Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the deal: critics absolutely savaged this movie (44% RT) while audiences sobbed their way to a 96% love-fest. It's emotionally manipulative? Sure. Does it work anyway? Apparently yes, if you have a heart.

The philosophical dog narrator angle is genuinely clever, and the racing metaphors land better than they should. Kevin Costner voices Enzo the golden retriever with warmth, and the life lessons about perspective and resilience are real. Kids who love dogs and can handle sad stories will find something meaningful here.

But let's be clear: this movie is HEAVY. Terminal cancer, parental death, brutal custody battle, family dysfunction, and the dog dies at the end (sorry, but you need to know). It's not 'scary' unsafe, but it's 'emotional devastation' territory. Don't throw this on for family movie night without warning—you'll need a tissue budget and possibly a therapy budget.

The 2019 release means it's recent enough to feel watchable, and it's streaming on Disney+ so it's accessible. If your kid is in that 10-13 sweet spot, loves animals, and is ready for a genuine tearjerker with actual wisdom, this could be a meaningful watch. Just... prepare yourself. And maybe have the family dog nearby for post-movie hugs.

Age Fit

Best for 10-14 year olds who can handle emotionally heavy content and process themes of death and loss. Younger kids might be devastated by the sad parts, older teens might find it too sentimental. Animal-loving tweens in the sweet spot will ugly-cry but also get something meaningful from it.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

72

Models loyalty, perseverance, and family devotion through the dog narrator's perspective. Handles difficult life themes (illness, loss, custody battles) with emotional honesty but appropriate restraint. The protagonist demonstrates integrity and determination. However, the heavy emotional content around death and family struggle prevents a higher score—it's emotionally healthy but genuinely sad.

Imaginative

68

The unique conceit of a philosophical dog narrator evaluating human life through racing metaphors offers creative storytelling. The parallel between racing strategy and life choices invites kids to think about perspective and meaning-making. However, it's more contemplative than actively imagination-sparking—you're watching someone else's creative premise rather than being invited to build or explore yourself.

Safe

58

Common Sense Media rates it 10+, which is appropriate. Contains emotionally intense scenes including terminal illness, death of a family member, contentious custody battle, and the dog's own death. No graphic violence, sex, or gore, but the emotional gut-punches are real and could blindside younger or sensitive kids. The divorce and in-law conflict adds family dysfunction that's realistic but heavy. Not a 'surprise scary clown' unsafe, but definitely an 'unexpected grief bomb' situation.

Enriching

75

Strong themes about perspective, resilience, loyalty, and finding meaning in hardship. The racing-as-life-metaphor framework offers genuine philosophical insight accessible to kids. Models healthy grief processing and perseverance through adversity. The dog's wisdom about living in the moment and preparing for what's ahead provides real takeaways. Audience score of 96% vs critic 44% suggests it connects emotionally even if it's not sophisticated cinema.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Unique perspective: hearing a dog's inner monologue about human life and racing creates genuine philosophical moments kids can grasp
Models resilience and loyalty through hardship—the protagonist and his dog both demonstrate perseverance when life gets brutal
The racing-as-life metaphor actually works: 'the car goes where your eyes go' becomes a framework for intentional living
Massive audience love (96% RT, 7.6 IMDb) means it emotionally connects even if critics dismissed it as manipulative
Handles grief and loss with honesty—doesn't sugarcoat death but processes it in age-appropriate ways

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What to Watch For

This is a certified cry-fest: terminal illness, death of a parent, custody battle, and yes, the dog dies—prepare kids (and yourself) accordingly
The family conflict gets intense with contentious in-laws and a custody fight that could hit hard for kids in divorced families
Some racing scenes have minor crashes but nothing graphic—the emotional crashes are way more intense than the car ones
It's earnest to the point of being schmaltzy—critics hated it for emotional manipulation, so if you're allergic to sentiment, skip it

Conversation Starters

"The dog talks about 'the car goes where your eyes go'—what does that mean for how we make choices in our own lives?"
"If you could see the world through your pet's eyes, what do you think they'd say about our family?"
"The main character faces a lot of really hard stuff but keeps going—what helps people stay strong when everything feels terrible?"
"Why do you think the movie tells the story from the dog's perspective instead of the human's? What does that change?"
"How do you want to be remembered, like Enzo the dog hopes to be?"

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