Movie Review: 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this sequel is very similar to the original, with the addition of Thunderbolt, a canine TV star, and his sidekick L'il Lightning. But the basic situation -- evil woman wants puppies for coat --remains the same, making this fine viewing for fans of the first movie. There are plenty of sweet and funny moments, some forgettable songs, and a few mildly scary scenes.
- Families can talk about the difference between acting like a hero and really being one, and how this story follows the old saying "if at first you don't succeed, try again."
Once again Cruella de Vil is after the improbably large family of puppies in order to make a coat of their fur. The puppies and their family have moved to a farm, but somehow one puppy, Patch, is left behind. He meets his TV hero, Thunderbolt, who has his own reasons for wanting Patch's help with his heroics. Once again Cruella gets hold of the rest of the puppies, and it's up to Patch and Thunderbolt to save the day.
Fans of the original 101 Dalmatians will enjoy this sequel, since they are very similar. The one potentially disturbing element here is that no one realizes Patch is missing until they see his picture in the paper, but when they're reunited they tell him they missed him very much, an inconsistency that may not be lost on some young viewers. All in all this is an entertaining movie, with some very creative animation, particularly involving the work of Cruella's newest protégé, Lars, a beatnik-type painter who specializes in, of course, paintings of spots.
101 Dalmatians (Live Action)
102 Dalmatians
101 Dalmatians
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