Gracie and Pedro: Pets to the Rescue

I loved taking my kids to see Gracie & Pedro: Pets to the Rescue over our fall break. It's refreshing seeing a movie that all ages can enjoy and where there's positive messages throughout the movie! I also loved the family portrayed and that the boy/brother had special needs - nice to see that representation in a movie! Great cast and fun animation as well! We had a great time and I would highly recommend this movie to friends, especially with young kids! And an added bonus for those of us in Utah, but how fun that the movie took place in Salt Lake City! Thanks again for providing some great entertainment with an inspirational message for my kids which is often not always found in movies these days!!

Gracie and Pedro are two beloved pets who are not precisely friends, and they will need to put their differences aside to get back to their two-legged friends in Salt Lake City after an airline mistake left them stranded.

Going into an unexpected adventure across the country through uncharted and unfamiliar lands in order to get back home and reunite with your loved ones is a theme explored since many decades ago in movies like The Incredible Journey from 1963 and more recently A Dog's Way Home from 2019. It is an interesting concept, allowing the characters to explore unknown territories and situations and see how they react to all of this. Gracie (Claire Alan), a pure-bred and refined little dog, and Pedro (Cory Doran), a stray cat rescued from a trashcan, are opposites in many aspects. From their origin to their species, they are different inside and out. Reasons that keep them occupied pulling pranks on each other, fighting, and so on. Gracie and Pedro literally embody the saying "Like cats and dogs," and this adds to the adventure since they are an unlikely pair that will have to collaborate if they want to be back home.

A story that leans on the differences and the characters interactions to produce comedy, but there is also a lot of slapstick, e.g., when going at high speed and different elements collide with someone's face again and again, or bodies defying physics in a Looney Tunes fashion. This, even if overused, renders many scenes humorous. When the pair share some laughs, they are really cute and hilarious, and the movie is funnier than ever, especially considering that, many times, the object of said laughs is standing right before them. Other characters are also funny in their own way; for instance, the rats, whose avarice-driven personalities are seen in little details. It is not clear if this was intentional or not. Its cinematography is good, and there are some POV takes in action scenes that enhance the adrenaline and also offer an interesting vehicle to put oneself in their shoes.

Gracie & Pedro: Pets to the Rescue! Finds its weakest aspects when the companions are not on the screen since the rest of the characters are not precisely fun or interesting, let alone the unnecessary musical numbers, thankfully only two, slowing the narrative and evoking a burgeoning desire for them to end. Something similar to Leo (2023), a movie with unnecessary songs, not because the inclusion of songs necessarily lowers a film's quality, but because they are simply not good and, therefore, in no way their inclusion is justified. Gracie & Pedro is a movie that is better when it is completely focused on its protagonists since they are what brought us here in the first place, an interesting and funny duo who share a special bond that develops as the story progresses, and one, as part of the audience, wants to see more of that.

It's moving day for the family and with their furniture safely en route to Salt Lake City, the four head to the airport with their beloved pets. "Gracie" is a rather snooty dog and "Pedro" a street-smart cat who are in their cage going through the baggage process at the airport when they have one of their many spats. Next thing, they are tumbling amongst the conveyor belts, and well - they clearly are not getting onto the plane. Now they must try and use their guile, and a few new friends, to find out just how they can make the trip themselves and reunite with their dinner. They don't really like one another but after an altercation with a few savvy airport rats, have to learn to work together else they will end up in the pound - or even worse! Driven on by a pair of tenacious pursuers whom they assume are from the city authorities, off they set on a series of escapades. It's all fairly standard summer family fayre, this film, with decent animation and a couple of principal characters that gradually impart the virtues of inter-reliance, trust and of always keeping your collar on! No, you will not remember watching it afterwards, it's not a story packed with jeopardy or innovation, but there's plenty of action, a little sarcastic wit from the dialogue and some fun in a fairground for the denouement. It probably doesn't need to be seen in a cinema, but it's perfectly watchable.

Gracie and Pedro: Pets to the Rescue was a cute story about family and teamwork from the point of view of a dog and cat - an unlikely combo! As the story develops we start to see the family come together in an effort to find and reunite their family. The brother and sister storyline was relatable and touched on modern issues with social media and technology without overpowering the story. Great for younger kids and older kids to watch together with lessons for everyone. We enjoyed it as a family movie night and found ourselves laughing throughout the story. It's definitely worth a try if you're looking for a new movie to watch.

Such a cute family movie!! The story is filled with humor, heart, and important lessons about teamwork, loyalty, and the power of friendship. The animation is vibrant and engaging, perfectly capturing the personalities of the lovable animal heroes. Gracie's bravery and Pedro's comedic antics create a perfect balance that kept us entertained!!

The voice acting is spot-on, bringing life and charm to the characters, while the soundtrack adds an extra layer of excitement and emotion to their journey. The movie also carries a meaningful message about caring for one another and standing together in the face of challenges, making it not only entertaining but also inspiring.