Story: A storm forces the Paw Patrol to land on a mysterious dinosaur island, where they meet Rex (Hayden Chamberlain), a stranded, wheelchair-bound pup. When Mayor Humdinger’s (Ron Pardo) greedy diamond mining triggers a volcano, the team must save the island.Review: If young kids love something more than puppies, it’s dinosaurs. In this third big-screen outing of the beloved television series, children get to witness one or the other in almost every frame. The movie begins with a cat setting a yacht on fire (it’s always the cat!), and the family aboard it (dad played by Snoop Dogg) being rescued by the search-and-rescue squad, the Paw Patrol. As they head back, a storm washes them ashore on a mysterious island inhabited by dinosaurs. They meet Rex, who has been living there for more than two years, befriending the dinos and making the forest his home. Recognising the island’s importance, the squad calls in palaeontologists and other scientists. But it also attracts their archenemy, Humdinger, who wants to exploit the island’s resources after vowing to straighten out following his release from prison, along with his feline crew. What follows are the kind of perilous events one can expect when nature is messed with.Directed by Cal Brunker and co-written with Bob Barlen, the narrative has enough to keep young viewers engaged. The dino world is created beautifully, with T-Rexes, especially the adorable baby Rhubarb, Stegosauruses, Triceratops, and other creatures inhabiting the verdant forest. The pups paragliding across valleys and exploring the island add to the visual appeal. The rescue scenes are exhilarating without being intimidating, which works well for the film’s target audience. This is particularly evident when a Brontosaurus is rescued from a ravine and in the climax, when Marshall (Carter Young), the clumsy pup who never gives up, rises to the occasion and saves the day. His arc gives the film its most heartwarming moments. There are messages about spending time in nature instead of in front of screens, complete with a kiddie pun on “eye cloud” (iCloud). The film also reinforces teamwork, friendship, saying no to greed, respecting nature, and never giving up, all lessons parents will appreciate. The animation is excellent, especially during the storm sequence, when the ship runs aground, and the lava-filled chase follows the volcano’s eruption.Hayden Chamberlain lends Rex a friendly energy, while Carter Young makes Marshall’s clumsy yet determined personality endearing, especially in the final act. Mckenna Grace as Skye, Rain Janjua as Chase and Henry Bolan as Ryder keep the team lively, while Lucien Duncan-Reid as Rubble, William Desrosiers as Rocky, and Nylan Parthipan as Zuma round out the core squad. Ron Pardo delivers Mayor Humdinger’s greed and comic villainy perfectly. Among the celebrity voices, Terry Crews, Jennifer Hudson, Jameela Jamil, Bill Nye and Paris Hilton add fun to the supporting characters, while Snoop Dogg’s brief appearance adds a playful touch. Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie is strictly aimed at kids and offers little beyond its familiar formula. Still, with its cute pups, colourful dinosaurs, brisk rescue adventures and appealing animation, it makes for an enjoyable family entertainer.
