The Northern premiere of PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie was jam-packed full of fun, with dogs invited into the cinema for a one-of-a-kind early screening of the highly anticipated new adventure.
HOME Manchester rolled out the red carpet for the four-legged fluffy VIPs at their extra-special dog-friendly screening, complete with real-life Chase and Skye mascots for the kids to meet and pose for photos with. It was adorable seeing the hold these characters have on so many children, with audible gasps heard as the mascots were spotted on the red carpet.
Inside, guests were treated to doggy-themed gift bags upon entry, and the café and bar area was buzzing with activity, filled with families and dogs everywhere. It was surprising how harmonious this actually was, with all of the costumed dogs and children excited to play and meet one another.There was an arts and crafts table set up where children could create their own sock puppets, designing wings and ears to glue on.
However, there potentially wasn’t enough seating to accommodate the large number of attendees, but there were generous amounts of soft drinks and brews to keep those standing happy while they waited for the screening to begin.
It came time for everyone to head into the cinema. The venue was very accessible, with multiple lifts available to reach the cinema on the top floor, which was fortunate given the number of families with prams, young children and dogs at the event. The Chase and Skye characters joined everyone in the cinema, taking more pictures with their young fans—kids and dogs alike—before everyone found their seats. It was quite remarkable how well behaved all the dogs were. Speaking to other attendees, it was the first time many had ever brought their furry companions to the cinema. Following the success of the event, it would be lovely to see HOME Manchester host more dog-friendly screenings, with their previous one having been Finding Emily in May this year.
The film itself was very wholesome. The PAW Patrol shipwreck and accidentally discover a secret island where dinosaurs have managed to survive mass extinction. There, they meet a new dog called Rex, who has been living on the island for the last few years and has befriended the last dinosaurs on Earth. Rex is an inventive Bernese Mountain Dog who speeds around in his wheelchair and teaches the gang not to be scared of dinosaurs, while showing them how he built his own treehouse and sustained his off-grid lifestyle by working with the land and creatures around him. His disability is woven naturally into the story rather than defining his character, offering a positive example of inclusion and showing young audiences that disabled children are just as capable as anyone else.
The animation quality really shone here. The island itself looked beautiful, particularly through Rex’s treehouse and the lush flora and fauna surrounding it. There was a clear ecological theme throughout the story. Long-established PAW Patrol antagonist Mayor Humdinger discovers diamonds on the dinosaur island and aims to mine them so he can get rich, despite the deposits lying at the bottom of a volcano. The film delivers a positive message about putting the environment and living creatures first and recognising that money isn’t the most important thing in life; a refreshing message at a time when many children idolise YouTubers whose content can often focus on wealth and material success.
HOME Manchester’s dog- and family-friendly premiere event was a hit, with a buzzing atmosphere created by young fans of the PAW Patrol franchise and dog owners excited for the unique chance to take their pets into the cinema. PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie is a great film to take children to, with a positive, inclusive message encouraging young audiences to care for the environment and reminding them that kindness and protecting others matter more than greed.
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie runs at HOME (Cinema 4) until August 20.
JADAR 