Ben Madilynn
Rob Lowe, a Gen-X Hollywood star, adores dogs. He’s talked about them on his podcast, and when his 14-year-old pup, Wayne, died in 2021, he posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram. Now Lowe is the narrator of this new Netflix documentary about the way dogs behave, communicate and generally make the world a better place. The movie also led to some deep talks with my son about how incredible it is that all dogs are descendants of wolves and that their noses have unique prints, just like our fingers. I cried at least six times while watching.
The director Andy Mitchell (“Inside the Mind of a Cat”) brings in canine experts from across the United States, and trainers who work with service dogs. The pacing might be tough for younger children since there are no musical numbers or chase scenes (unless you count some impressive shots of dogs leaping to catch Frisbees), but for kids who love dogs, it’s a fun and informative watch. And yes, dogs really do love us. The science says so.
‘Secret Lives of Orangutans’
Directed by Huw Cordey (“Our Planet”), this David Attenborough-narrated documentary gives viewers a deep look at the social habits of orangutans. The film follows a family of these copper-colored primates as they swing from tree to tree; make their cozy beds; eat thousands of calories a day in insects, tree bark and fruit; and generally act a little bit, well, human. Attenborough explains that orangutan means “person of the forest,” and he touts their gentleness and problem-solving skills as some of their greatest qualities. They are also much stronger than the most bulked-up athlete known to humankind.
Like many nature films, this one is tranquil, so if your little ones are exhibiting rambunctious jump-on-the-couch energy, this might not be a hit. But if they’re in a quiet mood and ready for some fascinating animal footage, it’s a soothing, educational, sometimes funny documentary that reminds us of all the reasons we need to protect these intelligent, resourceful creatures.
‘100% Wolf’
Transforming into a ferocious werewolf sounds cool, but what if the full moon rises and you morph into a cute, fluffy, not-so-snarly poodle instead? This is the premise behind the story of Freddy Lupin (voiced by Ilai Swindells), a youngster who comes from a long line of proud werewolves. When he becomes a poodle, he’s thrown out of the pack until the next full moon, and he can return only if he proves that he is 100 percent wolf.
The Australian director Alexs Stadermann (“Maya the Bee Movie”) recently directed the sequel, “200% Wolf,” which isn’t streaming yet, so the original should serve as a good primer on Freddy’s battle against evil forces. This might be too cutesy for older children, but preschoolers should be charmed by the characters and fascinated by the little werepoodle. The voice talents of Jane Lynch, Jai Courtney and Loren Gray bring some humor and drama to the story.
‘Mavka: The Forest Song’
This animated tale from Ukraine tells the story of an emerald-haired sprite named Mavka (voiced in English by Laurie Hymes) who is charged with guarding the heart of the forest, also known as the source of all life. Humans are forbidden from venturing into the forest since they’ve wreaked havoc on the natural world in the past. But when a scheming heiress named Kylina (Sarah Natochenny) traipses into town and tells the villagers that they’ll never have to work again if they bring her a magical leaf from the forest, a hunky flutist named Lucas (Eddy Lee) takes the gig so he can pay for his ailing uncle’s medications. When Lucas meets Mavka, romance blooms between them, and his mission becomes more complicated.
With its talking trees, enchanted creatures, star-crossed lovers and, of course, that evil Kylina, this story — based on a 1911 play by the Ukrainian poet Lesya Ukrainka — feels like a folksy take on Disney films like “Tangled” or “Wish.” In the end, Mavka and Lucas help restore peace between humans and forest dwellers, proving that greed and money do not make the world spin. Oleg Malamuzh and Oleksandra Ruban directed (Eugene Ermak gets co-directing credit) from a script by Ermak, Ruban and Yaroslav Voytseshek.
‘Missing Link’
This Golden Globe-winning animated feature from Laika studios is about an orangutan-looking creature named Mr. Link (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) who is on a quest to find out if he’s the last of his kind or if he has relatives out in the world. He summons an adventurer named Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) to help him, and they set off with a spunky widow named Adelina Fortnight (Zoe Saldana). There are baddies in hot pursuit, kicking the tension into high gear and giving Mr. Link and his buddies plenty of roadblocks along the way. Timothy Olyphant plays an assassin named Willard Stenk, and Stephen Fry voices Frost’s archnemesis, the amazingly named Lord Piggot-Dunceby.
If animal documentaries are not your child’s thing, this film has enough humor and action to capture the imagination and hold even a little one’s attention. Chris Butler (“ParaNorman”) wrote the screenplay and directed.
