Benji, that adorable dog, is supposed to be in a happier situation after the first film. He is a beloved family member and a pampered pooch. When some family members decide to go to Greece, Benji gets to go along. However, there are doggynappers lurking nearby and Benji is almost seized upon. But, being the brilliant dog that he is, Benji manages to escape their clutches and begin exploring a lovely city in Greece and its surroundings. He helps himself to a bit a Greek pasta at a restaurant and has a close call with a Doberman, among other things. Will he be able to find his way back to his family? If you love dogs and family films, this is a good choice. It is mostly Benji on the loose in Greece, where the scenery is a knockout, and where Benji gets in and out of one scrape after another. There are a few iffy passages, where guns are flashed and Benji is subjected to chloroform. However, this is mostly a little dog on the run in a charming movie. Families everywhere, for the love of Mike and Benji, please locate this one for an entertaining evening of fun for your loved ones.
19 Reviews
Cute, Fun Movie, Good for Kids
writermangp21 May 2005
I enjoyed For the Love of Benji. It was a cute, fun movie. A Good, Clean Family Film by Joe Camp. I actually liked this, the second Benji film, better than the first one. The plot here was pretty much laughable, but Benji movies aren't about that, they're about letting Benji charm. And that he does. A very good performance here by Benji. You'll laugh, but the dog's work is literally better than a Steven Segal performance I had the misfortune of seeing recently. Also, the film has nice music and lots of pretty Greece scenery. It may help to have seen the first Benji to familiarize yourself with some of the characters.
Check it out and Have a Doggone Good Time! (Sorry :)
Check it out and Have a Doggone Good Time! (Sorry :)
Childhood obsession
toni-cooke1826 February 2014
I have given this film a 7. My Dad would take me to the video shop once a week and I would, without fail, come home with 'For the love of Benji'
I loved this film and have fond memories of it.
It is clever as it was one of the first films made from a dogs point of view. It showed how intelligent and perceptive dogs are - they know good people from bad people almost instantly.
It also shows how sly, cunning and resourceful they can be when made to fend for themselves.
It did have a few heartstring pulling moments, when Benji is generous with today's spoil.. being separated from loved ones and reunited again.
I think children today would still enjoy this film.. regardless of the amount of running Benji does.
I loved this film and have fond memories of it.
It is clever as it was one of the first films made from a dogs point of view. It showed how intelligent and perceptive dogs are - they know good people from bad people almost instantly.
It also shows how sly, cunning and resourceful they can be when made to fend for themselves.
It did have a few heartstring pulling moments, when Benji is generous with today's spoil.. being separated from loved ones and reunited again.
I think children today would still enjoy this film.. regardless of the amount of running Benji does.
Hug your puppy tightly and grab some hankies!!
Kimta12 March 1999
This is the ultimate family movie!! Benji, Super Dog extraordinaire, makes a howling appearance in this Ameri/Greek movie.
The family goes to vacation with their two dogs in Greece. Along the way, Benji gets implanted with a secret code by the evil Chandler Dietrich. Chandler befriends the family knowing that, without their trust and friendship, he won't be able to smuggle Benji away from them at the right time. What Chandler doesn't plan on is Benji getting lost en-route to Crete!!
Anyway, the film goes on sharing the antics of this tiny little dog-without-a-breed and casts him as a hero. To find out what happens to Benji and his adorable family, you'll just have to watch!
Benji movies are so much fun for children. If you have a pet in the family, whether a dog, cat, bird or hamster, your children are guaranteed to appreciate them more after seeing this film. There is no nudity, no hard-core language (in fact no swearing at all that I can remember), no violence, and no yucky stuff. It is a class A children's movie. Enjoy it with some popcorn and with Fido sitting close at hand!!
The family goes to vacation with their two dogs in Greece. Along the way, Benji gets implanted with a secret code by the evil Chandler Dietrich. Chandler befriends the family knowing that, without their trust and friendship, he won't be able to smuggle Benji away from them at the right time. What Chandler doesn't plan on is Benji getting lost en-route to Crete!!
Anyway, the film goes on sharing the antics of this tiny little dog-without-a-breed and casts him as a hero. To find out what happens to Benji and his adorable family, you'll just have to watch!
Benji movies are so much fun for children. If you have a pet in the family, whether a dog, cat, bird or hamster, your children are guaranteed to appreciate them more after seeing this film. There is no nudity, no hard-core language (in fact no swearing at all that I can remember), no violence, and no yucky stuff. It is a class A children's movie. Enjoy it with some popcorn and with Fido sitting close at hand!!
Run, Benji, Run!
BrandtSponseller31 July 2006
This second film consists mostly of scenes of Benji running. That doesn't have to be a bad thing. The first Benji film consisted mostly of scenes of Benji running, too, but it was quite good. This follow-up isn't as good, but for other reasons.
