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Review #60 of 365
Film: The Shaggy Dog (2006) [PG] 98 minutes
WIP: $9.00
When 1st Seen: 11 March 2006
Where Viewed: AMC Theatres Flatiron Crossing 14, Broomfield, CO
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Dedicated to: Sam ‘Big Dog’ K. from Chicago, IL
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DVD | soundtrack |
First, a little history lesson. When I was a kid, I watched the Disney film, The Shaggy Dog, on tv. It was about a kid named Wilby Daniels (Tommy Kirk) that found a magic ring that turned him into a sheep dog. It was a funny and cute movie. The black and white film was originally released in 1959. In 1976, Disney released The Shaggy D.A. starring Dean Jones as the grown up Wilby Daniels (Dean Jones) now running for D.A. and still having some problems turning into a sheep dog at all the wrong times due to that magical ring. In 1994 and 1997, Disney issued two direct-to-tv movies called The Shaggy Dog and The Return of the Shaggy Dog. So, now, here we are in 2006, and obviously, we are in need of an updated version for the new millennium and decade. We know Disney, and they always seem to know exactly what we want, right? So, the Disney asked, and writers Cormac Wibberley, Marianne Wibberley, Geoff Rodkey, Jack Amie, and Michael Begler delivered. This time around, they swiped elements from the original The Shaggy Dog and The Shaggy D.A. to bring us Tim Allen as Dave Douglas (abandoning, by the way, the Wilby Daniels name for the first time and for unknown reasons) as the Assistant District Attorney for Los Angeles County who gets infected with a dog-morphing virus when bitten by a 300-year old sheep dog from Tibet. The virus causes him to change back and forth between being himself and himself in sheepdog’s clothing at awkward moments. Taking things a step further than the original film, the virus also causes him to exhibit dog-like abilities and characteristic as well at unusually awkward moments such as when his droopy, long, dog tongue starts flopping uncontrollably out of his mouth or he starts growling at opposing counsel during a trial. Outwardly, the film gives the appearance of having better legs to stand on than previous versions of the Shaggy Dog tales when it comes to explaining out or why it is actually possible for a person to turn into a dog; but, of course, the film take movie-license with the science just as e.e. cummings did with his poetic license to the English language. This update, however, allows the writers to bring in some socially conscious aspects such as animal rights activism that make the film more relevant for today’s audiences. As it turns out, the Tibetan sheep dog was dognapped to the USA by a nefarious pharmaceutical and cosmetic company that has been accused of doing immoral and illegal research on animals. Robert Downey, Jr. plays the ‘evil’ Dr. Kozak who heads the company and authorizes the experiments on the sheep dog as he hopes to find the dog’s secret to longevity and the fountain of youth for human beings which would make him a very rich man. Rounding out the cast we have Dave Douglas’s wife Rebecca (Kristin ‘Stepford Wife version of her Sex in the City character’ Davis), daughter Carly (Zena Grey), and son Josh (Spencer ‘Curtis the Experimental Elf from Santa Clause 2’ Breslin). Shawn Pyfrom of ABC’s hit “Desperate Housewives” also appears as Carly’s boyfriend and Danny ‘Will there be a Lethal Weapon 5 now that Mel Gibson has taken to making controversial epic films?’ Glover plays Dave’s boss and L.A.’s District Attorney.
So, we have here what basically amounts to a remake/update/re-imagined film culled from the vast Disney vault. Modern digital special effects, a funnier leading man, and a fine, if not stereotypical supporting cast, all coming together for a nice little Sunday-afternoon family film. This kind of film used to sort of be, and I’m sure I’ve written this before, Disney’s mainstay. Back in the 1970s, parents and guardians used to be able to safely drop their charges off in front of the cinema with $5 a piece and instructions to see the current Disney film, and then they would have two hours of personal time to enjoy or do errands or whatever. Of course, back then you could trust that kids would see the Disney film with or without the theatre ushers having to ask for IDs and $5 could buy a ticket and a decent amount of movie theatre snacks—now days, I apologize and do not mean to indict all kids, however, I observe on a daily basis kids sneaking into rated PG-13 and above movies, and $5 won’t buy a matinee ticket let alone a ticket and substantial food. In any case, despite The Shaggy Dog (2006) not being the best movie I’ve seen this month, I hope that Disney will continue to make these kinds of movies forever. I hope there is a Shaggy Dog (2012) and (2018) and so on. There need to be decent family films that are funny with Disney endings and old-school Disney schmaltz especially in winter time—parents and guardians need some method to lure kids out of homes which have become all-too-comfortable with in-home movies and video games and home computers. So, on these levels, I enjoyed the film. It was good family entertainment. It is not a must-see film. It was not as good or as creative/original (obviously) as the Tim Allen/Disney Santa Clause films. For people that have never seen any of the Shaggy Dog films, this may be a whole new world, but for the rest of us, this is somewhat recycled material with a twist or two. I have to admit to being some what partial to the original myself, but isn’t that always the way?
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The Shaggy Dog [DVD](2006) DVD
The Shaggy Dog [DVD](1959) DVD
The Shaggy Dog (Previously Viewed) [VHS](1959) VHS
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