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Now playing: PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE (2026)
The current over-reliance on pixel-pushing has come at the expense of thoughtful visual storytelling.
Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie: Rex, the handicapable wonder pup!
PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE (2026) Cal Brukner / Written by Bob Barlen & Cal Brunker based on the television series created by Keith Chapman / Design: Peter Chan / Art Direction: Pierre-Antoine Moelo / Editor: Ed Fuller / Composer: Pinar Toprak / Colorist: Bill Ferwerda / Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 / Voiced by: Mckenna Grace, Fortune Feimster, Terry Crews, Hameela Jamil, Ron Pardo, Paris Hilton, Hayden Chamberlen, Snoop Dog, Jennifer Hudson, and Bill Nye / A Nickelodeon Film Released by Paramount Pictures / Countries of Origin: USA & Canada / Rated: PG / Length: 88 mins.
Fearless though I may be in the face of all genres, there remain certain films where even I need an extra incentive to get me into the theatre. Such was the case of PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, the second of two dinosaur-related features opening this week.
Unlike Spider-Man: Brand New Day, where I watched all three of Marvel’s previous entries in the series, my research in this case was limited to the first feature-length odyssey PAW Patrol: The Movie and then only to acquaint myself with the franchise’s characters and basic premise. The film, however, was not enough to get me out of bed for the Sunday morning 10 am screening. I needed someone to provide some infectious enthusiasm.
Video:
Trailer: PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE
“Mira loves PAW Patrol,” the seven-year-old’s mom assured me. “She’d be thrilled if you’d take her to see it.” I asked only that she not tell Mira where we were going — to let the element of surprise play a role in my undertaking, so that I might spring it on her when we arrived at the theatre.
Mira held my hand as we walked up the stairs to the AMC Mission Valley. Still not aware of where we were going, she paused at the top of the flight. “What do you think of PAW Patrol?” I asked, barely able to control my delight. “PAW Patrol?" she grumbled. “I hate PAW Patrol! That’s for babies!”
Yet another wow factor up in flames.
The plot of PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie is simple; the challenging underlying subtext for youngsters a tad more rewarding. The rescue pups crash-land on a remote, unexplored tropical island filled with dinosaurs. It’s up to them to save its prehistoric inhabitants from a massive volcanic eruption triggered by Mayor Humdinger (Ron Pardo).
The film is rife with positive messages for kids: learning from one’s mistakes will teach you to be a better person; once you set your mind to something, there is nothing you can’t accomplish; it’s up to all of us to safeguard our natural surroundings, etc.
There is also a lot to be learned about embracing one’s differences. If there was one element of PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie that set my heart a-wagging, it was Rex (Hayden Chamberlen), the handicapable pup who needs a rear-wheel canine mobility cart to navigate life’s path. Having never watched an episode of the TV series in which Rex first appeared, I was thrilled to see how he was accepted by his canine cohorts without a sentimental explanatory pity-pitch to justify and explain what made him different.
On the downside, the garish, shadowless, crayon-colored lighting scheme — no doubt intended to dazzle youngsters in the audience — was a blinding reminder of the need for moderation, especially given the current reliance on computer-generated animation. The digital sensory overload prioritized cheap visual stimulation over genuine cinematic artistry. Without contrast, texture, or intentional shadow, the imagery felt flat and sterile, proving that the current over-reliance on pixel-pushing has come at the expense of thoughtful visual storytelling.
There was another jarring moment halfway through that had nothing to do with the movie. I asked the dad seated to my left to please turn off his phone. In a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, as the closing credits rolled, he walked over to me and apologized for his mid-movie infraction. “Not to worry,” I replied, “the light was keeping me awake.”
On our way back to the car I pressed Mira for an opinion. Did she still deem herself too old for the material? “Oh no,” she giggled. “I was talking about the TV show. The movie was great!”
Rating: **
Here's something you might be interested in.
Now playing: PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE (2026)
The current over-reliance on pixel-pushing has come at the expense of thoughtful visual storytelling.
Now playing: PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE (2026)
The current over-reliance on pixel-pushing has come at the expense of thoughtful visual storytelling.
Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie: Rex, the handicapable wonder pup!
PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE (2026) Cal Brukner / Written by Bob Barlen & Cal Brunker based on the television series created by Keith Chapman / Design: Peter Chan / Art Direction: Pierre-Antoine Moelo / Editor: Ed Fuller / Composer: Pinar Toprak / Colorist: Bill Ferwerda / Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 / Voiced by: Mckenna Grace, Fortune Feimster, Terry Crews, Hameela Jamil, Ron Pardo, Paris Hilton, Hayden Chamberlen, Snoop Dog, Jennifer Hudson, and Bill Nye / A Nickelodeon Film Released by Paramount Pictures / Countries of Origin: USA & Canada / Rated: PG / Length: 88 mins.
Fearless though I may be in the face of all genres, there remain certain films where even I need an extra incentive to get me into the theatre. Such was the case of PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, the second of two dinosaur-related features opening this week.
Unlike Spider-Man: Brand New Day, where I watched all three of Marvel’s previous entries in the series, my research in this case was limited to the first feature-length odyssey PAW Patrol: The Movie and then only to acquaint myself with the franchise’s characters and basic premise. The film, however, was not enough to get me out of bed for the Sunday morning 10 am screening. I needed someone to provide some infectious enthusiasm.
Video:
Trailer: PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE
“Mira loves PAW Patrol,” the seven-year-old’s mom assured me. “She’d be thrilled if you’d take her to see it.” I asked only that she not tell Mira where we were going — to let the element of surprise play a role in my undertaking, so that I might spring it on her when we arrived at the theatre.
Mira held my hand as we walked up the stairs to the AMC Mission Valley. Still not aware of where we were going, she paused at the top of the flight. “What do you think of PAW Patrol?” I asked, barely able to control my delight. “PAW Patrol?" she grumbled. “I hate PAW Patrol! That’s for babies!”
Yet another wow factor up in flames.
The plot of PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie is simple; the challenging underlying subtext for youngsters a tad more rewarding. The rescue pups crash-land on a remote, unexplored tropical island filled with dinosaurs. It’s up to them to save its prehistoric inhabitants from a massive volcanic eruption triggered by Mayor Humdinger (Ron Pardo).
The film is rife with positive messages for kids: learning from one’s mistakes will teach you to be a better person; once you set your mind to something, there is nothing you can’t accomplish; it’s up to all of us to safeguard our natural surroundings, etc.
There is also a lot to be learned about embracing one’s differences. If there was one element of PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie that set my heart a-wagging, it was Rex (Hayden Chamberlen), the handicapable pup who needs a rear-wheel canine mobility cart to navigate life’s path. Having never watched an episode of the TV series in which Rex first appeared, I was thrilled to see how he was accepted by his canine cohorts without a sentimental explanatory pity-pitch to justify and explain what made him different.
On the downside, the garish, shadowless, crayon-colored lighting scheme — no doubt intended to dazzle youngsters in the audience — was a blinding reminder of the need for moderation, especially given the current reliance on computer-generated animation. The digital sensory overload prioritized cheap visual stimulation over genuine cinematic artistry. Without contrast, texture, or intentional shadow, the imagery felt flat and sterile, proving that the current over-reliance on pixel-pushing has come at the expense of thoughtful visual storytelling.
There was another jarring moment halfway through that had nothing to do with the movie. I asked the dad seated to my left to please turn off his phone. In a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, as the closing credits rolled, he walked over to me and apologized for his mid-movie infraction. “Not to worry,” I replied, “the light was keeping me awake.”
On our way back to the car I pressed Mira for an opinion. Did she still deem herself too old for the material? “Oh no,” she giggled. “I was talking about the TV show. The movie was great!”
Rating: **
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