On the positive side, returning writer/director Joe Camp stuck with something unusual that he did in the first film--he did the film from a dog's point of view. That doesn't mean that the film is in first person from Benji's perspective. Imagine more a dog directing. The content, kinds of shots and kinds of angles are mostly what a dog might do. It made the first film, with its very unusual structure, a success, and it more or less makes this one, which also has an unusual structure, well, not exactly a success, but it makes it "kinda work".
A couple factors bring the success rate down a bit. The story takes place in Greece this time--in a move that seems like maybe the crew and cast wanted a paid vacation in Greece--and a lot of dialogue is in Greek, without subtitles. Although interesting for adults, that's a particularly odd move for a family film, and the goal here is definitely to make a family film--Camp even announces this at the very beginning on screen.
Also odd for a family picture, most of the human-sourced interaction in the film features people attacking or chasing Benji--with chloroform, with meat cleavers, with fruit, with a big mean Doberman, and with guns. Not that it's graphic in any way, but the concept is there, and Benji's running is mostly precipitated by unfriendly people chasing him.
There is a complex plot involving scientific research, where they want to use Benji for nefarious goals, and where Benji seems to be world-famous, all of which is never explained very well. Heck, most of the dialogue about this is in Greek, although the science-oriented stuff is very sketchily explained in English at the end. Benji being so well-known is never explained.
And a final problem--even though the first film was also as if directed by a dog, there were important human characters who had some depth to them. That's not the case here. Benji's owners are hardly in the film and the villains are almost completely non-developed the short amount of time that they're in the film.
So we're left primarily with Benji running and running through Greece. Through airports. Through the city streets. Just outside of the city near some ancient ruins. The scenery is nice and nicely shot, Benji does some neat trained actions, and insofar as Camp explores everyday dog stuff, the film is rewarding. Heck, the chased-by-villains scenes are pretty rewarding, too, even if plotwise, you don't know exactly what's going on or why it's going on.
This may be the worst Benji film (and I don't know yet, since I'm just rewatching them now after not seeing them for many years), and it may not be a great film for kids for a couple reasons, but it is still very mildly recommendable, especially for fans of Benji films and animal films in general, or for anyone who wants a glimpse of what Greece was like in 1977. It's also amusing to note how much Benji looks like Ron Wood.
On the positive side, returning writer/director Joe Camp stuck with something unusual that he did in the first film--he did the film from a dog's point of view. That doesn't mean that the film is in first person from Benji's perspective. Imagine more a dog directing. The content, kinds of shots and kinds of angles are mostly what a dog might do. It made the first film, with its very unusual structure, a success, and it more or less makes this one, which also has an unusual structure, well, not exactly a success, but it makes it "kinda work".
A couple factors bring the success rate down a bit. The story takes place in Greece this time--in a move that seems like maybe the crew and cast wanted a paid vacation in Greece--and a lot of dialogue is in Greek, without subtitles. Although interesting for adults, that's a particularly odd move for a family film, and the goal here is definitely to make a family film--Camp even announces this at the very beginning on screen.
Also odd for a family picture, most of the human-sourced interaction in the film features people attacking or chasing Benji--with chloroform, with meat cleavers, with fruit, with a big mean Doberman, and with guns. Not that it's graphic in any way, but the concept is there, and Benji's running is mostly precipitated by unfriendly people chasing him.
There is a complex plot involving scientific research, where they want to use Benji for nefarious goals, and where Benji seems to be world-famous, all of which is never explained very well. Heck, most of the dialogue about this is in Greek, although the science-oriented stuff is very sketchily explained in English at the end. Benji being so well-known is never explained.
And a final problem--even though the first film was also as if directed by a dog, there were important human characters who had some depth to them. That's not the case here. Benji's owners are hardly in the film and the villains are almost completely non-developed the short amount of time that they're in the film.
So we're left primarily with Benji running and running through Greece. Through airports. Through the city streets. Just outside of the city near some ancient ruins. The scenery is nice and nicely shot, Benji does some neat trained actions, and insofar as Camp explores everyday dog stuff, the film is rewarding. Heck, the chased-by-villains scenes are pretty rewarding, too, even if plotwise, you don't know exactly what's going on or why it's going on.
This may be the worst Benji film (and I don't know yet, since I'm just rewatching them now after not seeing them for many years), and it may not be a great film for kids for a couple reasons, but it is still very mildly recommendable, especially for fans of Benji films and animal films in general, or for anyone who wants a glimpse of what Greece was like in 1977. It's also amusing to note how much Benji looks like Ron Wood.
Really Bad
msonnenburg23 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
As many of these other reviews have stated that a lot of the footage of this film is Benji running, it's true and it is really boring. Who wants to watch a mutt run through the streets of Greece for an hour? My family watched this movie together and my brother, who is 8 and loves animals dearly, even admitted that the movie was terrible! I do not see how these other people would want to watch this movie. Kids will not like this movie because nothing happens! But at least it is not Borat or whatever . . .
Other people have said that this movie is kid friendly, wrong! At the end of this movie people are held at point blank range with all sorts of guns by mafia like hit-men.
This Movie is really bad!
