My Take on the Movies - THE SHAGGY DOG
As a surprise for my grandson, I ventured out in the rain to see Walt Disney’s latest remake of The Shaggy Dog (2006). This film stars Tim Allen of Home Improvements fame in the title role and Kristin Davis (Sex and the City) as his long-suffering wife.
Shaggy’s human alter-ego this time around is Deputy District Attorney Dave Douglas. His most media-worthy case is prosecuting animal rights activist Justin Forrester (Joshua Leonard of CSI: Miami), who has been charged with arson. The alleged target is a laboratory which is allegedly engaged in illicit genetic engineering. This updated version (the original starring Fred MacMurray was released in 1959) is directed by Brian Robbins (director of 2004’s The Perfect Score).
In the original Shaggy, the transformation of the son is effected by virtue of a magic spell. In the 2006 version, the transformation of the father to a four-legged creature is due to the wonders of DNA splicing. How much more au courant can one be?
As expected, Tim Allen’s facial expressions and the gyrations accompanying his frequent transformations are a hoot for the kiddies. Cat chases, barking chimpanzees, and strangely mutated animals of all sorts similarly bring bursts of laughter. Add to that the pre-teen and teen angst of thespian son Josh (Spencer Breslin of The Cat in the Hat - 2003) and animal rights protester daughter Carly (Zena Grey of In Good Company - 2004), and you’ve got good entertainment for the under-13 set.
The film features Danny Glover as Ken Hollister, Douglas’s boss and mentor, and Robert Downey Jr. as the evil genius Dr. Kozak. Other notables are Jane Curtin as Judge Claire Whitaker and Philip Baker Hall as Lance Strictland, CEO of the laboratory.
In my opinion, the original version was much cuter, and more entertaining. There are a few good laughs, and not much else. Rent the original instead, if you can still find it. Your kids will thank you.
♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠
[© 03/11/2006] By: A. L. “Toni” Anderson
Shaggy’s human alter-ego this time around is Deputy District Attorney Dave Douglas. His most media-worthy case is prosecuting animal rights activist Justin Forrester (Joshua Leonard of CSI: Miami), who has been charged with arson. The alleged target is a laboratory which is allegedly engaged in illicit genetic engineering. This updated version (the original starring Fred MacMurray was released in 1959) is directed by Brian Robbins (director of 2004’s The Perfect Score).
In the original Shaggy, the transformation of the son is effected by virtue of a magic spell. In the 2006 version, the transformation of the father to a four-legged creature is due to the wonders of DNA splicing. How much more au courant can one be?
As expected, Tim Allen’s facial expressions and the gyrations accompanying his frequent transformations are a hoot for the kiddies. Cat chases, barking chimpanzees, and strangely mutated animals of all sorts similarly bring bursts of laughter. Add to that the pre-teen and teen angst of thespian son Josh (Spencer Breslin of The Cat in the Hat - 2003) and animal rights protester daughter Carly (Zena Grey of In Good Company - 2004), and you’ve got good entertainment for the under-13 set.
The film features Danny Glover as Ken Hollister, Douglas’s boss and mentor, and Robert Downey Jr. as the evil genius Dr. Kozak. Other notables are Jane Curtin as Judge Claire Whitaker and Philip Baker Hall as Lance Strictland, CEO of the laboratory.
In my opinion, the original version was much cuter, and more entertaining. There are a few good laughs, and not much else. Rent the original instead, if you can still find it. Your kids will thank you.
♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠
[© 03/11/2006] By: A. L. “Toni” Anderson
posted by A. L. "Toni" Anderson at 3:26 AM
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