A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Educational Value
very little
Kids can learn about the adaptation of written works like comic strips to audiovisual works like films.
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Positive Messages
some
Pets deserve our love and loyalty. Hard work and discipline can bring positive results. Accept and love people and pets for who they are, flaws and all. Greed and cheating don't pay. Looks aren't everything. Believe in yourself.
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Positive Role Models
some
Marmaduke learns discipline. King Tut generously gives Marmaduke a pep talk when he most needs it. The Winslows love their dog, even though they get frustrated with him. Guy trains Marmaduke but gives up on him too easily, eventually coming back around. Some characters cheat, taunt, and bully; others offer support and wisdom in key moments.
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Diverse Representations
Flagged for concern
The championship dogs represent a variety of nations, and their portrayals are very much based on stereotypes: the taco-loving pup from Mexico, the seductress poodle from France, the wise martial arts expert from China, and so on. A teen daughter is also stereotyped as attached to her smartphone and a little self-obsessed.
Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.
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Violence & Scariness
some
Lots of cartoon accidents, fights, chases, crashes, and injuries. Human and animal characters run into things, fall from heights, get licked, threatened, smacked, shot at with toy guns, electrocuted, and nearly hit by cars. Body parts are slammed, squished, caught on fire, and bitten. Dogs fight. Schoolmates tease and bully the Winslow kids for things Marmaduke does. Marmaduke appears dead in one scene. In another, he runs away from home and seems not to care if he gets hurt: "They'll be better off without me," he thinks. Guy appears in a full-body cast in the hospital.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
very little
Guy asks Amy on a date and they flirt. A seductive French poodle tells Marmaduke she doesn't bite --unless he wants her to.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Language
a little
"Heck," "freakin'," "poop," "butt," "oh my God," and lots of taunts, including "suckers," "loser," "lame," "lousy," "jerk," "stupid," "silly," "weasel," and "fleabag." Some potty humor.
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Products & Purchases
very little
Could inspire viewers to seek out other Marmaduke products.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this animated adaptation of the comic strip Marmaduke stars Pete Davidson as the voice of the overzealous Great Dane. Expect a fair bit of slapstick/cartoon violence: Human and animal characters run into things, fall from heights, and are threatened, smacked, shot at with toy guns, electrocuted, and nearly hit by cars. Body parts catch on fire and are slammed, squished, and bitten. Dogs fight, and schoolmates tease and bully his family's kids for things Marmaduke does. Marmaduke appears dead in one scene; in another, he runs away from home and seems not to care whether he gets hurt. There are also accidents, fights, chases, crashes, and injuries. Language includes "heck," "freakin'," "poop," "butt," "oh my God," and lots of taunts, including "suckers," "loser," "jerk," "stupid," and more. Depictions of championship dogs representing nations other than the United States lean on stereotypes: There's a taco-loving pup from Mexico, a seductress poodle from France, a wise martial arts expert from China, and so on. But characters do learn positive lessons about accepting and helping others and the rewards of hard work and discipline. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
MARMADUKE (voiced by Pete Davidson) has once again unintentionally ruined things for the Winslow family thanks to his overzealous nature. The family thinks it might be time for obedience school, but before they can get on that, a world-class trainer appears at their door offering to work with Marmaduke. The trainer has been inspired by a TV personality who challenged him to take on this "impossible" job after a video of the dog's shenanigans went viral. He shows Marmaduke the ways of a champion and puts him in shows. Will Marmaduke be able to control his own worst impulses and believe in himself enough to be a champion?
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how this film differs from other versions of Marmaduke or the comic strip. What's the appeal of this character?
What countries do the other championship dogs represent? What shorthand ways of representing those countries does the film use? Why can stereotypes be harmful?
What lessons does Marmaduke learn in his training? What do the Winslows learn? How about Guy?
