President Obama paid his respects - and offered a shoulder to cry on - at Dover Air Force Base Tuesday as he consoled families of the 30 U.S. troops whose remains were brought home from Afghanistan. "I told him, I want you to give me my grandson back. I want him alive," Madeline Bernice Strange tells People. Her grandson, Navy Seal Michael Strange, 25, was among the servicemen killed Aug. 6 when their Chinook helicopter was shot down in eastern Afghanistan - the single deadliest loss in the decade-long war there. "I told the President we never should've been there" in Afghanistan,...
- 8/10/2011
- by Sandra Sobieraj Westfall and Susan Keating
- PEOPLE.com
Barely a year after Disney's "Air Bud" was released with moderate success, athletic pooch Buddy returns to conquer the gridiron in a formulaic follow-up from Dimension Films.
Played mainly by Rush and Zak, the leaping, four-legged hero is the primary attraction for targeted family audiences in "Air Bud: Golden Receiver", which is dedicated to the memory of the original Buddy.
Despite advancing for a few first downs in the early going, "Golden Receiver" is a see-saw battle with a game plan that includes lame slapstick, junior high school sports, familial discord and winning the championship to save mom's romance and the coach's job. When the focus is on supersmart Buddy foiling the villains or running for a touchdown, the movie delivers bush-league thrills that will appeal best to the 10-and-under crowd.
Director Richard Martin -- son of comedian Dick Martin, who makes a cameo as a befuddled sportscaster with Tim Conway in the finale -- is more concerned with keeping the pace fast than adequately telling the uncomplicated story. The central conflict between lead Josh (Kevin Zegers, reprising his role from the first film) and his single mother (Cynthia Stevenson) over the intrusion of dashing veterinarian Patrick (Gregory Harrison) into their lives is fumbled when it's obvious the two bland adults are made for each other.
Urged on by best friend Tom (Shayn Solberg), sulking Josh decides to play for the Fernfield Timberwolves even though basketball is his first sports love. He bears a grudge against affable, friend-to-all-animals Patrick, who pursues Stevenson's mousy character with all the best intentions.
Desperately needing some genuine tension, the film is unfortunately blitzed on several occasions by two Russian circus kooks (Nora Dunn, Perry Anzilotti) who steal extraordinary animals and pets for their traveling show. Inspired by Boris and Natasha, the cartoonish creeps lose ground every time their play is called, though they succeed in sidelining Buddy the day of the big game.
A little "pooch smarts" and the help of a righteously vengeful chimp save the day, but the piling on of cliches, such as the crowds breezily accepting a dog playing in organized school sports, stifles any hope of a game-winning comeback. Instead, Buddy in his cute shoulder pads and helmet leads the Timberwolves to a last-second triumph, though Josh has to struggle momentarily with his emotions when one of his star teammates is injured.
Warm and gentle overall, with tackle football portrayed as rough-and-tumble fun, "Bud II" is eager-to-please fluff with inspiring themes and values. One is hounded, however, by the almost soulless approach, which is somewhat countered by the spirited performances of Zegers, Stevenson and Robert Costanzo as the beleaguered coach.
AIR BUD: GOLDEN RECEIVER
Dimension Films
Keystone Pictures
in association with Dimension Films
A Robert Vince production
Director: Richard Martin
Screenwriters: Paul Tamasy & Aaron Mendelsohn
Producer: Robert Vince
Executive producers: Michael Strange, Anne Vince, William Vince
Director of photography: Mike Southon
Production designer: Rex Raglan
Editors: Bruce Lange, Melinda Seabrook
Costume designer: Patricia Hargreaves
Music: Brahm Wenger
Casting: Abra Edelman, Elisa Goodman
Color/stereo
Cast:
Josh Framm: Kevin Zegers
Jackie Framm: Cynthia Stevenson
Patrick Sullivan: Gregory Harrison
Natalya: Nora Dunn
Popov: Perry Anzilotti
Coach Fanelli: Robert Costanzo
Tom: Shayn Solberg
Running time -- 89 minutes
MPAA rating: G...
Played mainly by Rush and Zak, the leaping, four-legged hero is the primary attraction for targeted family audiences in "Air Bud: Golden Receiver", which is dedicated to the memory of the original Buddy.
Despite advancing for a few first downs in the early going, "Golden Receiver" is a see-saw battle with a game plan that includes lame slapstick, junior high school sports, familial discord and winning the championship to save mom's romance and the coach's job. When the focus is on supersmart Buddy foiling the villains or running for a touchdown, the movie delivers bush-league thrills that will appeal best to the 10-and-under crowd.
