s cartoon “PAW Patrol,” which has been running for nine seasons on Nickelodeon.

In this movie, the team moves to the big city to save the citizens (and dogs) from evil Mayor Humdinger. He wants to city to be less boring, so he gets rid of boring things like museums and libraries and adds things like a roller coaster subway and a mayor’s office on a tower atop the city’s tallest building. He also likes cats.

It’s all harmless stuff, and it actually has a good message rolled into it about overcoming your fears and self-doubt. I’m a big fan of parents talking with their children about what they’ve watched, and this movie will give plenty of positive opportunities for that.

It’s got much of the original series’ voice cast, plus multiple celebrity voices including Randall Park, Tyler Perry and Jimmy Kimmel, among others. There’s even a Kim Kardashian West cameo.

In addition, the movie’s run time is less than 90 minutes, so even if parents aren’t that excited to watch, it doesn’t take long.

For those who DO want to watch “PAW Patrol: The Movie,” you have two options. It is playing in theaters in wide release, including special screenings for children (with bonus content, fewer trailers and the lights half up.)

It is also available streaming at no extra charge for subscribers to Paramount Plus (formerly CBS All-Access). Paramount Plus also has, not coincidentally, the whole “PAW Patrol” cartoon series for children to watch as well, if they want.