Underdog

YEP! REALLY SHORT (Just over 75 minutes till the credits!)

There aren't many Disney movies that I really dislike and even fewer dog movies, so despite a personal computer projection of 5.2.*****, I decided to watch it.

The storyline was hackneyed and inane. Despite a few well known cast members, the "Acting" redefined "Over-the-Top".

To be fair to the cast, perhaps this was director Frederick Du Chau's doing. Peter Drinklage (Station Agent) who I usually enjoy watching, was unwatchable. The supposedly "comic" dialogue barely elicited a couple smiles, and sounded as if it had been ghost written by a computer. There was about a minute or two of eye candy in a few scenes with a CGI backdrop of the city. I suppose if you've got kids or grandkids 8 or under who love dogs, they'd get a kick out of it...But I don't see how any adult would....

4**** Stars...ENJOY! / DISFRUTELA! (MUST GO With KIDS!)

I think this boy is really humble and kind and it comes across on the screen! He just did a charity event for kids in his town and stayed late and made 4 times the amount for the fund raiser that they previously had in their account! good work! The movie is FUN, A Little like BATMAN meets Superman but dog hero. A little sad at a moments notice, then it gets you up and clapping. I would say age's 7-100 will LOVE this film! It is an adorable doggy lover movie. The actors are true and fun to watch. The background is my home town, THE CITY OF Rhode Island, can't beat that for CAPITAL CITY!It is a movie I will buy the day it comes out and watch for years to come!! Disney is always making gold history!

This movie was fun to watch, even for us adults. The humor was spot on, and the acting was what you'd expect. Jason Lee was great as Underdog's voice. Get this movie when it comes out on DVD. It's worth your while for a few chuckles with the kids. Even though it's aimed at kids, both my wife and I liked it, and honestly, I usually don't like kid's movies. I think they are usually way to low on the intelligence and believability scale. This one, actually had a decent story that didn't stray into stupidity and utter ridiculousness that most kid's movies do. Once again, go see this movie, or get the DVD when it comes out, you can see it again and again.

They did it again: ripped off an old show's title, then destroyed the nostalgia with boring "re-imagined" stuff. The '60's cartoon was one of the funniest of its time, a good-natured satire of super hero comic books. The character was drawn as 1/2 way between animal and human, the way Mickey Mouse is. Here they use a real beagle; that's about the same as making a Mickey Mouse watch with a real rat.

Most of the clever schtick that made the original show funny is missing from this film. Instead, we get a clumsy ex-police dog who's even dumber than Cad. And some pet owners who add nothing to the story. Cheesy effects (the dog-talking animation is embarrassing). Poor scripting. A stereotyped dwarf playing Simon Bar Sinister. The gravelly noise box guy they hired to voice Underdog is painful. You'd think they'd at least gotten a voice impressionist to approximate Wally Cox's humorously distinctive voice for Underdog. But no. There are, at least, a few affectionate references to the source material (such as the rhyming lines), which lift it to a 4.

Only small children that love dogs may enjoy this. Everybody else should get a DVD of the original cartoon series. Watch this only in desperation.

Occasionally, a film's trailer gives viewers a realistic preview. Such was the case with "Underdog". Here is a film with humor offered without the condescension and knowing winks delivered by Dreamworks Animation and its ilk. The story is a typical zap-the-hero setup and does not pretend to be otherwise.

The actors (human and animal alike) deliver professional performances. Peter Dinklage is delicious as the requisite mad scientist. James Belushi is surprisingly effective and believable as the dad. Unfortunately, Patrick Warburton has descended from acceptably quirky into shtick. Newcomer Alex Neuberger (in his second feature) gives his part a nice emotional balance and doesn't overplay his sidekick work.

The animal animation is nicely handled and devoid of gimmickry. This part of the movie industry deserves praise for continued development and polish.

Summers have blockbusters created by and viewed by blocks; Underdog reminds audiences that a simple, fun flick can be far more entertaining.