Director Richard Martin -- son of comedian Dick Martin, who makes a cameo as a befuddled sportscaster with Tim Conway in the finale -- is more concerned with keeping the pace fast than adequately telling the uncomplicated story. The central conflict between lead Josh (Kevin Zegers, reprising his role from the first film) and his single mother (Cynthia Stevenson) over the intrusion of dashing veterinarian Patrick (Gregory Harrison) into their lives is fumbled when it's obvious the two bland adults are made for each other.
Urged on by best friend Tom (Shayn Solberg), sulking Josh decides to play for the Fernfield Timberwolves even though basketball is his first sports love. He bears a grudge against affable, friend-to-all-animals Patrick, who pursues Stevenson's mousy character with all the best intentions.
Desperately needing some genuine tension, the film is unfortunately blitzed on several occasions by two Russian circus kooks (Nora Dunn, Perry Anzilotti) who steal extraordinary animals and pets for their traveling show. Inspired by Boris and Natasha, the cartoonish creeps lose ground every time their play is called, though they succeed in sidelining Buddy the day of the big game.
A little "pooch smarts" and the help of a righteously vengeful chimp save the day, but the piling on of cliches, such as the crowds breezily accepting a dog playing in organized school sports, stifles any hope of a game-winning comeback. Instead, Buddy in his cute shoulder pads and helmet leads the Timberwolves to a last-second triumph, though Josh has to struggle momentarily with his emotions when one of his star teammates is injured.
Warm and gentle overall, with tackle football portrayed as rough-and-tumble fun, "Bud II" is eager-to-please fluff with inspiring themes and values. One is hounded, however, by the almost soulless approach, which is somewhat countered by the spirited performances of Zegers, Stevenson and Robert Costanzo as the beleaguered coach.
AIR BUD: GOLDEN RECEIVER
Dimension Films
Keystone Pictures
in association with Dimension Films
A Robert Vince production
Director: Richard Martin
Screenwriters: Paul Tamasy & Aaron Mendelsohn
Producer: Robert Vince
Executive producers: Michael Strange, Anne Vince, William Vince
Director of photography: Mike Southon
Production designer: Rex Raglan
Editors: Bruce Lange, Melinda Seabrook
Costume designer: Patricia Hargreaves
Music: Brahm Wenger
Casting: Abra Edelman, Elisa Goodman
Color/stereo
Cast:
Josh Framm: Kevin Zegers
Jackie Framm: Cynthia Stevenson
Patrick Sullivan: Gregory Harrison
Natalya: Nora Dunn
Popov: Perry Anzilotti
Coach Fanelli: Robert Costanzo
Tom: Shayn Solberg
Running time -- 89 minutes
MPAA rating: G...
- 8/10/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A formulaic family film that scores enough points to draw a decent audience in its theatrical release, Disney's "Air Bud" does not show a dog slam-dunking on a basketball court as in the film's print ads, but it's got plenty of furry footwork and a nose for easy shots at emotional manipulation.
Directed by Charles Martin Smith from a screenplay credited to Paul Tamasy and Aaron Mendelsohn, "Air Bud" is less rowdy than the "Mighty Ducks" films and closer to "The Secret Garden", with brooding young Josh (Kevin Zegers) discovering an overgrown basketball court and meeting his tail-wagging, soon-to-be best pal.
In a clunky opening, the golden retriever star (Buddy) is shown enduring his humiliating life as a costumed attraction for a bad party clown dubbed Norm Snively (Michael Jeter), who drives the requisite falling-apart pickup. The unnamed canine slips off the truck and hides from people, which is what dadless Josh wants to do since moving to a new mountain home with his family.
His mom (Wendy Makkena) is gentle and fair, but Josh doesn't talk a lot and misses playing basketball with his father, a test pilot killed in the line of duty. Along comes Buddy, who can butt the ball like a seal into the basket. Buddy does run into trouble more than once -- with destructive physical comedy the result -- but on the court he's a barking show-off with the chops.
Josh and Buddy become major attractions in the junior high school basketball program and the team heads toward the finals, but there are numerous complications, including a jerky rival (Brendan Fletcher) on the team, the rival's super-jerky dad (Norman Browning), a former NBA legend (Bill Cobbs) who's also hiding from the world, and the repulsive slob Snively, who succeeds in taking the dog back.
