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AIR BUDDIES
* * (2006, 80 minutes, Rated PG)
The continuing story of an unstoppable movie franchise
that's gone to the dogs.
There’s a chance that somewhere in the back of your
mind, you recall a Disney film about a basketball playing
dog. That film would be Air Bud. Never saw the film
myself. Merging dogs and basketball, both high on my
list of Really Obnoxious Things, into one film was more
than enough to keep me away.
Apparently, Air Bud was a hit. A big hit, because the film
not only spawned a number of sequels featuring the
same dog playing football and baseball and foosball
and curling or whatever. And then the series spawned
Air Buddies, about the exploits of Mr. Bud’s offspring,
which launched an entire straight-to-video series.
* * (2006, 80 minutes, Rated PG)
The continuing story of an unstoppable movie franchise
that's gone to the dogs.
There’s a chance that somewhere in the back of your
mind, you recall a Disney film about a basketball playing
dog. That film would be Air Bud. Never saw the film
myself. Merging dogs and basketball, both high on my
list of Really Obnoxious Things, into one film was more
than enough to keep me away.
Apparently, Air Bud was a hit. A big hit, because the film
not only spawned a number of sequels featuring the
same dog playing football and baseball and foosball
and curling or whatever. And then the series spawned
Air Buddies, about the exploits of Mr. Bud’s offspring,
which launched an entire straight-to-video series.
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All of Mr. Bud’s pups are also athletic prodigies, of course. And just in case the entire premise
wasn’t obnoxious enough, the animals now talk. Think they'll have anything interesting to say? We’
ll get to that in a minute.
Since the first chunk of the movie is spent establishing the “character” “traits” of the pups, I might
as well give you the run-down:
wasn’t obnoxious enough, the animals now talk. Think they'll have anything interesting to say? We’
ll get to that in a minute.
Since the first chunk of the movie is spent establishing the “character” “traits” of the pups, I might
as well give you the run-down:
- Budderball. The fat one. Likes football and eating. When his paw gets pulled, he farts (!)
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| Pig-Pen (above), not pleased to be associated with the Air Buddies. |
- Buddha. The hippie. Does yoga and considers baseball
a zen experience. - Mudbud. The slob. He’s pretty much Pig-Pen, if Pig-Pen
was a dog that played volleyball. - Rosebud. The girl. Voiced by Abigail Breslin before she
had her big break in Little Miss Sunshine and could
comfortably turn down gigs like this. As for Tom Everett
Scott, Molly Shannon, Michael Clarke Duncan, Wallace
Shawn and Debra Jo Rupp, who also provide various
animal voices, they have no excuse. - B-Dawg. The hip-hop stereotype. Plays basketball,
wears “bling” and is incapable of speaking in anything
that’s not a quippy catchphrase. Will make you want to
smash your hand with a mallet until you pass out from the
pain.
Actually, that’s true of all the pups (though B-Dawg is the biggest offender): For talking animals,
none of them seem capable of just, you know, talking. They have to make a clever quip, usually
shoehorning in some sports lingo cuz they’re all just so damned sporty.
We also meet the owners of the Bud clan and their neighbors, who happen to own Mrs. Bud. The
human actors are all pretty much inconsequential, but it is worth noting that the dad is played by
Richard Karn of “Home Improvement” and “The Family Feud” fame. Poor guy. It’s a hard not being
Richard Dawson...
none of them seem capable of just, you know, talking. They have to make a clever quip, usually
shoehorning in some sports lingo cuz they’re all just so damned sporty.
We also meet the owners of the Bud clan and their neighbors, who happen to own Mrs. Bud. The
human actors are all pretty much inconsequential, but it is worth noting that the dad is played by
Richard Karn of “Home Improvement” and “The Family Feud” fame. Poor guy. It’s a hard not being
Richard Dawson...
| The legendary Richard Dawson (above, on phone), telling the producers what to do with their offer to appear in Air Buddies. |
The story: The Framm family finally realizes that having a house full of slobbering, leg humping,
property damaging, smart ass dog that think they’re sports stars is an awful idea, and go about
finding them new homes. To their credit, Mr. and Mrs. Bud treat this as a natural life event, like
going away to college, rather than like having your family sold off at the slave market.
Meanwhile, some rich guy’s snot-nosed brat wants Air Bud to be his pet, so he hires a bizarre
Bond villain type to go get him. The Bond villain promptly sends his lone henchman and the villain’
s slacker nephew to go dognapping.
Yada, yada, yada, the baddies use the Buddies to trap Mr. and Mrs. Bud, and then the pups go
AWOL in an attempt to rescue their folks. So it’s just like 101 Dalmatians, but in reverse and
infinitely more trite.
Perhaps saddest of all is that Air Buddies features the legendary Don Knotts in his final role. Mr.
Knotts provides the voice of Sniffer, an ancient bloodhound who had lost his sense of smell until
he gets sprayed in the face by a skunk.
I’m truly sorry, Mr. Knotts.
property damaging, smart ass dog that think they’re sports stars is an awful idea, and go about
finding them new homes. To their credit, Mr. and Mrs. Bud treat this as a natural life event, like
going away to college, rather than like having your family sold off at the slave market.
Meanwhile, some rich guy’s snot-nosed brat wants Air Bud to be his pet, so he hires a bizarre
Bond villain type to go get him. The Bond villain promptly sends his lone henchman and the villain’
s slacker nephew to go dognapping.
Yada, yada, yada, the baddies use the Buddies to trap Mr. and Mrs. Bud, and then the pups go
AWOL in an attempt to rescue their folks. So it’s just like 101 Dalmatians, but in reverse and
infinitely more trite.
Perhaps saddest of all is that Air Buddies features the legendary Don Knotts in his final role. Mr.
Knotts provides the voice of Sniffer, an ancient bloodhound who had lost his sense of smell until
he gets sprayed in the face by a skunk.
I’m truly sorry, Mr. Knotts.
| Here at The 'Bin, we will always fondly remember Don Knotts for his guest appearances on "Scooby Doo." |
This review is part of our special
MAY SWEEPS month here at the
Bargain Bin Review, where I'll take
on some of the choice films
featured on WPNY's "Magnificent
Movies @ 8." Which I just happen
to host.
Keep an eye out for more "MM@8"
goodness both here and at the
Bloggin' Bin Revue throughout the
month!
MAY SWEEPS month here at the
Bargain Bin Review, where I'll take
on some of the choice films
featured on WPNY's "Magnificent
Movies @ 8." Which I just happen
to host.
Keep an eye out for more "MM@8"
goodness both here and at the
Bloggin' Bin Revue throughout the
month!