PG film Show Dogs pulled from cinemas after child grooming accusations

MEMBERS of a Craigieburn community Facebook group have backed criticism of the family comedy Show Dogs, which was pulled from cinemas amid claims certain scenes contained disturbing sexual messages.

The Show Dogs movie poster.

MEMBERS of a Craigieburn community Facebook group have backed criticism of the family comedy Show Dogs, which was pulled from cinemas amid claims certain scenes contained disturbing sexual messages.

The Hollywood film follows a human detective (played by Will Arnett) and his Rottweiler partner Max, voiced by Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, who must infiltrate the world’s most exclusive dog show to rescue a kidnapped baby panda.

However, controversy recently erupted in the US when parents and bloggers claimed two scenes in the film normalised child grooming, forcing Road Show Films to pull the film from theatres for re-editing.

Roxburgh Park man Jake Robertson was quick to alert the Craigieburn Community Facebook group to the film’s potentially disturbing content.

“Warning for parents in regards to this film,” he said.

At least 25 people liked Mr Robertson’s post.

The problematic scenes were described by US blogger Terina Maldonado as showing Rottweiler Max, who has gone undercover at the Las Vegas dog show, relenting to having his genitals touched as part of a normal inspection during the competition.

To prepare for the dog show finals, former dog show champion Frank touches Max’s genitals to get him used to it, telling Max that he needs to go to his ‘Zen place’ while it happens to withstand the discomfort.

A spokesman for Roadshow Films, a distributor of the film Show Dogs in Australia and New Zealand, has confirmed the producers were editing the film to remove the relevant scenes.

“Roadshow Films … acknowledges that there have been concerns raised regarding two scenes in the upcoming release of the film,” he said.

“The revised version of the film will release in cinemas in Australia and New Zealand on July 5, 2018.”

Bravehearts child protection organisation founder, Hetty Johnston AM, said she was pleased the producers were removing the “offending scenes” before releasing it in Australia, and re-releasing a revised version globally.

“We are pleased that Roadshow Films … confirmed the company ‘plans to only release the revised, re-cut version of the film’,” she said.