Product Details

• Actors: Benji, Patsy Garrett, Cynthia Smith, Allen Fiuzat, Ed Nelson
• Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 1.0)
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: February 16, 1999
• Run Time: 85 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305268215
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #457,487 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "For the Love of Benji" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

What begins as a pleasure trip for Benji and his adopted human family soon turns into a tale of mystery, suspense, and international intrigue in this 1977 sequel to Joe Camp's hit movie, Benji. Without subtitles to decipher the mostly Greek dialogue, kids and grown-ups alike view the action from the limited perspective of this sweet and talented mutt. Here's what Benji knows: 1) Ever since a stranger pressed a tiny metal plate against his paw, a handful of seedy-looking characters (and the occasional Doberman) keep trying to capture him; 2) He's hungry; 3) He misses Mary (the chatty housekeeper played by Patsy Garrett), the kids (whom he rescued from kidnappers in the original), and his lady love, Tiffany (noticeably droopy from an unmentionable "condition"). Not a great situation when stranded a few thousand miles from home. The action chugs along thanks to numerous chase scenes, a smattering of gunplay, and a heroic ending; but the overall effect falls short of the original. (Ages 4 to 9) --Liane Thomas

Product Description

For the Love of Benji continues the moviegoers love affair with America's favorite dog. Follow Benji's adventures through his own eyes, as he eludes spies and secret agents in this, his second hit movie.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Benji secures his fame as the world's most huggable hero, January 3, 2004

By 

Daniel Jolley "darkgenius" (Shelby, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: For the Love of Benji (DVD)

For the Love of Benji takes the world's most huggable hero all the way to Greece, but this wonderful Greek vacation becomes a nightmare for Benji even before he is loaded on the plane. A bad guy drugs him and tattoos something on his paw, and when he finally get to Greece alongside his girlfriend Tiffany, he finds himself camping out in a storage area for misplaced baggage. He manages to get out of his crate and escape, only to find himself lost and all alone in a strange new city - hungry, tired, and frightened, missing Tiffany and Paul and Cindy Chapman. The bulk of this film follows Benji in his seemingly impossible search to find his family. He searches in vain, becoming more and more depressed, but he does manage to make one new friend. Still, he has to guiltily steal food in order to live, and if all that isn't bad enough, several strangers including that bad man who drugged him back in the airport are doing all they can to nab him. Benji has risked everything to save his friends in the past, but now he has to use all of his intelligence and leg power just to keep himself alive while he strives valiantly to find and be reunited with his family. There's an underlying storyline, of course, of the bad guys and their evil plot, but what really matters here is Benji. The film builds up to a thrilling conclusion that almost equals the emotional power of the original Benji movie.

Some people may not know that the Benji of For the Love of Benji is not the same talented actor who starred in the original Benji movie. Higgins, the original Benji, was fairly old when he made Benji a household name in 1973, and the role of Benji for this second movie was played by Higgins' daughter (who was actually named Benji). Yes, this Benji is played by a female, but it does not matter. What is obvious is that acting ability courses powerfully throughout the Benji bloodline, as this Benji gives a simply amazing performance, in some respects bettering that of her dad in the original. There is much more action in this film, much of it taking place on the busy city streets of Athens; this little dog really has to run his legs off in this movie as well as navigate many obstacles and perform a number of actions that only Benji could do. He also faces a menacing, large, unfriendly canine enemy and has to avoid a number of gunshots. Most importantly, he has to show a wide range of emotions, as well, and this dog is truly an incredible actor. When he is supposed to be frightened, he really and truly looks frightened; the guilt he feels over having to steal food is obvious; the forlorn look on his face as he searches in vain for his loved ones looks heartbreakingly real; and when he is supposed to stop and think about his next move, you can almost literally see the wheels of his mind turning inside his head. Even the smallest and shortest of expressions - perking up at a certain sound, reacting to a smell, breaking out in excitement when he thinks he sees one of his family members - are performed with a level of skill few human actors could ever hope to rival.

I think the original Benji film will always be my favorite, but For the Love of Benji is not far behind. Children will probably enjoy this film more than the original because of all the action scenes it showcases. This Benji, just like her father Higgins, is among the most talented actors to ever grace the big screen, and I can't imagine my childhood (and don't plan on living my adulthood) without the presence of this greatest dog of them all.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars benji pulls you in, September 8, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Benji: For the Love of Benji (DVD)

this is a very good movie, and it seems like a real situation. The dog is trained very well. if you like this, you might wanta see the first Benji, Benji's Christmas, or Benji the Hunted. Benji the hunted made me cry hysterically, but it was still very good. Also you should see the newest Benji movie: Benji off the Leash. It's in theaters right now!!! I saw it, and it was really good!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Movie!, November 21, 2002

By 

Nicole Wojcik "Nicole" (Belle Plaine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For the Love of Benji [VHS] (VHS Tape)

In the sequel to "Benji", kidnappers target someone else - Benji! As Benji tries furiously to get back to his family, and escape from his kidnappers, there some really great scenes. My personal favorite is where Benji grabbs a string of hot dogs and takes off down the street! This isn't as good as Benji, but it is worth watching anyway.