A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Positive Messages
a lot
Strong messages about the life-changing connection and friendship between dogs and their human owners. Also promotes the idea that people aren't meant to go through life alone and that they're happier and more fulfilled with both human partners and animal companions. Clear theme of empathy.
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Positive Role Models
a lot
Ethan is a wonderful dog owner: kind, helpful, disciplined, and loving. He takes good care of Bailey and is also a doting son. Hannah is a supportive, encouraging girlfriend and pet lover. Carlos is a dedicated cop and partner to his K-9 companion. The dog believes his/her purpose is to defend, protect, and love his/her human companions. Maya is sweet and smart and showers her dog with affection and kindness.
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Violence & Scariness
some
Violence against both dogs and people, some of which could be sad/upsetting. Dogs die from early euthanasia, from being shot and nearly drowned, and of old age. An abusive father pushes his wife and his son, who pushes him back. A scary scene depicts a man who has kidnapped a young girl and is about to hurt her when the police show up. A neglectful owner chains the dog outside and then leaves it alone to find its own way as a stray. A house fire causes a devastating injury.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
a little
From the dog's perspective, Ethan and his girlfriend are "licking each other's faces." The dog also mentions that his "butt itches" when Hannah pets him. In another dog life, he falls in love with a female dog.
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Language
some
Infrequent language includes a few uses of "s--t," "dumb," "stupid."
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
Quite a bit of drinking, particularly by Ethan's father, who starts out drinking socially after work but continues to drink excessively as Ethan grows into adolescence, to the point that he's moody and eventually violent. A toast at a wedding reception.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that A Dog's Purpose is an emotional drama based on W. Bruce Cameron's 2010 novel about a dog (voiced by Josh Gad) that's reincarnated several times from the 1950s through the 2000s (the dog keeps its memories/personality, despite being different breeds and genders). There are some violent/upsetting scenes: An alcoholic, abusive father pushes his wife and son; a man kidnaps a girl, threatens her, throws her in the water, and shoots at a police officer and his dog; a neglectful dog owner keeps his dog chained and then purposely lets him go astray; and a fire causes a catastrophic injury for a young man. Strong language is infrequent (but includes "s--t"), and couples don't do much more than kiss. Look for clear messages about empathy and the importance of companionship, both human and animal. Before the movie's release, a controversy emerged about whether the animal performers were mistreated on the set; an investigation proved that the video was edited in a misleading manner. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
A DOG'S PURPOSE is based on W. Bruce Cameron's comedic novel about a dog's journey through several lives, with all different sorts of human companions. Voiced by Josh Gad, the dog is first a puppy that's picked up and euthanized by animal control. His first meaningful life is as Bailey, a golden retriever that ends up adopted by only child Ethan (Bryce Gheisar) and his mother (Juliet Rylance). Bailey and Ethan enjoy a close relationship that continues as Ethan grows into adolescence (K.J. Apa) and eventually becomes a star football player in the 1960s. Bailey even plays a part in helping Ethan find his first serious girlfriend, Hannah (Britt Robertson). But after family and personal tragedy strike, Bailey eventually dies of old age. He's then reincarnated as Ellie, a K-9 German shepherd partnered with cop Carlos (John Ortiz) in the 1970s. The dog fulfills its life cycle again and again until the 2000s, when circ*mstances bring him full circle.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violent/upsetting scenes in A Dog's Purpose. Do you think they're necessary to the story? Can a movie have violent parts and still be family friendly?
Did the controversy about the movie impact your feelings about it? How do you feel now that it's been proven that the video was edited in a misleading way? What does this teach us about casting a critical eye on what we see and hear?
What do the human characters learn from the dog? How does the movie's story promote empathy? Why is that an important character strength?
How does the movie address grief, especially in relation to losing a pet? Have you ever had to deal with that? What made you feel better?
How does the movie portray drinking? Are there realistic consequences? Why is that important?
Movie Details
- In theaters: January 27, 2017
- On DVD or streaming: May 2, 2017
- Cast: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Britt Robertson, Peggy Lipton
- Director: Lasse Hallstrom
- Inclusion Information: Middle Eastern/North African actors
- Studio: Universal Pictures
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice
- Character Strengths: Empathy
- Run time: 120 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: thematic elements and some peril
- Last updated: February 21, 2023
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