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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
What happens when mad scientist Dr. Simon Barsinister (Peter Dinklage) and a former police beagle Shoeshine (voiced by Jason Lee) are involved in a fiery lab accident? A dog with superpowers is born (soon to be dubbed Underdog) and Dr. Barsinister becomes a man obsessed with revenge and bent on genetically modifying the entire population of Capital City. An unwitting former policeman Dan (James Belushi) and his son Jack (Alex Neuberger) adopt Shoeshine in hopes of improving their strained relationship and what follows is a typical scene of home destruction by a young dog multiplied exponentially by the incredible strength, speed, and newly developed language skills of one super dog. While Jack and Shoeshine struggle with the conflict between Shoeshine's desire to be a regular dog and Jack's insistence that he use his newfound powers to help people, mayhem reigns in Capital City as Barsinister and his henchman Cad (Patrick Warburton--Emperor's New Groove) wreak havoc on the entire city and Jack's dad, schoolmate Molly (Taylor Momsen), and her dog Polly (voiced by Amy Adams--Enchanted) are all unwittingly dragged into the conflict. Underdog dedicates himself to good, quickly becoming revered as a superhero, but ultimately it will take the combined efforts and understanding of Underdog, Jack, Dan, Molly, and Polly to defeat Barsinister and save Capital City from destruction. Based on the original animated Underdog television series, this live action film is entertaining, if not great. Bonus features include deleted scenes with director introductions, bloopers, a 5-minute glimpse of the logistics of shooting animals and blending live action with animation, and the first Underdog cartoon "Safe Waif." (Ages 3 to 12) --Tami Horiuchi
NOTE: This DVD offers both full screen and wide screen formats, but defaults to full screen with the wide screen option accessible only through the audio option menu.
Product Description
To save the day, here comes Underdog, a 1970s Saturday morning cartoon transformed to glorious, semi-CGI animated life; it's a talking animal live-action film--… la BABE--with wisecracks aplenty. Voiced by Jason Lee, Underdog is the joke of the K-9 police force after his weakness for ham disrupts a public ceremony. Dejectedly, he lets himself get abducted for an animal experiment by a mad scientist, Dr. Simon Barsinister (Peter Dinklage). He escapes, doused in experimental chemicals, to become a dog with 80 times his normal strength. Jim Belushi embodies the sad-sack security guard at the laboratory who finds Underdog and takes him home as a playmate for his alienated tweener son (Alex Neuberger). The fact that chaos follows will come as no surprise, but what may is the genial tone the film maintains throughout. UNDERDOG blends its CGI animation and live action with finesse, and with per...
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
When I first heard that Disney was going to be putting out a live action version of "Underdog," I cringed at the thought. How could one make a live action film based on a cartoon who's key character was A) a dog, B) interacted freely with humans and other animals and C) was definitely a product of its times? Sure, the "Scooby-Doo" films have been out for awhile, but Scooby (and his cousins) were the only animals that interacted with anyone and their update was a fair success. Although Disney's answer wasn't 100% perfect, it was definitely a good response.
What the writers did was simplify the original tale somewhat. Instead of having Underdog interact with humans by being a shoeshine boy, he became an out-of-luck former police dog who's picked up by the caring-but-tense family of James Belushi and Alex Neuberger. They name him "Shoeshine." They also made the rest of the animals, namely Polly and Riff-Raff, only interact with Underdog and not the humans. Lastly, they firmly planted this film in 2007 by updating the lingo, the music, and the science that created Underdog.
Simon Barsinister (Peter Dinklage) and Cad (Patrick Warburton) are along for the ride and just like in the old TV show, they are Underdog's primary adversaries. Jason Lee provides the voice of the super pup, and gives him a refreshing update that I'm sure will tick off fans of the original cartoon.
