The Dog Who Saved Christmas

I love Christmas movies & dogs but what a dud this movie is. We couldnt make it to the end.

The Bannisters, George (Gary Valentine) and Belinda (Elisa Donovan) and their two kids have just moved into a new home! Its very large and beautiful so Belinda gets worried about burglars, especially when she sees a notice that a house nearby was robbed. This lady wants a home-security system but George suggests they get a fine watch dog. Wow, do the children love to hear this, but Belinda is skeptical. On his own, George goes to the pound and adopts Zeus (voiced by Mario Lopez) who was once a police dog and who is much like the dog George has as a child. Belinda is not happy he went behind her back! Not only this, Zeus doesn't bark so how can he be a good protector of the house? Yet, George and the kids just love this pooch. Also, they work on a gingerbread house to take to Grandmas, the one thing she really wants. Wouldn't you know, Zeus gets jumpy at the wrong moment and destroys the house? Therefore, Belinda says the dog will have to stay home from the trip to G-ma's and will be returned to the pound when they get back! Poor Zeus. Yet, two bumbling burglars (Dean Cain and Joey Diaz) are prowling the neighborhood and like the Bannisters house, with Zeus "home alone". Can Zeus redeem himself? This funny, wooferific film will delight families with its darling dog, affable actors, and crazy antics! Anyone would love to receive it in their stocking hung with care!

Oy, vey! Another talking dog movie!

At least, except for the scenes in the pound, there's only one of them.

Lana, as barkless K-9 certified Zeus, has to be one of the most docile dogs in the business. Her main talents seem to be the ability to open unlocked doors (while the family is away) and to stick her head under a closed toilet lid to drink from the commode.

On the plus side, the human stars include one of my favorite TV-movie actors, Elisa Donovan, married here to Kevin James' look-alike and "King of Queens" brother, Gary Valentine. TV's Superman, Dean Cain, plays the head crook, while forever-sexy Adrienne Barbeau is the neighbor lady with, OMG, a talking cat!

Oh, and have I mentioned the talking mice?

Since this movie makes absolutely no effort in concealing it's a knock off of Home Alone, I guess you can let it get away with it. The only difference is, an ex K9 cop named Zeus takes the place of Kevin.

Done on a low budget, and clearly aimed at dog lovers. It's upbeat and silly, and uses slapstick comedy in every scene. Some of the humor is middle school level and below: dog drinking from a toilet, a guy who passes gas a lot, and one character that's a poor man's annoying version of Fred Flintstone. The one scene that echoes the booby traps of Home Alone is fleeting; there's only so much a pup can do, after all. The baddies here are as dumb as the burglars from H. A.

Acting isn't bad, considering how the characters are written. Mario Lopez's voice-over work for Zeus is OK, although the low budget only allows Zeus to be staring at somebody as we hear his thoughts. Oh, Zeus never barks, and the reason is predictable. But it doesn't matter that everything is obvious; this is just some playful silliness for its own sake. Fun enough for a viewing, if you're going to be home (alone or not).

Whoever decided to make this movie belongs in jail.