UNDERDOG
US, 2007, 84 minutes, Colour.
Peter Dinklage, James Belushi,Patrick Warburton, Alex Neuberger.
Voices: Jason Lee, Amy Adams, Brad Garrett.
Directed by Frederik Du Chau.
No, this is not a sports film about an unexpected champion who seems to have come out of nowhere. But, it is about a champion whose career markedly resembles that of Clark Kent/Superman as well as Peter Parker/Spiderman. The difficulty with this parallel is that it should read Superdog and Spiderdog. Yes, this is the story of a nerdish security dog named Shoeshine who fails some of the basic tests for his job but who is mysteriously transformed by the experiments of a (very) mad scientist, Dr Barsinister (Peter Dinklage) and his dumb henchman (Patrick Warburton).
While Clark Kent had his foster parents and Peter Parker his aunt and uncle, our poor hero has to find a family that will take him in (and persuade them that he can actually talk). Fortunately, Jack (Alex Neuberger) whose mother has died and whose former policeman father (Jim Belushi) is now a security guard at the laboratories where the made scientist works befriends him. He is also supportive when the dog discovers his special powers and rescues the young girl our hero is attracted to - and her dog which our superdog finds even more attractive. Before you can say ‘krypton’ or a word to that effect, our canine superhero is the darling of the populace, feted by the media, relied on by the police. But, modestly, he chooses the name ‘Underdog’.
Needless to say, it all builds up to a confrontation in Washington DC with the president under threat as well as the girlfriend. Underdog versus the mad scientist and his mad sidekick.
Jason Lee is the voice of Underdog and Amy Adams the voice of his dogfriend. I hope that younger audiences enjoy it. I did.
1.An entertaining family film? Children’s response? Adults?
2.The tradition of dog films, a human’s best friend, the variation on the theme?
3.Using popular films, especially Superman and Spider Man? The canine variations?
4.The plausibility and implausibility: the plot, the voices, action?
5.The introduction to the dogs, their training, the dog failing, being taunted, let go, wandering?
6.The mad scientist and his assistant, their characters, caricatures? Plans, budget, power? The dwarf and his wanting power? The assistant and his being slow? The experiments?
7.The security guard, the background of his being a policeman, the death of his wife, relating to his son, at his job, the crises and explosions?
8.The dog and its powers, scent, intervening, becoming a hero? The title Underdog? Reputation, the sweater? The newspaper reports – and the parallels of being undercover like Superman? The interventions like Spider Man?
9.The boy, at home, his father, school, discovering the dog, its making a mess, his decision to have a pet, the talking dog, communicating? Their work together?
10.The police, the city, Underdog’s reputation?
11.Polly and her pet dog, the boy’s attraction, together, Underdog flirting, the female dog like Lois Lane, not knowing the truth about Underdog? Polly and the dangers? Her being accosted, Underdog rescuing her?
12.The mad scientist, the pills, their effect on Underdog?
13.The build-up, Polly’s abduction, the bomb, the confrontation with the politicians, the mad scientist, the assistant trying to solve everything? Underdog and the heroics and saving the day?
14.The film satisfying as a dog movie, as a thriller, as a comedy, as a parody of the comic strip films?
