Movie Review: The Adventures of Milo and Otis
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What Parents Should Know
This is a thrilling movie for young children, which parents
will likewise enjoy. There are scary scenes parents should be
prepared to deal with: Milo gets swept away in the river
current and Otis fights a bear. Milo throws himself off a cliff
and must spend the night alone and in the dark (young viewers
may find this especially frightening). Births of kittens and
puppies are shown in a realistic manner.
Parents may want to watch with their children and be prepared for questions. Families that watch this film may want to discuss the friendship between Milo and Otis. How is it special? How did they prove their loyalty to one another? What lessons can we learn from them?
Common Sense Media Review
Newborn Milo, a real scamp of a kitten, meets timid puppy
Otis and it's the beginning of a hilarious friendship. Trouble
finds them everywhere, even in the form of an irritated,
nose-tweaking crab!
But fun turns into peril when Milo gets swept downriver in a box. Otis follows, trying to rescue his frightened friend. From then on the two have numerous scary encounters -- most notably with a voracious bear who just won't give up -- but eventually Otis rescues his friend.
Joyce, another cat, joins Milo and Otis as they try to return to the farm. Otis becomes jealous of the new cat's relationship with Milo and takes off on his own. In the midst of winter, Otis meets and falls for Sandra, another pug. Milo, Otis and their respective mates give birth to many little ones. Milo and Otis reconcile and in the spring, finally head for home.
In terms of spunkiness, Milo is one of the most high-spirited rascals in children's cinema. Dudley Moore provides the voice of Milo, Otis, and the narrator: he's alternatively excited and droll, speaking for each animal character and providing amusing commentary.
Like many adventure tales, Milo and Otis is a coming-of-age story: they leave home for the first time, undergo tests of their courage and friendship, and return ready to accept responsibility. The movie also addresses the cyclical nature of life, demonstrating that birth and death are part of the process. We see animals born and eaten; Milo catches a trout, the raccoon shows up and steals the trout, only to have a bear show up and claim it for himself. Thus, although the animals here have human voices, the movie acknowledges their place in the natural world.
Above all, this is story of a friendship. Cat and dog are there for each other in the end. The movie places great value on overcoming differences, suggesting that if Milo and Otis can do it, so can people.
Similar films worth viewing include Homeward Bound, The Incredible Journey and the delightful Babe . Both stories involve animals, friendship, and overcoming great obstacles.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
