Parents' Guide to

Russell Madness

By Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Wrestling mayhem, potty humor in silly dog movie.

Movie PG 2015 92 minutes
Russell Madness Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Russell (voiced by Sean Gianbrone) is a Jack Russell terrier who talks, desperately wants a family, and has some stupendously amazing skills. Unable to find a home because he pees on anyone who thinks about adopting him, the little pooch escapes when the words "dog pound" are uttered in his presence. Lucky for him, he makes his way to an alley behind the derelict old building that was once the famous Ferraro Wrestling Arena. Lucky because the latest generation of Ferraros has just come back to resurrect the family business. Costumes, sets, and equipment all came with the building -- but to everyone's astonishment, the family finds they've also inherited Hunk (voiced by Will Sasso), an elderly monkey who thinks fast and cracks wise. When young Max (a nice performance from Mason Vale Cotton) and Hunk discover Russell's aptitude for wrestling, the Ferraros have their "star." But just as the business is taking off, a greedy, corrupt wrestling mogul tries to muscle his way in. Only Russell and Hunk can save the family farm (in this case, the arena) and keep the family together.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1 ):

It has a familiar (and weak) story; substandard, clumsy special effects; and cardboard characters. This franchise entry simply can't live up to the original Air Bud film that engaged so many family filmgoers. But what it can do is make kids laugh. A delightful Russell careening through the air, defeating massive muscle-bound wrestlers in every bout and teaming up with a rascally monkey to defeat the bad guys and save the family business, will be enough for most young viewers. And multiple shots of dogs peeing doesn't hurt either. The movie will momentarily entertain, but it's unlikely to become a family classic.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the sport of wrestling as it's conducted in schools and Olympic contests. How is the original sport different from "professional" wrestling? When and how is it the same?

  • What is meant by "just because you lost the round doesn't mean you've lost the match"? How can this translate to things besides wrestling?

  • Three ways animals "talk" in movies are: 1) animation, 2) voice over, and 3) mechanical effects. Which do you like best, and why?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate