Underdog (2007)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

Frederik Du Chau

Writers (WGA):

Adam Rifkin (screenplay) and
Joe Piscatella (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

3 August 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

One Nation, Under Dog.

Plot:

A lab accident gives a hound named Shoeshine some serious superpowers -- a secret that the dog eventually shares with the young boy who becomes his owner and friend.

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Mad Scientist | Security Guard | Widower | Superhero

Awards:

3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Nov. 14

8:50 PM

DISN

Cast

Jason Lee	...	Underdog (voice)
Peter Dinklage	...	Dr. Simon Barsinister
James Belushi	...	Dan Unger (as Jim Belushi)
Patrick Warburton	...	Cad
Alex Neuberger	...	Jack
Taylor Momsen	...	Molly
John Slattery	...	Mayor
Amy Adams	...	Polly (voice)
Brad Garrett	...	Riff Raff (voice)
Samantha Bee	...	Principal
Timothy Crowe	...	Police Chief
Larry Vigus	...	Security Guard
Mario Mariani	...	Police Officer
Bates Wilder	...	Cop
Alexander 'Alex' Garde	...	Small Boy

MPAA:

Rated PG for rude humor, mild language and action.

Runtime:

USA:84 min | Argentina:84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Hong Kong:I | Argentina:Atp | South Korea:All | Ireland:PG | UK:U | Germany:6 | Canada:G (all jurisdictions) | USA:PG (certificate #43454) | South Africa:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Company:

Have No Fear Productions

Trivia:

Another reference to the original cartoon: The name "Shoeshine" refers to Underdog's secret identity as the shoeshine boy.

Goofs:

Continuity: The dog that they use for barking at the mailman is obviously not the one that is used in (most) of the rest of the movie. If you look closely at the patterning around the face, you'll see that on the barking dog's left cheek, the brown mark doesn't touch the lip, whereas the "main" dog's brown mark does. Also the barking dog has a softer outline.

Quotes:

Shoeshine Boy: Right. I'm going to learn manners from a guy who pees in my white porcelain drinking bowl.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Superman II (1980)

Soundtrack:

Underdog Rocks

The Things We Do For Love

When I first became a father about 5.5 years ago, I was prepared for many of the sacrifices I'd have to make. I knew I'd have to change diapers and take them to swimming lessons and attend many a freezing Santa Claus parade, but I wasn't ready for the kind of sacrifice I made last night. This, in my humble opinion, is cruel and unusual punishment.

Underdog is bad. It's not quite Karate Dog bad, but it makes The Shaggy Dog feel like Pulp Fiction. If Underdog were a television show, I'd recommend flipping on by. Not even the presence of Puddy and the voice of Banky Edwards can save it. Bow. Wow.

It was also just about the best 80 minutes I've ever enjoyed. James was seated to the right of me and Michelle to the left, and I spent more time watching their reaction to this talking, flying mutt than watching the screen. At 5 and 3 years old, they were the target audience, and this movie nailed the target. There's a scene where Underdog belches loudly in another dogs face and Michelle thought it was the funniest scene ever captured on film. When Underdog was flying into outer space, James was literally at the edge of his seat, mesmerized. The kids absolutely loved Underdog, and that's why I was there. That's what last night was all about.

Unless you're accompanying someone under the age of ten, you have no business wasting a second of your life watching this brutal film. But if you are looking to kill 80 minutes with your four year old, I won't judge. I had a blast.