Gracie (Claire Alan) is a pampered dog. Pedro (Cory Doran) is an alley cat. They can’t stand each other but share great love for the family that owns them. When that family makes a cross-country move, the pets get separated from the humans during an airport baggage handling mix-up. With no one to rely on except each other, Gracie and Pedro decide to find their way to the new home. In the process, they encounter a series of other animals, including a nasty condor (Bill Nighy), a smooth-talking bunny (Susan Sarandon), a two-headed snake (Alicia Silverstone), and a helpful horse (Brooke Shields). Danny Trejo is also on hand, voicing the family’s goldfish, who narrates the story.
Gracie & Pedro moves briskly from one adventure to the next, ensuring that children will have no time to grow bored. Among them are a thrilling action sequence set on the conveyer belt system inside the airport (which humorously resembles a roller coaster at times) and a daring attempt to board a moving train. Through these scenarios, the pets learn that they make a pretty good team when personal differences are left aside and they work collaboratively. Not a bad lesson to instill in small children who may fight with their siblings.
Visually, the animation is not on the same scale as a Pixar production or something like The Wild Robot. It’s better than a lot of what can be found on television, though. The bright colors and appealing character designs are sufficient to hook the target audience. Parents will appreciate the witty voice work from the all-star cast. Sarandon is especially funny as the slick rabbit, although Danny Trejo as a fish is hard to beat.
Gracie & Pedro: Pets to the Rescue is a cute movie, and that isn’t meant as an insult. The cheery, upbeat tone is endearing, as is the message about getting along. If you have a child who isn’t quite ready for the more complex animated features, here’s one you can satisfyingly see together.
out of four
Gracie & Pedro: Pets to the Rescue is rated PG for mild action/peril and rude material. The running time is 1 hour and 27 minutes.
© 2024 Mike McGranaghan