Turner & Hooch (1989)
Parent Guide
A family-friendly comedy with mild action and crime elements, centered on a detective and a messy dog solving a murder. Suitable for most children ages 8 and up, with minimal concerning content.
Content breakdown
Off-screen murder of a dog owner (non-graphic), gunshots during crime scenes, and mild peril such as characters in danger during investigations. No graphic violence; action is tempered by comedy.
The murder plot might be slightly tense for very young children, but it's not depicted graphically. Hooch's slobbery and destructive behavior is played for laughs, not fear.
No profanity or strong language; dialogue is family-appropriate with mild exclamations like 'darn'.
No sexual content or nudity; the film focuses on platonic relationships and comedy.
No depiction of alcohol, drugs, or smoking.
Low emotional intensity overall. Brief sadness over the dog owner's death and moments of concern for Hooch's safety, but resolved positively with humor and friendship.
Parent tips
This PG-rated film is generally suitable for children ages 8 and up. It features mild action violence related to the crime investigation (gunshots, a murder off-screen, and some perilous situations), but the tone remains comedic. The dog's messy behavior (slobber, destruction) provides most of the humor. There's no strong language, sexual content, or substance use. The emotional intensity is low, though sensitive children might be briefly upset by the dog owner's death or scenes where Hooch is in danger.
Parent chat guide
Parent follow-up questions
- What was your favorite funny thing Hooch did?
- How did Scott and Hooch become friends?
- Would you like a dog like Hooch? Why or why not?
- Why did Scott have to take care of Hooch at first?
- How did Hooch help solve the crime?
- What did Scott learn about responsibility from having a dog?
- How does the movie balance comedy with a crime story?
- What does Scott's job as a detective teach us about solving problems?
- Do you think the movie portrays police work realistically? Why or why not?
- How does the film use humor to handle themes like loss and duty?
- What does the relationship between Scott and Hooch say about unexpected friendships?
- How does the 1989 setting influence the story compared to modern films?
Story overview
A lighthearted 1989 family comedy starring Tom Hanks as Detective Scott Turner, who must care for a slobbery but lovable dog named Hooch after its owner is murdered. With only three days left in his small-town police job, Scott teams up with the unruly canine to solve the crime, leading to chaotic adventures, unexpected friendship, and plenty of humorous mishaps.
Trailer
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