Poor Buddy has to wear another costume and watch Josh lead his team to glory, while the filmmakers are more concerned with overdoing the kid-tells-dog-to-get-lost scene than questioning the collective lust for glory that drives junior hoopsters and adults to such paroxysms in an otherwise bucolic setting.
Appearing only at the end, Eric Christmas is crowd-pleasingly over-the-top as the crotchety judge who allows Buddy to choose an owner. There's little in the way of surprises, and a few cute running gags have to go a long way. The strongest team players, Zegers, Makkena and Cobbs admirably stay in game face as they share the ball with Buddy.
Owned by trainer Kevin DiCicco, Buddy is already a media sensation with "22,000 career baskets" and countless personal appearances. He steals the movie at every opportunity. Director Smith does not handle all aspects with equal success, but he keeps this mongrel production from straying into fantasyland.
AIR BUD
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures presents
in association with Keystone Pictures
A Robert Vince production
Director Charles Martin Smith
Writers Paul Tamasy, Aaron Mendelsohn
Producers Robert Vince, William Vince
Executive producers Michael Strange,
Anne Vince
Director of photography Mike Southon
Production designer Elizabeth Wilcox
Editor Alison Grace
Music Brahm Wenger
Casting Abra Edelman, Elisa Goodman
Color/stereo
Cast:
Norm Snively Michael Jeter
Josh Framm Kevin Zegers
Jackie Framm Wendy Makkena
Arthur Chaney Bill Cobbs
Judge Cranfield Eric Christmas
Buddy/Air Bud Buddy
Running time -- 101 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Directed by Charles Martin Smith from a screenplay credited to Paul Tamasy and Aaron Mendelsohn, "Air Bud" is less rowdy than the "Mighty Ducks" films and closer to "The Secret Garden", with brooding young Josh (Kevin Zegers) discovering an overgrown basketball court and meeting his tail-wagging, soon-to-be best pal.
In a clunky opening, the golden retriever star (Buddy) is shown enduring his humiliating life as a costumed attraction for a bad party clown dubbed Norm Snively (Michael Jeter), who drives the requisite falling-apart pickup. The unnamed canine slips off the truck and hides from people, which is what dadless Josh wants to do since moving to a new mountain home with his family.
His mom (Wendy Makkena) is gentle and fair, but Josh doesn't talk a lot and misses playing basketball with his father, a test pilot killed in the line of duty. Along comes Buddy, who can butt the ball like a seal into the basket. Buddy does run into trouble more than once -- with destructive physical comedy the result -- but on the court he's a barking show-off with the chops.
Josh and Buddy become major attractions in the junior high school basketball program and the team heads toward the finals, but there are numerous complications, including a jerky rival (Brendan Fletcher) on the team, the rival's super-jerky dad (Norman Browning), a former NBA legend (Bill Cobbs) who's also hiding from the world, and the repulsive slob Snively, who succeeds in taking the dog back.
Poor Buddy has to wear another costume and watch Josh lead his team to glory, while the filmmakers are more concerned with overdoing the kid-tells-dog-to-get-lost scene than questioning the collective lust for glory that drives junior hoopsters and adults to such paroxysms in an otherwise bucolic setting.
Appearing only at the end, Eric Christmas is crowd-pleasingly over-the-top as the crotchety judge who allows Buddy to choose an owner. There's little in the way of surprises, and a few cute running gags have to go a long way. The strongest team players, Zegers, Makkena and Cobbs admirably stay in game face as they share the ball with Buddy.
Owned by trainer Kevin DiCicco, Buddy is already a media sensation with "22,000 career baskets" and countless personal appearances. He steals the movie at every opportunity. Director Smith does not handle all aspects with equal success, but he keeps this mongrel production from straying into fantasyland.
AIR BUD
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures presents
in association with Keystone Pictures
A Robert Vince production
Director Charles Martin Smith
Writers Paul Tamasy, Aaron Mendelsohn
Producers Robert Vince, William Vince
Executive producers Michael Strange,
Anne Vince
Director of photography Mike Southon
Production designer Elizabeth Wilcox
Editor Alison Grace
Music Brahm Wenger
Casting Abra Edelman, Elisa Goodman
Color/stereo
Cast:
Norm Snively Michael Jeter
Josh Framm Kevin Zegers
Jackie Framm Wendy Makkena
Arthur Chaney Bill Cobbs
Judge Cranfield Eric Christmas
Buddy/Air Bud Buddy
Running time -- 101 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Fans of the recent, disastrous MGM release "Mad Dog Time" - and the half-dozen or so of them know who they are - are The Only Ones who should appreciate this effort written by Larry Bishop (Joey's son).