The story, as mentioned earlier, is based around a not-so-hot police dog who's literally laughed off of the force by his comrades. He's picked up by Barsinister and Cad and becomes Underdog through a lab accident. He escapes from Barsinister and is picked up by another has-been cop, James Belushi. He's taken in by Belushi and his son and begins to form a strong bond with the boy. The rest of the story centers around Barsinister trying to capture Underdog to use his powers to take over the city and, eventually, the world. Along the way Shoeshine/Underdog falls for Polly, his new family gets closer, and he struggles with a catchphrase.
Sure, the story is simplistic and entirely unbelievable, but this is still a very good film to take your children to. I don't recall any harsh language but there is a little bit of violence and some puppy peril. At one point a particular pup gets into a deadly situation that might scare very young children. Just know that all turns out well in the end and I promise that your kids will be smiling before the movie is over.
This isn't a great film, but it is a very good family flick. The cast do an excellent job with what they have to work with and the special effects are of a similar (but slightly better) grade as those in other recent live-action flicks that involve CGI characters. I'm especially fond of Underdog's take-offs when he heads to the air.
Fans of the original series will probably cry foul over what has happened to their beloved Underdog. They do have a legitimate gripe but this film wasn't made to recall a ton of memories. It was made to draw in a modern crowd of youngsters and their families (some of which may not have even heard of the original show). The bottomline is this: It's a good family show that is enjoyable for both kids and their parents. Haggle over the changes if you must, but in the end, Disney has a winner with "Underdog."
What the writers did was simplify the original tale somewhat. Instead of having Underdog interact with humans by being a shoeshine boy, he became an out-of-luck former police dog who's picked up by the caring-but-tense family of James Belushi and Alex Neuberger. They name him "Shoeshine." They also made the rest of the animals, namely Polly and Riff-Raff, only interact with Underdog and not the humans. Lastly, they firmly planted this film in 2007 by updating the lingo, the music, and the science that created Underdog.
Simon Barsinister (Peter Dinklage) and Cad (Patrick Warburton) are along for the ride and just like in the old TV show, they are Underdog's primary adversaries. Jason Lee provides the voice of the super pup, and gives him a refreshing update that I'm sure will tick off fans of the original cartoon.
The story, as mentioned earlier, is based around a not-so-hot police dog who's literally laughed off of the force by his comrades. He's picked up by Barsinister and Cad and becomes Underdog through a lab accident. He escapes from Barsinister and is picked up by another has-been cop, James Belushi. He's taken in by Belushi and his son and begins to form a strong bond with the boy. The rest of the story centers around Barsinister trying to capture Underdog to use his powers to take over the city and, eventually, the world. Along the way Shoeshine/Underdog falls for Polly, his new family gets closer, and he struggles with a catchphrase.
Sure, the story is simplistic and entirely unbelievable, but this is still a very good film to take your children to. I don't recall any harsh language but there is a little bit of violence and some puppy peril. At one point a particular pup gets into a deadly situation that might scare very young children. Just know that all turns out well in the end and I promise that your kids will be smiling before the movie is over.
This isn't a great film, but it is a very good family flick. The cast do an excellent job with what they have to work with and the special effects are of a similar (but slightly better) grade as those in other recent live-action flicks that involve CGI characters. I'm especially fond of Underdog's take-offs when he heads to the air.
Fans of the original series will probably cry foul over what has happened to their beloved Underdog. They do have a legitimate gripe but this film wasn't made to recall a ton of memories. It was made to draw in a modern crowd of youngsters and their families (some of which may not have even heard of the original show). The bottomline is this: It's a good family show that is enjoyable for both kids and their parents. Haggle over the changes if you must, but in the end, Disney has a winner with "Underdog."
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By Dearest Be
Format:DVD
My 6 year-old loved this movie, and frankly, so did I. It is a straight forward, good-clean-fun movie. When I walk through the local movie rental chain, I am disappointed at the gore and darkness that people consider entertainment. If you want something lighthearted and enjoyable for the whole family, you can't go wrong with this one.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Back in the sixties, that long-ago age,
An animated super-mutt was truly the rage!
Voiced by Wally Cox, the lovable geek,
The dog always rhymed, whenever he'd speak.
