Writer: Adam Rifkin, Joe Piscatella
Director: Frederik Du Chau
Cast: Amy Adams, Jason Lee, Peter Dinklage, James Belushi
Rating: PG
Studio: Disney Home Video
Release Date: December 18, 2007
Underdog presents a live action version of the popular 60s cartoon. This is one of those situations where parents might automatically be skeptical about whether or not this is going to be any good and kids and going to want to see it as soon as they hear about it. What got me excited about this movie was the option of hearing the large number of stars that offer voiceovers and traditional performances for this film.
Jason Lee is the star of the show as Underdog. Even though I am a fan of the original Underdog cartoons there were elements of this movie that I found enjoyable, as well. Additional talent is handled by the likes of James Belushi and Peter Dinklage amongst others. None of the performances are truly awful, though you will not find any Oscar contenders in the bunch.
While this is not the worst children’s movie I have come across in my years, it is certainly not the best either. The kids seemed to like it a little more than the adults in the room. On the family fun meter it will pass quite well because while I was not always in love with the movie I was not rushing to turn it off either. I felt it tended to dumb things down for the kids more than I normally like, but the younger ones seemed more interested in the flying dog than the older ones so I wasn’t too worried.
Release Information:
Walt Disney Video released Underdog on DVD on December 18, 2007. Prior to this release, in August the movie was at theaters. I am not sure if the release was limited or it just had a short run because I do not remember it showing in my area, but either way this is not a direct to DVD release, though it could have easily passed for one.
The Underdog Plot
As Underdog begins you see portions of the actual cartoon. I am not sure of the purpose of this, but I would assume it is an attempt to get parents into the upcoming film and to set the mood. The film revolves around a police beagle named Shoeshine (Jason Lee - Dogma). Having had some problems on the force (he is not taken seriously and the policemen end up laughing him off the force), this disgraced animal has now been picked up by the sinister Simon BarSinister, played by Peter Dinklage. BarSinister picked up Shoeshine because he needed some dogs for a SNA experiment on dogs that he was working on.
Shoeshine manages to get away, but before he goes he is doused with a special potion that changes him considerably. While trying to get away, Shoeshine ends up at the home of young Jack (Alex Neuberger) and his father (James Belushi - Return to Me). Jack finds that he likes having Shoeshine around and though the family environment seems tense at times, they all seem to care about one another, so it seems that all is well.
Of course, the time at the lab, thanks to BarSinister, has changed this former police pooch. Shoeshine now has special powers that will give him the ability to stop crime better than he ever could before. He realizes there is much more to do though, so all of his time is now spent on the common criminal. Also on the agenda for Shoeshine is to woo a love interest, Polly Purebred (Amy Adams - Charlie Wilson’s War) and to stop the devastating plans of BarSinister to take over the city.
If you are a Underdog cartoon purist then you might have a problem with this release. It is somewhat like the Garfield movies in that line of thought. These movies are not for everyone. While they have the ability to be funny, family films, they are not meant to be taken too seriously or they might end up ruined for those watching them. I was glad to see that the story here was actually an original, despite being based on the cartoon. While this was good, I am not sure how I feel about the option of a sequel to this movie, despite the fact that the movie was left open, allowing the possibility to occur.
Some of the commentary will have the kids laughing and the parents rolling their eyes. The jokes about eating poop, vomit, and other dog problems aren’t that interesting for the intellectuals in the room. Kids will like the constant commentary by Lee who informs people what it’s like to be a dog. When it comes to the actual acting performances Belushi and Neuberger manage to pull of standard performances with little complaint. Dinklage as the villain was not nearly as believable in his role, though the entire movie is unbelievable and over the top, so it could have been much worse.
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Audio/Visual:
The audio and video quality for Underdog is nothing to complain about. The video is available in anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Full screen options are also available with a 1.33:1 ratio. The colors here are very vibrant and cartoon-friendly. The video remains good throughout, offering a stable video presentation for viewers. The audio is done in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. It’s one of the best audio options for standard DVDs out there, so there are no complaints involved in the crisp audio presentation that is offered.
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Bonus Features:
There are a few special features that are available on this Disney feature. The features include four minutes worth of deleted scenes, a two minute blooper reel, a music video, “Underdog Raps”, and several sneak peeks for upcoming movies. Other included features are “Sit. Stay. Act. Diary of a Dog Actor”, which details the life of an animal performer and “Safe Waif”, which is the first episode of the actual Underdog cartoon from the 60s.
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Bottom Line:
Underdog works well as a family film for people that have younger children. Teenagers may or may not find interest in this and parents will vary depending on their fan feelings concerning Underdog. You should rent this if the family wants to see it and then you can decide from there whether or not it is worth the purchase.
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Kassidy received her degree in Journalism in 2002. She lives in the Midwest with her husband of six years, Jason, their two little girls, Madison (6) and Emma (3), and four month old, Little J (Jason Jr.) . The couple is very excited to welcome their first son. Passions in life for Kassidy include painting, writing, being a Mommy, watching romantic comedies, and dancing.
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