Gracie & Pedro: Pets to the Rescue (retitled Gracie and Pedro: Mission Impossible in the UK), also known as Gracie and Pedro's Not So Awesome Adventure, is a 2024 animatedbuddymusical comedyadventure film directed by Kevin Donovan and Gottfried Roodt and produced by Amy Katherine Taylor, with a screenplay by Jaisa C. Bishop, Bruce A. Taylor, and Kelly Peters from a story by Bishop and Taylor. An international co-production between Canada, South Africa and the United States, the film features voice actors including Claire Alan, Cory Doran, Bianca Alongi, Bill Nighy, Susan Sarandon, Alicia Silverstone, Brooke Shields, and Danny Trejo. The story follows family pets Gracie and Pedro, as they go on a cross-country journey from California to Utah after their owners lose them while flying from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City.
Produced by Second Chance Productions, Polycat Animation and Storywarrior Media Capital, Gracie & Pedro: Pets to the Rescue was first released theatrically in Russia on May 23, 2024, followed by Mexico on August 15, 2024, and the United States on October 18, 2024.
Plot
A pampered show dog Gracie and a street-smart cat named Pedro embark on a thrilling journey, with some animals, they go through the bustling streets of Las Vegas, across the scorching Nevada desert, and into an abandoned amusement park to find their family after being separated during a cross-country move.
Voice cast
Claire Alan as Gracie, a female pampered Cocker Spaniel who is Pedro's sister
Bianca Alongi as Sophie, a teenage girl and Gracie’s person
James Kee as Doyle, a detective and Sherlock’s person
Mike Nadajewski as Sherlock, a ferret who is Doyle's pet
Ron Pardo as Wade, a skinny rat, and Rasputin’s best friend
John Stocker as Rasputin, a chubby rat, who is Wade's best friend
Production
The film was confirmed in a draft in 2022, and it was completed in November 2023 with casting being announced.
The film was featured in the European Film Market in February 2024.[1]
Release
In April 2024, an official trailer for the film was released.[2][3]
Gracie & Pedro: Pets to the Rescue was theatrically released in Russia on May 23, 2024, serving as the world premiere for the film. In the United Kingdom, Kaleidoscope Film Distribution acquired the rights to the film; it was released in the British cinemas on August 9, 2024.[4]
It premiered in Mexico, Brazil and Portugal on August 15, 2024.
The film was given a PG rating by the MPA for mild action/peril and rude material. It was released in the United States on October 18, 2024.
Reception
The Guardian stated, "By-the-numbers animation does nothing to lift cliched tale that squanders the talents of A-list actors including Bill Nighy and Susan Sarandon".[5] The website Blazing Minds was also very critical of the film.[6] A review on the independent website LouReviews, although less negative, mentioned various flaws and inconsistencies in the plot and animation,[7] while The Peach Review wrote, "The film relies heavily on Gracie and Pedro’s tumultuous relationship which isn’t healthy or humorous. Their insult-laden coexistence doesn’t bode well for viewing and, when coupled with C- animation, makes for a difficult experience to sit through for close to 90 minutes."[8]Christy Lemire of RogerEbert.com gave the film zero out of four stars and wrote, "Shrill, frantic, and hideous to look at, Gracie & Pedro: Pets to the Rescue isn't just one of the worst animated movies of the year—it's one of the worst movies of the year, period."[9]
Review website ItGirl World UK was more positive, writing, "It’s a lively action-packed film, with real wholesome family values at its core."[10]