Underdog was the Mighty Mouse of his time,
Saving the city and always in rhyme!
And while some may feel a 'live' update is trivial,
I find this new movie entirely convivial!
Frederik Du Chau directs with a wink,
And the result isn't as silly as many might think!
Jason Lee's voice, while not as nerdy as Cox's,
Is warm and beagle-friendly, whenever he talks!
The animals, not humans, are the stars of this flick,
Although Peter Dinklage's Barsinister is a real kick!
At 4'5", he's teamed with 6'3" Patrick Warburton,
And they steal every scene until the final curtain!
I loved the references to "Superman, the Movie",
And as a sixties kid, I found everything groovy!
Of course, since it's Disney, it carries his stamp,
With a romantic send-up of "Lady and the Tramp".
So Mom and Dad, make your little ones happy,
Buy this doggy gem, and make it snappy!
It's family-friendly, so there's no need to fear,
They'll thank you and exclaim, "Underdog is HERE!"
An animated super-mutt was truly the rage!
Voiced by Wally Cox, the lovable geek,
The dog always rhymed, whenever he'd speak.
Underdog was the Mighty Mouse of his time,
Saving the city and always in rhyme!
And while some may feel a 'live' update is trivial,
I find this new movie entirely convivial!
Frederik Du Chau directs with a wink,
And the result isn't as silly as many might think!
Jason Lee's voice, while not as nerdy as Cox's,
Is warm and beagle-friendly, whenever he talks!
The animals, not humans, are the stars of this flick,
Although Peter Dinklage's Barsinister is a real kick!
At 4'5", he's teamed with 6'3" Patrick Warburton,
And they steal every scene until the final curtain!
I loved the references to "Superman, the Movie",
And as a sixties kid, I found everything groovy!
Of course, since it's Disney, it carries his stamp,
With a romantic send-up of "Lady and the Tramp".
So Mom and Dad, make your little ones happy,
Buy this doggy gem, and make it snappy!
It's family-friendly, so there's no need to fear,
They'll thank you and exclaim, "Underdog is HERE!"
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best movie in the history of movies
Not crazy about the script for the humans, even though it's developed from a comic. The boy is so-so, the dad is a great actor, and does well with what he's given, and the crooks... Read more
Published 14 days ago by Alice Windle
5.0 out of 5 stars
A dog lover's movie
Dogs are so loyal. This movie was really cute. The entire family got caught up in the movie. It was laugh out loud funny in many places.
Published 2 months ago by AMC
5.0 out of 5 stars
Funny Movie
One of the kids favorite movies. Has a little gross humor in it dealing with bodily functions but otherwise a funny movie.
Published 2 months ago by M O
5.0 out of 5 stars
A miracle find - good, clean, family friendly
Just when I'd given up hope finding anything family-friendly for my 6 and 8 year old boys, I stumbled on this movie. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Training in Atlanta
3.0 out of 5 stars
To share with kids.
Got this to share with my granddaughter. I enjoyed it, and she REALLY enjoyed it. Grownups who want to spend time with children should consider this as a good idea.
Published 2 months ago by Jon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great kids movie!
I ordered this movie for my kids but the whole family ended up loving it. It is a really great family movie that will have your whole family laughing.
Published 2 months ago by Lee Anne McKee
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasantly surprised
Defiantly, not the same Underdog that I grew up watching!!! My kids loved it, and I will have to admit, it was better than I expected!
Published 3 months ago by Lisa
5.0 out of 5 stars
Underdog
This is a great family movie. My children love to watch it and it is a great addition to our video library.
Published 4 months ago by DRB
5.0 out of 5 stars
here he comes to save the day..
I bought this for my grandson for christmas.. it was a hit.. he was shaking in his pajamas when he opened it.. then he ran around the house saying i got underdog.. I got underdog.. Read more
Published 4 months ago by marcia mcdaniel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Underful Movie!
Could watch this over and over. Simon Barsinister, is PERFECT for the roll. Takes your mind off of what is going on in this Country.
Published 4 months ago by John L. Ryzek
