Underdog in "Underdog"
courtesy of Disney Home Entertainment
"Comic Book Hero"

With all the superheroes flying around, and the fact that a dog is man's best friend, there is bound to be a superhero that is canine. "Underdog" fills that category. This is the perfect movie for five and six year olds. For all else, well this film is no "Lassie." It is all about a dog with super powers that flies about saving the day. Watching a dog do these heroic feats is fun for the first half of the movie, after that it is all downhill. 

The movie starts with the introduction of a police dog that supposedly has drug-sniffing powers. When one of his "sniffs" proves to be embarrassingly wrong the dog wanders out in the street where he is captured by a man named Cad (Patrick Warburton). He takes the dog to a lab operated by a mad scientist named Dr. Simon Barsinister (Peter Dinklage).

At the lab the dog escapes but not before being doused in a variety of chemicals. Somehow these give the animal super powers. It also gives him the ability to talk to humans. He finds this out when he is discovered by ex-cop Dan Unger (James Belushi). He takes the dog home and names him "Shoeshine."

Dan's son Jack (Alex Neuberger) is the one who discovers the dog's powers, and also that he can talk. He also names his super persona "Underdog." The two keep the dog's identity a secret when he begins to fly around the city saving different people.

The dog playing "Underdog" is cute and loveable. You actually accept the fact he can fly and talk and do a hundred more special things. Jason Lee also does a great job of giving him a voice. The human actors in the film are not as good. James Belushi is very low key in his role. You expect some comic moments from him but they never arrrive.

Dinklage overacts in his role as the mad scientist. He chews up the scenery but it is in keeping with how the role should be played. He does overdo it a bit but at least he is trying. Neuberger is just blah as Jack. His inability to really get into his role affects the feel of the entire movie.

Warburton is the real comic heart of the movie. He has perfected the slightly addled, slightly effete person who is too dumb to be effective and too narcissistic to know how dumb he really is. Warburton throws himself into the role of "Cad" and makes him the highlight of the movie.

The basset hound and Warburton are the two reasons to take get this DVD. They do all they can to make this film about a super-powered dog a winner. For about half the movie they succeed.

With "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" topping the box office charts it is time to take another look at the original film that started it all. Plus it is out on DVD in a two disc "Collector's Edition." The fact it is a Jerry Bruckheimer film says it all. From "Pearl Harbor" to "Pirates of the Caribbean," Bruckheimer knows his audiences and he makes his films for them. They are not aimed at satisfying the critics and that is refreshing. "National Treasure," is an action adventure in the Indiana Jones mode with Nicolas Cage leading the cast. It is action packed and energy paced, and never allows for even breathing room.

Cage plays Ben Gates, a man raised on tales of lost treasure. His grandfather (Christopher Plummer) first told him the stories, but his father Patrick (Jon Voight) tried to dissuade him of any ideas of lost treasure. But Ben is a believer and he pursues the dream of the "lost treasure" well into his adult years.

At one point a clue leads him to the Declaration of Independence. Ben believes there is another clue or map on the backside of the document. His nemesis, Ian Howe (Sean Bean), is also on the trail and Ben believe Ian plans to steal the document. So he tries to steal it first. This leads him to make the acquaintance of Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger), a curator where the Declaration is kept.

Ben and his team, which eventually includes his father, Abigail, and his co-hort Riley (Justin Bartha), travel from city to city hunting clues and dodging danger. They are extremely lucky which makes the adventures less than plausible. This, however, is not a film that dots its "i's" and crosses its "t's" when it comes to reality. This is a movie that is made for fun and excitement and that is what it delivers.

Cage makes Ben a grand "treasure hunter." He gives him a droll sense of humor and a hunger in his heart for excitement. Kruger is a wonderful member of his team and love interest. She is one pretty lady and yet she still makes the action events in which she partakes look believable.

Jon Voight is a reluctant member of the team as Patrick, while Sean Bean creates a sinister foe in Ian. Justin Bartha's Riley provides some nerd information and is also a form of comic relief.

"National Treasure" is two hours of a good time. It has suspense, excitement, romance and thrills. When you finish watching the DVD, and all the extras, you will feel exhilarated from the adrenaline rush. 

"One Tree Hill" has managed to stay alive for four seasons and will soon start the fifth. This TV series concerns the residents of Tree Hill, North Carolina. The seniors are getting ready to graduate and all know that this is a crucial time in their lives. Lucas, Peyton, Brook, Nathan, Dan and others are shown in this new transition time.

Before the fifth season begins get the DVD of "One Tree Hill: The Complete Fourth Season." Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton are still the stars and they are each very good. Get it now and enjoy the full season at one sitting.

Some Disney characters are as popular today as they were years ago. They transcend generations. Cinderella is such a character and that is why she is still having new adventures such as those shown in the new DVD "Cinderella II: Dreams Come True."

There is only a short window in which to get this new DVD for on January 31 it goes back into the Disney vault. So take this chance to see some of your favorite Disney characters one last time. 

Finally if you would like to have an unvarnished look at the Enron story, watch the DVD titled "Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron." Shannon Elizabeth, Christian Kane and Brian Dennehy star in this movie based on the scandal of the decade.

Everyone was fascinated by the Enron fiasco and this movie gives you a behind the scenes look. Get the DVD and find out what really happened.
 

 

 

 

 

©2007 Jackie K. Cooper

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