A new children’s movie about a Rottweiler police dog named Max who goes undercover at a prestigious dog show has been blasted for its “troubling message.”
“Show Dogs,” starring Will Arnett, Ludacris, Natasha Lyonne, Jordin Sparks, Gabriel Iglesias, Alan Cumming and Stanley Tucci, includes a subplot in which a dog is taught to undergo an inspection of his genitals. The trick, according to the movie, is to go to a “zen place.”
“The movie ‘Show Dogs’ sends a troubling message that grooms children for sexual abuse,” the National Center on Sexual Exploitation said in a statement.
“The dog is rewarded with advancing to the final round of the dog show after passing this barrier. Disturbingly, these are similar tactics child abusers use when grooming children — telling them to pretend they are somewhere else, and that they will get a reward for withstanding their discomfort. Children’s movies must be held to a higher standard, and must teach children bodily autonomy, the ability to say ‘no’ and safety, not confusing messages endorsing unwanted genital touching.”
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation also asked distributors Global Road Entertainment to keep the flick out of theaters until the scene is recut without “unsafe themes.”
Several mom blogs also took offense at the movie.
“With the #MeToo movement and all the talk of sexual predators in Hollywood, I couldn’t help but think this message, that is blatantly in the open for adults to see, but over a child’s understanding, is meant to groom children to be open to having people touch their privates, even though they don’t want it,” a blogger on Macaroni Kid wrote. “It gives them the idea of a ‘zen place’ to go to mentally when they are touched.”
For Every Mom compared the plot to “what sexual predators do to kids.”
But the “Show Dogs” filmmakers deny they had any ulterior motive in their movie.
“It has come to our attention that there have been online discussion and concern about a particular scene in Show Dogs, a family comedy that is rated PG. The dog show judging in this film is depicted completely accurately as done at shows around the world; and was performed by professional and highly respected dog show judges,” they said in a statement.
“Global Road Entertainment and the filmmakers are saddened and apologize to any parent who feels the scene sends a message other than a comedic moment in the film, with no hidden or ulterior meaning, but respect their right to react to any piece of content.”
