When the Paw Patrol made their feature film debut, Ryder and his team of pups saved the day in more ways than one. 2021’s Paw Patrol: The Movie won over audiences from Pampers to Depends and everything in between by being the epitome of family entertainment. Additionally, it was one of the rare films to profit despite having a same-day theatrical and streaming release and no premium formats, ensuring a future silver-screen appearance for the Adventure Bay heroes.
Two years later, the future is now, and the canine rescue team returns to theaters with Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, a supercharged retelling of the Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups TV special. In The Mighty Movie, a meteor crashes and gives the pups superpowers they must use to protect Adventure Bay from Humdinger and his new partner, Victoria Vance (Taraji P. Henson).
The Mighty Movie stays consistent with the Something for Everybody formula that took the first film from a standard merchandising vehicle to something kids and the parents who buy said merchandise enjoyed.
For the kids, it’s seeing the show’s characters in an upgraded light as the animation is vastly enhanced for the film. The characters appear more realistic, or at least as natural as dogs with the motor skills to handle emergency vehicles can look. The scenes that feature the Paw Patrol in action are also augmented to give it a legitimate blockbuster feel as opposed to the show’s usual Nick Jr. setting.
The Mighty Movie’s draw for adults is the jokes. While The Mighty Movie is clearly for children under 10, it has enough punchlines to keep moviegoers outside that age range engaged for the 90-minute runtime. There are a couple of not-so-kid-friendly quips involving a toilet and elections, but they do no harm.
That being said, The Mighty Movie’s underlying message and soundtrack ultimately win everybody over. Like the first film did with Chase, the new one uses Skye’s backstory as the impetus for teaching a valuable lesson viewers can take well beyond the theater. It feels rushed and could have used more screen time, but it’s no less endearing despite that flaw.
As for the soundtrack, it’s still pop-driven with catching tunes from Bryson Tiller and McKenna Grace, but the standout here is Christina Aguilera’s “Learning to Fly.” When it’s paired with some key scenes, you will be moved.
Paw Patrol: The Movie is the superior film, but The Mighty Movie isn’t far behind it at all. If your child(ren) could grasp all the concepts of Elemental, they may be a little too advanced for the G-rated fun that drives this one. Otherwise, I can’t recommend The Mighty Movie enough.