FIREHOUSE DOG

US, 2007, 111 minutes, Colour.
Josh Hutcherson, Bruce Greenwood, Bill Nunn, Dash Mihok, Scotch Ellis Loring, Stephen Culp.
Directed by Todd Holland.

Firehouse dog is an enjoyable entertainment for the family though some of its sequences, especially fires and firefighting, maybe too much for little children.

Josh Hutcherson, popular as a child star in films such as Southall wrote, and later to have a successful adult career, especially in The Hunger Game series, is upset with the death of his uncle in the fire and clashes with his strict father who is in charge of the local brigade, Bruce Greenwood.

In the meantime, a pampered Hollywood star, a dog, as an accident while filming and calls from a plan to earth, getting tangled up with the young boy and with the Fire Brigade. he exercises some relics, become something of a mascot for the brigade which is in some difficulties with the city authorities who want to take over the building for development expansion.

There are some humorous scenes with the dog, some heroics, the film people coming to recover the dog – and, of course, some even greater heroics with the resolution of the whole case and the survival of the brigade centre.

1. A family film? A dog film? Identifying with the boy? Bond with the dog, the dog as a mascot for the Fire Brigade?

2. The American city, homes, Fire Brigade buildings, the fires and the brigade putting them out? The background of the film industry – and Rex and his caravan and his being pampered? The background of civil authorities, pressing the Fire Brigade, involved in suspicious practices?

3. The opening, audiences expecting a film star, it turning out to be the dog, pining for the Dalmatian dog, his manager, the producing assistant, persuading the dog to go out? The plane, the upset with the plane, Rexx falling out, his hairpiece coming off, presumed dead?

4. Rexx, trying to survive in the city, his crashing into Shane, Shane, tension with his father, skipping school, his school friends? The fireman reporting him, his being grounded?

5. The fire, the dog, his tag as Dewey, Shane having responsibility? Dewey, at home, creating the mess, wanting the bed, wanting the extra food? His skill on the skateboard, Shane’s admiration?

6. The fire, Shane’s father going in, the search for the injured worker, Dewey going in, finding the body – and being acclaimed, the media?

7. The decision for Dewey to become the brigade mascot? His being honoured by the city? Shane putting up the notices?

8. The shady background, the uncle’s death, suspicions? The official coming to commiserate? The plan to close down Dogpatch station? The various members of the brigade, the cook, the bantering couple, the woman and her looking glamorous at the civic reception?

9. The buildup to the fire, Shane realising what was happening, checking the computer, the plan for redevelopment, the authority and his commissioning the fire?

10. Shane, going to the station, the confrontation with the arsonist, the clash? The building beginning to collapse, the fire? Dewey, sensing something wrong, coming to the rescue, Shane’s father, getting the door open? Shane telling the truth? The consequent arrests?

11. Dewey’s trainer, identifying the dog, the background of his film career, taking him away? But Dewey sensing something wrong, going to the fire? And the trainer graciously handing Dewey over to Shane?

12. The blend of the dog story, comedy and pratfalls, heroics, and the criminal background?