DVD RECCO: UNDERDOG
There have been plenty of films where animals can talk whether it is Babe or Dr Dolittle series. And the confirmed cynics scoff at the idea of one more film where based on a relationship between a young lad and his talking 'superdog'. It must have been a daunting task for the scriptwriter to come up with an original plot. And yet he has succeeded admirably.
An ordinary beagle has sense of smell, which is 55 times more developed than a human being. But poor Underdog is a bit of a goofball. And his nose is more active at sniffing ham than at detecting bombs. With the result that he is relieved from his 'official' duties and unceremoniously thrown out onto the street.
As he is roaming around the city homeless and hungry, he is picked up by the evil Simon Barsinister. Barsinister is a tyrant whose sole aim in life is to create a breed of super-dogs who will help him come to power. Unfortunately for Barsinister, Underdog manages to escape and he is adopted by Dan Unger an ex-cop and his 12-year-old son Jack. And thanks to the chaos at Barsinister's lab the poor beagle is now endowed with superpowers.
When Jack is initially offered the dog he unequivocally rejects the dog. But how many people can resist the melting eyes of a beagle? Poor Jack is no match for Underdog’s charms. Underdog is christened 'Shoeshine' because apart from his passion for ham his favourite hobby is to lick shoes.
The relationship between the boy and the dog is the mainstay of the film. Hopefully, Underdog will use his powers constructively and not allow Barsinister to take over the city. And there is plenty of humour in the day-to-day interactions between the child and dog. Underdog is no wimp and he does not hesitate to put Jack in his place.
Next: A spoof on Superman
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