Dug's Special Mission

Over the past couple of decades, films - esp. those aimed at younger audiences, have got into the terrible habit of adapting a patronising attitude, where all the animals are cute, and 'problems' are simplistic, with overraught moralism, and a fake veneer of 'child-ness,' have made - what had been - a whole, wonderfully diverse type of film (and TV) making into something similar to treacle; sickeningly sweet and cloying.

When one thinks back to the so-called 'golden age' of cartoons, with the wonderful Warner Brothers, et. al., the thing which made those cartoons so enjoyable - for people of ALL ages was they were made so they could be enjoyed by all.

A terribly dangerous thing which has gained a strong grip in media today- sort of a 'think about the children'-type nonsense, where everything seems to be judged to have 'sharp edges' (I'm saying this as a metaphor), and the 'goody-goody, (overly) concerned adults' step in - and through THEIR adult eyes - looks at things meant for children.

These people will see something in an animated film, and THEY think it 'looks like' a sex organ,' and THEY think a 'small child' will also think this, and therefore, the child's , life, mind - who the hell knows - will be 'ruined.'

Wrong.

Children DON'T perceive ANYTHING as adults - or even as older kids do.

So, a Bugs Bunny cartoon holds it's power, because no matter the viewer's age, there's always something specifically for them.

I say this, because p, I just saw UP, and for this reason, I've just explained, I avoid films marketed for/to kids, because I can't stand that 'P.C.' mind-set, and it's rotting destructiveness.

I can't say how utterly surprised - VERY happily so - to have seen this really well-made, film.

I'm a grown-up, but, like anyone, there's always a kid in me, but, even still, I want my adult mind to find enjoyment as well, and after watching Up, I can happily say that there still beats the hearts and (creative) minds of people who understand at a film - whilst it might be 'kid-accessible,' MUST still be accessible to adults, as well.

I came by staying Up, after first coming across (on YouTube) a video of 'Dug's best moments,' and I could not stop laughing - out load (a sure sign - to me, anyway) that the filmmakers 'get it.'

The voice casting - Ed Asner, doing, what's pretty much an extension of his wonderful Lou Grant, is superb, as Carl, the older man, who's promise to his love, sets the film in motion.

Jordan Nagai, as Russell, was a fully thought-out, living, breathing kid, and not just some plastic, lifeless part. Young. Mr. Nagai brought a real heart to Russell, a kid, I know I could partially with, who isn't perfect, comes from a divorced home, and really is just learning to find HIS way in the world.

He's young, but, he's not dumb. He's polite - a real plus, but, he's also got - as Mr. Grant once memorable said - 'spunk.'

He's someone I would really have liked to have known at his age.

Dug - played to perfection, by Bob Peterson - is brilliant. He's not the smartest, nor the dumbest, but, he is all heart, and definitely. It's all dog-heart.

His introduction, where he repeats over and over about his 'smart master,,' only to be totally distracted when he gets the scent of.. 'SQUIRREL,' had me, and I know, it must've had a lot of others laughing so hard with recognition.

The filmmakers' little touches, such as Dug - and Kevin also does this - giving things to Carl and/or Russell covered in doggy (or bird) saliva, with it still hanging out of there mouths, is both funny, for it's truthfulness, and for the genuine-ness of the love and heart of these characters' for one another,

I can't recommend Up enough - it sounds like so much ..., you-know-what, when someone says 'it's for all-ages,' but, Up truly is one of the few films which DOES get it right.

I really impressed after watching this mini movie... You need to watch Up first and then watch this movie and enjoy!

Remember Dug from the Pixar film UP? He was the Golden Retriever sort of dog given an ability speak. He was very friendly except when he was distracted by Squirrels, which he was every ten seconds, despite there being no squirrels in the part of the world he was.

Well, he's back and it's his birthday. And the big, angry, Doberman Pinscher dogs don't like him, so they give him an assortment of pointless tasks, like watching a rock. For the sake of amusing the audience, this always turns out all right for Dug and badly for the Dobermans.

There's no clear indication of where this very funny and heartfelt cartoon first appeared, but it appears to have been on a DVD. I'm guessing it was the DVD release of UP.

Based on how my son laughed the whole way through I'll give it a 10/10 as it's aimed at children

Being a Pixar fan, I was looking forward to this short film ever since it was announced. Heck, I was eager for it even BEFORE it was announced, because Pixar always includes a second short film on their DVDs. While I can see by the ratings here on IMDb that some people didn't enjoy it as much as I did (I can see why, if they're comparing it to "Up"), I still think that this short film had a number of elements that made it very enjoyable to watch.

All the humor that comes with Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Dug is here, as well as Alpha's "broken collar" joke. However, this film did have a few discrepancies with the feature film it was based on that bothered me slightly. They're mostly anachronisms or continuity errors, but I can forgive them considering that this film is supposedly a representation of how Dug remembers these events, just like the "Married Life" sequence in "Up" was supposed to be how Carl Fredricksen remembered his marriage with Ellie.

This film isn't all physical humor, though. Before I go on, please note that you shouldn't watch this until you've seen the feature film it's based on. Anyway, after Alpha gets fed up with Dug, Dug is (to be brief) very sad and alienated. Pixar does their thing with the emotions, and Dug runs away into some fog-filled rocks. The first time I saw that, I felt sorry for Dug. However, as per his birthday wish (it is his birthday, after all), he finds "a new master": Carl and Russell. What a nice alternate location story!