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It’s not always easy to find a movie that’s suitable for all family members and sends the right message. Thankfully, one of the latest Netflix releases, Rescued by Ruby, will match all your needs.
The movie is based on the real-life story of Rhode Island State Trooper Daniel O’Neil, who was desperate to join the canine division of the state police. Having previously been rejected seven times, he had one chance left to apply before reaching the cut-off age of 30.
The only hiccup was he didn’t have a dog, and state funding couldn’t provide him with the ideal German Shepherd, as it would be too costly to import one from abroad.
While you wouldn’t blame O’Neil for giving up, on discovering his wife Melissa was pregnant with their second child, he became even more determined to join the elusive K-9 team to improve his pay and benefits. And this is where a supposedly untamable shelter dog named Ruby enters his life …
We don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but it’s crammed with all these virtues we admire, which makes it the ideal family movie:
1It champions marriage
It’s wonderful to see how O’Neil’s wife supports him, even if it means her life becomes chaotic as she juggles a toddler, a pregnancy, and an unruly dog! Throughout the film she encourages her husband to follow his dream, and more importantly, in moments of doubt she reminds him why he should. It’s refreshing to see such a successful marriage on our screens.
2It eschews perfection
Ruby is by no means the poster perfect dog, and in fact O’Neil is her carbon copy in human form. Both are excitable and have way too much energy, but have a heart of gold. O’Neil’s wife encourages her husband to use these different aspects to an advantage. And when he does, the result is perfection.
3It shows the rewards in sacrifice
Anyone who loves Ruby had to make sacrifices. Pat, who worked at the dog shelter, devoted her time and energy to Ruby to stop her from being put down. The O’Neil family gave Ruby many chances, even at the expense of their home and garden, and their mental health. And the K-9 squad who invested their time in Ruby and O’Neil didn’t give up on her either. It is thanks to these sacrifices and efforts they were all ultimately rewarded, which is the perfect lesson for any youngster to learn.
4It teaches you resilience
If ever there was a man who wasn’t going to give up easily, it was State Trooper O’Neil. After his many rejections he kept smiling and making efforts. And the same could be said for his four-legged friend, Ruby. She’d been rejected multiple times from many homes, but she learned to have faith in her new owner. It’s a wonderful notion to pass on to kids at a time when we tend to give up a little too easily.
5It teaches you to have faith
Although it is not a religious film, the story is ultimately a reminder to us all to always have faith, and not just in God. It’s hard to have faith in oneself, in others, and even those we may have given up on, but we have to remember that if God has faith in us, then we should use this faith in every aspect of our lives. By following our hearts we follow the journey God has laid out for us, with all the bumps and potholes along the way.
6It has the cutest dog!
Well, no movie about a search and rescue dog would be complete without the cutest furry friend — and this movie required two dogs to play the lead canine role. The dogs who play Ruby, Bear and Shiloh, are utterly adorable, especially as they get up to mischief! So the movie will delight anyone who loves a cheeky but very clever canine.
And today we celebrate...