I just watched Zeus and Roxanne for about the 3rd time in my whole life. Once at my Grandma's on VHS when I was very young, a 2nd on my own VHS when I was maybe 11, and now a 3rd time about 15 years later on DVD, with the same Grandma.
The plot follows a dog named Zeus who falls for a dolphin named Roxanne- but Zeus's owner and the marine biologist who studies the behavior of Roxanne have their issues. Their kids hope that they fall in love, and if a dog and dolphin can fall in love, why can't their parents?
The movie had some good performances- I particularly enjoyed Steve Guttenburg (also in 3 Men And A Baby) and his son, played by Miko Hughes, who was one of Michelle's classmates in Full House.
Apart from that, there's nothing much I can say about the movie. The plot was fine, the filmmaking competent, and from such a standpoint, the movie is fine.
However, the 3rd act is clearly taken from Free Willy, with kids and adults working together to save a marine animal from those who want to do them harm. There were some pacing issues that I had, but that's a minimal complaint.
I know I'm sounding nit-picky for a 7/10, but animal movies like this are more my Grandma's thing than mine (she gave it a 10 for reference, and I put the movie in her collection rather than back in mine). As such, I was less entertained by it and slightly annoyed by the unoriginality of it than she was.
I don't hate Zeus and Roxanne, but it's not a must watch either. Let me put it to you this way- if you have interest in seeing this, you enjoy animal movies, and by reading this review, you are asking for my recommendation, then in that scenario I mildly recommend it.
However, in Siskel and Ebert terms, I have to give this thumbs down, but that's just based on my taste. I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't personally go around recommending it.
If I'm telling others what good movies I've seen lately, I won't enthusiastically be talking about this one. But if you like animal movies and want to kill an hour and a half, then the movie has done its job. Maybe the best way to put it is that Zeus and Roxanne is for animal lovers more than it is for film lovers.
Note: I also have to admit that I took an hour long nap after the movie, and when I woke up, I felt like I saw the movie yesterday. So...there you go.
Reverse Recommendations: Apart from Free Willy, which is a better movie in comparison, the movie was directed by Geroge Miller- who also directed Babe- one of the few animal movies that I actually LOVE. I also got some Beethoven vibes from the movie. So, I would recommend Free Willy, Babe, or Beethoven over Zeus and Roxanne.
