This film focuses on the highs and lows of family life. Dad Paul (Spencer Frankeberger), Mom Alice (Tori Keaton), and son Charlie (Lucas Mazanko) are headed to visit family and enjoy a summer break at Paul’s brother’s home, where there used to be a petting zoo. Two alpacas still live there – Peter and Whitey – and Whitey is indeed, well, white! Family dog Fred rides along too.
Charlie loves playing video games and is playing on his laptop in the back seat during the trip, and his dad gets on him about working on his math more and focusing less on games. However, Charlie has some resentment going on as his dad, a math teacher, worked a lot in the evenings at college to be able to become a college professor. Charlie didn’t see him a lot for a few years. He mostly hung out with Mom.
Charlie used to enjoy working in his Uncle Steve’s (Chris Fine) pet store, named—appropriately enough—Steve’s Pet Store. He also enjoyed spending time with his cousin, Stewart (Michael Mazanko). But he doesn’t think he will enjoy it this time. Charlie thinks his cousin Stewart is weird, mentions he pees in his bed, and he doesn’t play video games. “That’s a good thing,” says his dad. “Not the peeing in his bed part.” Mom adds, “Friends in life come and go, but family is forever.”
Later Dad tells Mom he feels like he earned a grade of “D” in parenting. “A C—Plus,” jokes Mom. Steve takes Stewart’s phone away to keep him focused on life and Charlie doesn’t get that. However, things are about to change when he arrives at his Uncle Steve’s Pet Store. First off, Charlie meets a girl who lives next door to Steve’s store, and she loves animals and buys a lot of things. Her name is Jane (played by Ella Rose Schaerer) and Charlie is enamored with her. Charlie claims to be an employee of the store and Jane needs cat food. So he absent-mindedly attempts to sell her a bag of dog food! Soon a jerk named Kevin (Jayden Ham) arrives and claims Jane is his girlfriend, even though she denies it. Kevin is rude to Uncle Steve, telling him he looks fatter since he last saw him, with receding hair. Kevin sees a rat and wants to buy him for his pet snake but Charlie likes the rat and tells his uncle he will buy him. Kevin is not pleased.
Both Charlie and Kevin like the rat, who is friendly towards them, and because he squeaks a lot, Charlie names him “Squeaky.” Charlie insists on keeping him hidden from his mother, whom he suspects would freak out if she spotted Squeaky.
As the plot thickens, Paul learns he will not be given the professor job he desired, but he will only receive a bonus. He is disappointed and he and Alice try to figure out how to bring in more income as they are in danger of losing their home after they helped Alice’s mother out recently with a lot of money.
Soon after Charlie records a video of Squeaky which goes viral and he begins getting a lot of hits and subscriptions. Before you know it, a social media public relations lady shows up to their home, offering Charlie’s parents a handsome amount of money to work with them on Squeaky’s new-found popularity. But when Squeaky comes up missing, the question is if Charlie, Stewart, and Jane can find him before something terrible happens to him?
Content Analysis: The film does a good job in showing a family that grows closer and forgives each other for past misunderstandings. For instance, Charlie comes to realize the importance of math and his dad realizes that social media has its place if handled appropriately. However, one character thanks the “universe” instead of God in one scene, and when Squeaky comes up missing, a few characters try to use a different rat and lie to keep the interest going. One of the nice parts of the film is that Kevin apologizes to Charlie for his bad behavior by the end.
Content Analysis: Families need to have a discussion about who created the universe and how God deserves credit for what He has done. Also, how deception is wrong and being honest is the best way. Also, how forgiveness is an essential part of life, as demonstrated by Kevin apologizing to Charlie.
Think About It: Parents should ask their kids for examples from the film of what is good and acceptable behavior and what is not acceptable. And they should emphasize the need for respect.
The Dove Take: There are some good takeaways from this film regarding forgiveness and seeing someone else’s point of view, but it is being awarded the 12+ Seal, instead of the All-Ages Seal, due to a few concerns such as parents lying to gain money. Parents should consult our content listing to make their own informed decisions.
