BENJI (2018)

Yes. Benji is an enjoyable, suspenseful family movie built around the love between a stray dog and two children grieving the loss of their father. The story promotes God, prayer, love, loyalty, compassion, and honoring one’s parents.

The film also takes its young viewers through frightening territory. Children are kidnapped, villains use light violence, and Benji experiences animal abuse. Those elements may be heavy for younger children, even though the movie’s overall message is positive and its villains are defeated.

Take the whole family if your children can handle those themes. For younger viewers, watch with discernment.

After being separated from his mother, Benji becomes a stray dog searching for food, safety, and someone to trust. He eventually meets Carter and Frankie, two siblings who understand what it means to lose a parent.

The children welcome Benji into their home, but their mother orders them to let him go. Soon afterward, the siblings become caught in a dangerous situation involving two robbers. Benji follows their trail and tries to bring them home.

Three stars means Benji is a good, enjoyable family movie with a touching storyline. The film is full of suspense and holds attention throughout. Its story moves quickly, with no dead space or unnecessary scenes.

The leading child actors are great, portraying grief, anger, fright, and joy. The movie also opens with beautiful visuals of the Texas countryside before moving naturally into Benji’s relationship with the children. It is not presented as flawless, but it succeeds as engaging family entertainment with a strong message.

Benji presents a strong Christian, moral worldview. It promotes love, compassion, loyalty, faithfulness, and honoring one’s parents. Prayer is part of the family’s life: a girl prays to God before bed, a mother prays and talks to her deceased husband in Heaven, and the children pray to God in times of trouble.

The film also presents faithfulness through Benji’s determination to protect the children. Compassion appears in the bond between the dog and the grieving siblings, while the villains’ kidnapping, lying, stealing, greed, and animal abuse are treated as wrong. The story ultimately sees evil defeated and loyalty rewarded.

The movie’s central longing is for love, safety, and family after loss. Scripture offers this comfort: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

Benji offers your family suspense, warmth, and a strong Christian moral message. Its themes of death, kidnapping, animal abuse, and light violence may be heavy for younger children, but families who can handle them will find an affectionate story about loyalty and compassion. WORTH THE TRIP.