Zeus and Roxanne

I got "hooked" on this movie while I was waiting to pay for a clock radio at my local electronics show. They had "Zeus and Roxanne" playing on a big screen tv by the cashier's area. The movie had just started and I watched a great scene of animal antics where Zeus the dog creates mayhem in the neighborhood through his obsession with chasing a cat. I've always been a sucker for movies featuring animal antics, and this one is chock full of them. It reminded me of the old "Flipper" tv shows, only with a somewhat more exotic locale.

The story line is that a widowed composer and his son and dog (the aforementioned Zeus) move into a house on some Florida Key (actually filmed in the Bahamas). By chance their neighbor is a marine biologist and has two daughters. Anyway, Zeus and the cat bring father and mother together, which leads to Zeus discovering Roxanne, a dolphin raised in captivity that the mother biologist is trying to re-introduce into a dolphin "pod." Zeus and Roxanne can "talk" with each other, leading to attempts by a nasty "animal-unfriendly" scientist to want to use Roxanne for his own selfish ends.

Sure the plot is contrived and filled with obvious gags, etc. but at least it has an interesting and environmentally correct theme, and the animals do a great job of keeping the movie visually interesting. I particularly enjoyed the way the camera shots were laid out so that viewers get an "animal's eye view" throughout the movie.

Unlike many "art" films, this story at least makes sense, shows people (including children) doing worthwhile things and being nice to each other. Another plus is the use of minority actors in non-stereotype roles.

I was depressed when I saw it, and it cheered me up. Silly - in the best possible sense of the word. Guttenbuurg and Arquette are ideal as the parents; the kids are perfect; the villain is fun; and the dolphin is beautiful - but Zeus, the dog, really steals the film. Watch and enjoy with any kid you know - especially your boyfriend (tee-hee).

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.

This is the worst movie I have seen starring Steve Guttenberg. It was released in early 1997, The Spice Girls had just made their first American hit, Hanson was months away and this film was all that was salvaged from the horrible over teenie bopping that year. It has Marilyn Manson goth wannabes written all over it. Steve dresses fully in black through most of the movie, the adolescent girl wears black lipstick and only uses her soon to be stepfather for his DBBS satellite dish. The dog does that stupid growl thing every five minutes and the dolphin deserved better.

You are never too old or too young to be cheered up by Zeus and Roxanne. Steve Guttenberg and Kathleen Quinlan have surprisingly electric chemistry together. But Roxanne the dolphin and Zeus the dog light up the sky with their fireworks. The kids are great too. But, a movie like this needs a worthy villain. Although I never heard of Arnold Vosloo before, he does a marvelous job playing Oil Can Harry to Steve Guttenberg's Mighty Mouse.

Sure, it's far-fetched. It's supposed to be. Just relax and have fun.