There is this thing when making a kids’ movie, I feel, that causes a need to include an element there for parents and guardians. Whether that be seeing the lesson they have added to teach the kids, or something else. As an adult watching any young children’s film, it does make it much more pleasurable to get this in the film. Unfortunately, not every film will succeed in this. That is when it becomes clear who the target audience truly is: the children.

As a viewer who watched the Paw Patrol television series and the first film in 2021 with her little cousins, the latest film, Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie, did what could only be expected. It follows the typical plot structure made for kids, and that was found within the series, and it teaches a good motivational lesson along the way. Thankfully, you might not know the entire lore, so there will be surprises. But overall, the movie is simply made for those young fans of the Paw Patrol – not the adults who brought them to the cinema.

In their latest adventure, Ryder (Henry Bolan) and the Paw Patrol pups – Marshall (Carter Young), Skye (McKenna Grace), Chase (Rain Jarijua), Rubble (Lucien Duncan-Reid), Zuma (Nylan Parthipan), and Rocky (William Desrosiers) – find themselves on a mysterious island after a massive storm. Here they encounter a population of dinosaurs who survived the last ice age and have been living there ever since. Deserted on the island, young pup Rex (Hayden Chamberlain) finds the Paw Patrol and shows them around. As the scientists arrive to study and preserve the island, recently released Humdinger (Ron Pardo) schemes to get the diamonds from Dino Island.

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If we ignore the slightly unnecessary opening score and thank their quick transition into Ryder and the pups crashing onto Dino Island, the movie does bring the fun for the young audience quite well. Of course, being an adult, you can see where the creatives want to take the story for the kids. Yet even so, you cannot help but wonder what additional twists and obstacles they will throw in along the way.

Like the show and prior films, the Paw Patrol must save the day from the scheming of Humdinger. But it takes more than just saving the day and a good climax to make children’s films actually good. In this adventure, little Marshall is dealing with some struggles with confidence. A clumsy character, the movie unfolds as accidents constantly occur around Marshall. In their creative process, the team behind the movie took this as a chance to teach their young audience about the importance of not giving up.

Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie is in no sense one of those children’s movies made for adults to enjoy on their own. This film is simply made for the super young child. Take your Paw Patrol-loving son or daughter to the cinema this August because they no doubt will be taken on a wild ride.

★★★

In cinemas August 5, 2026 / Henry Bolan, Carter Young, McKenna Grace, Rain Jarijua, Lucien Duncan-Reid, Nylan Parthipan, William Desrosiers, Hayden Chamberlain, Ron Pardo / Dir: Cal Brunker / Paramount Pictures

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Hailey Passmore

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