Bishop attracts top-notch talent to his projects, but after this one-two punch he's going to have to resuscitate the Rat Pack if he expects to stay in the business.
"Underworld" is a gangster tale told in the in-vogue Quentin Tarantino style, but with a surreal, hallucinatory tinge. The plot is fairly incomprehensible, but it has something to do with the efforts of ex-con Johnny Alt, a k a Johnny Crown (Denis Leary), to avenge the attempted murder of his father. Among his possible intended victims is his former best friend Frank (Joe Mantegna), the owner of the nightclub that gives the film its name. In his seven years in prison, Johnny has become a psychotherapist, and he proudly refers to himself as the only psychopathic psychotherapist in the business.
While busily gunning down various mobsters, Johnny takes the time to reunite Frank with both his ex-wife (Annabella Sciorra), also a shrink, and his estranged father (Abe Vigoda, no doubt nostalgic for his role in "The Godfather"). In the meantime, another hoodlum, Ned Lynch (played by Bishop himself, with the same lack of effectiveness he demonstrated in "Mad Dog Time"), is on the rampage, dispatching various victims with brutal efficiency, including a perfectly pleasant stripper played by Traci Lords.
Leary and Mantegna deliver their lines with their usual degree of intensity, but their embarrassment is palpable. Director Roger Christian, who won an Oscar for his set decoration on "Star Wars", has given the film an overly stylized visual design that only accentuates its pretensions.
UNDERWORLD
Legacy Releasing
Keystone Pictures in association
with Trimark Pictures
Director Roger Christian
Executive producers Mark Amin,
Michael Strange, Abra Edelman
Producers Robert Vince, William Vince
Writer Larry Bishop
Director of photography Steven Bernstein
Editor Robin Russell
Color/stereo
Cast:
Johnny Crown/Johnny Alt Denis Leary
Frank Gavilan/Richard Essex Joe Mantegna
Dr. Leah Annabella Sciorra
Ned Lynch Larry Bishop
Will Cassady Abe Vigoda
Stan Robert Costanzo
Anna Traci Lords
Running time -- 95 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
Bishop attracts top-notch talent to his projects, but after this one-two punch he's going to have to resuscitate the Rat Pack if he expects to stay in the business.
"Underworld" is a gangster tale told in the in-vogue Quentin Tarantino style, but with a surreal, hallucinatory tinge. The plot is fairly incomprehensible, but it has something to do with the efforts of ex-con Johnny Alt, a k a Johnny Crown (Denis Leary), to avenge the attempted murder of his father. Among his possible intended victims is his former best friend Frank (Joe Mantegna), the owner of the nightclub that gives the film its name. In his seven years in prison, Johnny has become a psychotherapist, and he proudly refers to himself as the only psychopathic psychotherapist in the business.
While busily gunning down various mobsters, Johnny takes the time to reunite Frank with both his ex-wife (Annabella Sciorra), also a shrink, and his estranged father (Abe Vigoda, no doubt nostalgic for his role in "The Godfather"). In the meantime, another hoodlum, Ned Lynch (played by Bishop himself, with the same lack of effectiveness he demonstrated in "Mad Dog Time"), is on the rampage, dispatching various victims with brutal efficiency, including a perfectly pleasant stripper played by Traci Lords.
Leary and Mantegna deliver their lines with their usual degree of intensity, but their embarrassment is palpable. Director Roger Christian, who won an Oscar for his set decoration on "Star Wars", has given the film an overly stylized visual design that only accentuates its pretensions.
UNDERWORLD
Legacy Releasing
Keystone Pictures in association
with Trimark Pictures
Director Roger Christian
Executive producers Mark Amin,
Michael Strange, Abra Edelman
Producers Robert Vince, William Vince
Writer Larry Bishop
Director of photography Steven Bernstein
Editor Robin Russell
Color/stereo
Cast:
Johnny Crown/Johnny Alt Denis Leary
Frank Gavilan/Richard Essex Joe Mantegna
Dr. Leah Annabella Sciorra
Ned Lynch Larry Bishop
Will Cassady Abe Vigoda
Stan Robert Costanzo
Anna Traci Lords
Running time -- 95 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
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