Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this wholesome Christmas movie set during the Great Depression is fine for the entire family, although a couple of brief scenes may temporarily disturb the youngest viewers. The young protagonist is sent away to live with distant relatives, and later she witnesses an underground dogfight -- it's not graphic (the violence is suggested, not shown), but it may nonetheless upset some kids. A child cries, wondering whether his dog has been killed in an emotional confrontation. Christmas is portrayed as a season of generosity.
Sexual
Content
A male teacher flirts with a single mom; by the end of the film, they hug and share a kiss.
Violence
A couple of scenes may upset younger kids. A dog fighting scene implies violence, even though audiences don't see the dogs mauling each other. There's also some chasing, pushing, and shoving (especially when the dog catcher is involved), and in one scene, the girl protagonist kicks a man in the shin.
Language
A few taunts and mild insults like "good for nothing," "girls are worthless," "you're a liar," and "I hate dogs!"
Social
Behavior
Emma's journey to save the dogs teaches kids about honesty, teamwork, and perseverance. She doesn't always tell the truth because she's ashamed, but children will realize that although she made some mistakes, she's able to rise to the occasion when it matters. There are also strong messages about rescuing animals.
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
A man at the dog fight is shown drinking from a jug; to an adult, it would seem like he's drinking liquor.
