This afternoon after attending Easter services and eating our huge dinner, the kids gathered around the big television to watch what any red-blooded American child would… Underdog (ok… so perhaps not that many). I was pleasantly surprised by the live-action version of the cartoon I remember watching as a child. It remained fairly faithful to the cartoon rekindling enough memories for the old and being fun for the young ones who probably do not remember the television series.
A bomb-sniffing beagle is released from the police force after he mistakenly sniffs out a ham instead of a bomb. While roaming the streets, the dog is captured by the evil scientist Dr. Simon Barsinister and is injected with a serum which gives him amazing superpowers. The dog escapes and becomes the pet of a security guard (played by Jim not John Belushi) and his teenage son, Jack and is given the name Shoeshine.
After discovering Shoeshine’s powers, Jack decides to keep the secret to himself and convinces the reluctant pooch to use his powers to help those in distress. However as Underdog begins his exploits of daring-do, Simon and his henchman Cad continue to hunt for the beagle to use in their own sinister plot.
Ok… while it may not be the most ambitious movie ever made, Underdog did keep 7 children occupied for 90 minutes. It also had many tie-ins to the cartoon (Shoeshine, Sweet Polly Purebred voiced by Enchanted’s Amy Adams, Simon Barsinister and his sidekick Cad, and Riff-Raff who was voiced by Brad Garrett). It was far better than what I expected. It also had a nice nod to another Disney animated film. Underdog and Sweet Polly’s first date was reminiscent of Lady and the Tramp’s spaghetti dinner (down to the single meatball).
Definitely on my list to rent. Enchanted too. I remembered when I was very young my brother loved watching Underdog, but I liked Felix the Cat for some reason. I’ve never been normal… 😛
Never watched Felix the Cat. I did think it was weird when the Wendy’s I worked at starting giving away Felix toys for the kids’ meals – in the mid ’90’s!
I know I watched Underdog all the time, but I don’t remember it at all. I wonder if the movie would bring back any memories of the show for me. Meant to see it, but somehow missed it in the theaters. Our first day of spring break had us watching Enchanted twice. It’s a really cute must-see. I was disappointed the first time I saw it, but now I don’t know why.
I never watched Felix either. Hmmmm…. don’t recall the toys in Wendy’s kiddie meals either… I doubt if it would be a regional thing since Wendy’s is nationwide. I’m not sure Lisa… since you do not remember it if it would spark any memories. But it was a cute movie sure the kids would like it.
When Polly’s in trouble I am not slow
So it’s hip-hip-hip and away I go!
Classic rhymes!
Neither rain nor sleet nor even fog
Can stop li’l ol me… Underdog
Look…up in the sky
It’s a bird… it’s a plane… it’s a FROG
Not bird nor plane nor even frog
It’s just l’il ol’ me…. Underdog
As he crashes into the side of a building.
😀