Finding Rin Tin Tin

A good children's film is rare indeed. If it is infantile, although children may enjoy it, usually adults stay away and critics destroy it. If it is too intellectual or the plot, characters, and emotions are truer to life, usually it is praised by critics and attract adults but may be too emotionally and intellectually challenging for children, boring or overwhelming them. In this age of "Transformers" and "Resident Evil," a movie like "Finding Rin Tin Tin" is a breath of fresh air - a film for children with a good World War I tale, fantastic dog actors (four dogs play Rinti), and wholesome family values. Younger children should love this movie and adults can be pleasantly entertained without feelings of being lobotomized.

Although the film's depiction of how the beloved German Shepperd dog was found is true, the plot soon strays from the real story imagining Rinty as a creature of superior intelligence and energy, mischievous, loving, and heroic, the star of the battalion. The real Rin Tin Tin was brought to America as a puppy by the soldier who found him and went on to become arguably the biggest Hollywood star of its day whose movies made millions. However, this re-imagining of Rin Tin Tin is not a bad thing since the plot uses his adventures in the last days of WWI to portrait heroism and altruism against meanness, selfishness, and dishonesty.

Filmed in Bulgaria, with a good cast of British and American actors, the movie is fast-paced and entertaining, with enough cuteness and slapstick to have younger children howling but at the same time with an eye for period detail, colorful villains and supporting characters, and the best German Shepperds actors that side of the Atlantic to make the movie enjoyable for older audiences. "Finding Rin Tin Tin" is done very much in the spirit of the old Disney movies, such as "Swiss Family Robinson" or "Nikky, Wild Dog of the North" - movies that baby boomers grew up with. See it, if possible with a child, and keep in mind it is a children's movie. As such, it is quite wonderful.

With it's wholesome, kid friendly approach to the story, this movie would be right at home with Disney movies of the 70's and early 80's.

Despite being set in WWI, the story of Finding Rin Tin Tin is a light-hearted comedy that avoids any graphic depictions of battle and stays focused on the star of the show, Rinn Tin Tin (Sorry, Tyler Jensen. You get second billing.)

While this movie has more in common with the films it was inspired by as opposed to being "the true story" it claims to be, it's still a fun movie for kids and adults that are young at heart.

This movie takes what had potential to be a great story, and turns it into what i consider among the top WORST movies ever made! I don't blame the actors; their performances were acceptable considering the material. I blame whoever produced and directed this movie. It truly is one to make any viewer cringe with embarrassment for those associated with a perfectly atrocious waste of film. The only good part of the movie were the beautiful Alsatians, and the locations and scenery were okay. But i've read the biography regarding Rin Tin Tin, and this doesn't begin to reflect that. I wouldn't recommend this to a child, as i think they are above the intelligence of this movie. Even the "funny" moments were bad. Read the biography. Don't waste your time on this film.

This movie is one long bathroom joke.

Supposedly that is what appeals to "children" in this day and age. If that is truly the case then we are doomed in human society.

I don't believe that one long bathroom joke is what ALL children want to see.

There are many intelligent children in the world who want more than that in a movie. And not all children want super effects filled "monster" movies either.

It is possible to make a movie that will appeal to both children and their parents and have some heart, some intelligence, a humor that is not only based on the disposal of human waste products and be well written, well acted and make lots of money for everyone involved.

This movie is only slightly appealing beyond being a complete disaster due to the very good dog actors in it!

Otherwise it does not deserve more than zero stars which it is not possible to give it here.

The movie could have been informative, being a biography of sorts, as well as entertaining. It is barely either informative or entertaining. Mostly it is just plain lacking and dreadful in almost every way possible.

I understand this is a children's movie, and I really tried not to look past that.....The acting was quite bad, but even worse the story line was beyond fantasy-humor..... It contained every cliche imaginable from gross(flatulence) humor to the just plain mean characters who overacted every single scene..... It just didn't work. It's a shame because they could have done so much better with the amazing real life story of Rin Tin Tin.....Ben Cross who is a marvelous actor was poorly used with very little screen time.... What a far cry from "Chariots of Fire"......This movie really could have used a lot more of his presence..