Bad Dog and Superhero

"Bad Dog and Superhero" are the two characters driving the titling and the storytelling of this terrifically conceived film in which two Hollywood everymen apply their own brand of unassuming, street-level crime fighting to common neighborhood life. Without any semblance of otherworldly superpowers manifested in either lad, the film's glorious but simple concept is made all the more genius because of it.

The gut-level film capture of "Bad Dog..." suits this story's anti-sheen intelligence to a tee. "Superhero" is literally the name of the character played with terrific aplomb by accomplished actor Kenneth Hughes (also the film's writer/director). A tied towel adorns his neck as a grown child's makeshift cape. The name of our resident "bad dog" is (wait for it) "Bad Dog," with the Tony-winning Christian Hoff joining Hughes to form this remarkably chemistry-driven crime-fighting combo. Together, they bring neighborhood transgressors to neighborhood justice. Following their heroism, you can find the tandem down at the pub, singing the types of homegrown spirituals that somehow mirror in emotional evocation the quirky, residual uplift of their street-cleaning crusades. It's terrific.

"Bad Dog and Superhero" is a ton of great things at once: wonderfully odd, cleverly inspirational, and stubbornly unique are three. The film feels homespun from thread you'd never catch on the lapels of an industry tastemaker, so for entrenched pros like Hughes and Hoff to head off-road in this kind of vehicle is both aspirational and inspirational. Doing good doesn't always look good, but it sure does here. - (Was this review of use to you? If so, let me know by clicking "Helpful." Cheers!)