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Grant Gustin’s run as The Scarlet Speedster ended in 2023 with the conclusion of the Arrowverse. Since then, the actor seems to have taken a hiatus from the big sets of the film industry and has been happily spending his time on the stage on Broadway. While he is as busy as ever, he did do one film after the end ofThe Flash, which isPuppy Love.
Known for his charismatic persona and natural charm, the actor’s latest film was a romantic comedy full of unexpected twists and turns of life and relationships. Blending elements like romance, comedy, and heartfelt moments into one, some have found it an honest portrayal of how difficult relationships are to navigate, others feel it has missed its mark.
But is the film, whose title seems a lighthearted one attracting younger viewers, safe to watch for children? Even though on the surface it feels like an engaging story about navigating love and life involving two adorable dogs, the film might not be as family-friendly as the title seems to suggest. So here is all that parents need to know aboutPuppy Lovebefore pressing play!
What is Grant Gustin’sPuppy LoveAbout?
Grant Gustin‘sPuppy Loveis inspired by BuzzFeed’s 2015 viral digital series calledPuppyhood. Produced by Buzzfeed Studios and Lionsgate, the film stars Gustin alongsidePretty Little LiarsalumLucy Hale. Directed by Richard Alan Reid and Nick Fabiano, it also stars Jane Seymour, Michael Hitchcock, and Nore Davis and was released in 2023.
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A romantic comedy, it featuresThe Flashstar as an introvert, OCD-suffering, socially anxious Max Stevenson and the extrovert, messy, commitment-phobe Nicole Matthews played by Hale. At the risk of losing his job, Max is advised to get a pet dog at the behest of his therapist, which he does by adopting the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Chloe. While the dog does help him in his everyday life, it eventually does ‘wonders’ to his love life.
On the other hand, we have Nicole, who, after having a rough family dinner and a night of shots and clubbing ends up adopting a homeless dog, naming him Channing Tatum. Sick and tired of their lives, both Nicole and Max go onto the dating app Bumble and end up choosing each other due to their dog pictures. So while this might seem like the start of a cute love story, it ends up being the opposite since their first date ends up going as wrong as ever.
Despite vowing never to see each other again, they are forced to meet and co-parent their dogs after Channing Tatum gets Chloe pregnant. One thing leads to another and they even end up being housemates, resulting in some pretty disastrous turn of events. Although they do end up together, as most rom-coms do,Puppy Loveis a hilarious film that keeps ‘relationships’ and ‘love’ at the center of its existence while addressing the co-themes of loyalty, friendship, empathy, and social anxiety.
IsPuppy LoveSafe for Children to Watch?
When it comes to family-friendly movies, parents need to assess whether the humor, themes, and language of a film are appropriate for their young ones. AlthoughPuppy Loveis a feel-good, lighthearted romantic comedy, it is far from a film that younger audiences can enjoy but is rather addressed to older teens and adults.
Despite its sweet storyline involving two adorable dogs, the film includes several elements that are not appropriate for children. Rated R, the film includes suggestive humor, adult language, and mild romantic situations that are not suitable for a younger audience to watch. Since it explores the themes of adult relationships and dating culture, even though presented in a comedic and light manner, these may confuse the younger audience since they hint at physical attraction.
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Furthermore, the film features Grant Gustin as a person who suffers from extreme OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and social anxiety while Lucy Hale’s character suffers from commitment issues, themes that children would neither understand nor resonate with, for the most part. Hence, sincePuppy Lovecontains several swear words (including F-bombs), some mildly nude scenes, involvement of alcohol and smoking, mildly provocative outfits and situations, and s*xually suggestive scenes and dialogues, the film is not safe for children under the age of 17 to see (viaIMDb). Although they can watch it under their parents’ guidance.
Why Should You WatchPuppy Love?
Puppy Love, despite its name implying otherwise, is not a film suited for children but it certainly is well suited for older teens and adults to watch. Starring Grant Gustin and Lucy Hale, the film contains several touching elements and a comedic yet romantic storyline that aims to deliver more than just a standard romantic comedic fare.
Using the chaos of pet parenting as sort of a metaphor for the complexities of human relationships and bonding, it meticulously addresses how revolting and challenging relationships are to navigate. By pairing up Max, a socially anxious man with the free-spirited and scared-to-get-attached Nicole, the film explores the clash of opposites. In doing so, it explores how even the most contrasting personalities can come together to find common ground and how sometimes it is the ‘opposite’ we need, to draw ourselves out of our comfort zones.
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Puppy Lovemight not have been as well received critically, given how it only scored 44% onRotten Tomatoes, but fans have certainly loved and enjoyed the movie thanks to its feel-good theme. Despite it falling short with the critics, the majority of fans have found themes such as compromise, personal growth, and overcoming social barriers as deeply resonating.
The unique way in which Max and Nicole co-parent their dogs further makes the film an enthralling and hilarious ride, all the while serving as a catalyst for discussing themes of commitment and responsibility in a light-hearted manner. So while the two leads navigate the challenges, the film balances itself out through its laugh-out-loud and deep-talk moments, making their overall love story highly relatable and enjoyable to watch.
Hence, while children under the age of 17 certainly cannot watch the film (except under the guidance of their parents), young adults and older audiences will find Grant Gustin’sPuppy Lovean interesting and light-hearted film to watch.
Puppy Loveis available to stream on Freeveeor can be rented on Amazon Prime Video.
Maria Sultan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2703
Maria Sultan is a dedicated News Content Writer at FandomWire. With over five years of professional experience and hundreds of published articles, she brings a wealth of expertise to her coverage of Marvel, K-dramas, and the latest on streaming platforms.Her work is not just about reporting news; it’s about providing insightful perspectives on the entertainment trends that matter most.
