K-9

US, 1989, 101 minutes, Colour.
James Belushi, Mel Harris, Kevin Tighe, Ed O’ Neill, Pruitt Taylor Vince.
Directed by Rod Daniel.

A standard entertainment, a blend of comedy, police story, animal story. Jim Belushi is, as usual, energetic in the central role of an eccentric San Diego policeman on the trail of a king drug dealer. He goes into partnership, with Jerry Lee, a humanised canine who provides some of the comedy - and at the end, some sentimentality. The locations are well-used, the plot is familiar with its focus on the obsessed policeman, the callous drug dealers, the girlfriend played rather more strongly by Mel Harris. Direction is by Rod Daniels (Like Father, Like Son).

1. Entertaining police story? Drugs pursuit? Comedy? Animal comedy?

2. San Diego locations, the use of the city, police precincts, the world of the dealers? Musical score?

3. The title, the police, the dogs, the humanising of the hero dog?

4. Dooley as the policeman, the helicopter and the murder attempt, his relationship with Tracey, her apartment, their clashes? His attack on the pilot? His pursuit of Lyman, the pursuit of the courier, arresting him, handcuffing him to the car on the road and the freeway? The police chief and his reaction? Wanting a new car? Hiring the car and crashing it into the building for an arrest? His going to get a dog, the initial encounter, learning, going into the bar and wanting information, the dog's attack on the informant? Going to the warehouse, the speech on the hoist, the dog finding only one joint? At home, the jokes, the eating? The poodle and the ten minutes? The attempt on Dooley's life, the car-chase, the chase over the roofs, Jerry Lee pursuing the killer? The leap across the buildings and not quite doing it? The encounter with the car dealer? The phone call from Tracey and her kidnapping? His bursting into the party, his eccentric turn and attack on Lyman? His being arrested, trying to discuss his plan with his chief, escaping with the help of Jerry Lee? The pursuit of the semi-trailer? The showdown on the hill? The shootouts? Jerry Lee shot, going to the hospital, the sentimental speech, his change of heart when Jerry Lee was recovering? On the road to Las Vegas with Tracey, Jerry Lee and the poodle?

5. Dogs, Jerry Lee and his name, responding to orders? His being made the equivalent of a human? In the bar and attacking the criminal's groin? In the warehouse? Eating, at home, in the bed, outside, the poodle? The pursuit of criminals, the leap across the buildings? Helping Dooley to escape from the police? The final attack, being shot, listening to Dooley's words?

6. Lyman, the San Diego businessman and his deals, the warehouse and his taunting of Dooley, his shooting his courier after the game with the water pistol, organising the assassination attempts, his thugs, society life at the party, his associates, the car dealer, the deal on the cliff? His death?

7. Tracey as heroine, her relationship with Dooley, her house, dates, patience? Liking the dog? The humorous domestic sequences, in the bedroom? Her being kidnapped? Strength of mind?

10. The police, their exasperation, methods?

11. The blend of the comic and the serious?