Other people have said that this movie is kid friendly, wrong! At the end of this movie people are held at point blank range with all sorts of guns by mafia like hit-men.
This Movie is really bad!
Woof.
Hey_Sweden29 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
"Benjean", a.k.a. "Benji", carries on the tradition established by her father Higgins for the original family classic that bore the "Benji" name. This time, the adorable canine is going on a vacation in Greece with her young masters Cindy and Paul (Cynthia Smith and Allen Fiuzat) and their housekeeper Mary (Patsy Garrett). (The father is supposed to be joining them in a weeks' time.) However, a sly secret agent (guest star Ed Nelson) grabs Benjis' carrier before it can be loaded onto the plane, and tattoos a formula onto the dogs' paw. Then, everybody's plans go awry when Benji (and his female companion Tiffany) miss a connecting flight. Benji ends up scampering all over Greece as characters try to locate him and then hold on to him.
"For the Love of Benji" does travel far on the winning personality of the little canine star, who, like her dad, is able to express emotions quite well. The plot is a little more "grown up" than in the first film, with even higher stakes, and there are moments that may be unpleasant for younger viewers. (Like seeing Benji immobilized with chloroform.) The exotic locale does add a lot to the experience, and although the abundance of Greek dialogue is not subtitled, you'll find that it's not that necessary. You can still get the gist of what people are saying. The film is never more engaging than when it follows little Benjean and her many adventures. She makes a friend in a bigger dog (an obvious stray), who is endeared to her when she shares some purloined meat with them. And later, this dog character is paid off when a Doberman is pursuing Benjean and this other dog comes to the rescue.
The human cast is just fine, with Nelson never coming off as too intimidating for younger kids. However, they'll instinctively understand, seeing him through Benjis' eyes, that he's a bad man. Returning actors Garrett, Smith, and Fiuzat are appealing, but they are not a big part of the story this time around. Art Vasil, Peter Bowles, and Bridget Armstrong are solid in supporting roles.
Likeable, well-paced, action-packed family fare punctuated by one of those irresistibly cute, precious wrap-ups certain to have viewers sobbing into their hankies.
Followed by "Oh, Heavenly Dog!" in 1980.
Seven out of 10.
"For the Love of Benji" does travel far on the winning personality of the little canine star, who, like her dad, is able to express emotions quite well. The plot is a little more "grown up" than in the first film, with even higher stakes, and there are moments that may be unpleasant for younger viewers. (Like seeing Benji immobilized with chloroform.) The exotic locale does add a lot to the experience, and although the abundance of Greek dialogue is not subtitled, you'll find that it's not that necessary. You can still get the gist of what people are saying. The film is never more engaging than when it follows little Benjean and her many adventures. She makes a friend in a bigger dog (an obvious stray), who is endeared to her when she shares some purloined meat with them. And later, this dog character is paid off when a Doberman is pursuing Benjean and this other dog comes to the rescue.
The human cast is just fine, with Nelson never coming off as too intimidating for younger kids. However, they'll instinctively understand, seeing him through Benjis' eyes, that he's a bad man. Returning actors Garrett, Smith, and Fiuzat are appealing, but they are not a big part of the story this time around. Art Vasil, Peter Bowles, and Bridget Armstrong are solid in supporting roles.
Likeable, well-paced, action-packed family fare punctuated by one of those irresistibly cute, precious wrap-ups certain to have viewers sobbing into their hankies.
Followed by "Oh, Heavenly Dog!" in 1980.
Seven out of 10.
Awful movie
bobojiggler25 July 2009
I checked out the DVD at my library because I liked Benji, but I hated this film. The background noise is way louder than it should have been. The background noise was so loud that it was louder than the people talking. A lot of the movie is people talking in Greek without any subtitles. The characters were so boring and the background noise so loud that I didn't understand the plot. I don't know what the point of the tattoo on Benji's paw is and I don't know who the British man and woman are. The plot was boring also. Most of what I saw was Benji exploring the city, stealing food, and getting to know a dog. This is the only dog movie that I have seen that I don't like.
With my Dad.
Kelsey Jefferson3 January 2018
Cute, Heartwarming Benji!
campo_smokie-citrus23 November 2015
We enjoyed this sweet little movie very much. We had not seen the first film so this was our introduction to the Benji saga. It's a typical plot, however unlikely, about spies using Benji to smuggle secrets and the efforts of all concerned to capture him, all taking place in the streets and hillsides of Athens, Greece. Benji is utterly charming. It is a joy to watch him as he makes his rounds and does what needs to be done. Yes, he runs a lot, and very fast for a small dog. What heart Benji has! A true family movie. Benji is adorable in this film. If you like dogs or animal movies and are still a bit young at heart you will enjoy this. As a result of watching "For The Love Of Benji" we will definitely check out the original "Benji" movie, which was a sensation back in the 1970s.
Benji is an evil beast
filmflakfluke10 July 2005
Gore Vidal's "For The Love Of Benji" takes us on what should have been an energetic romp through the eyes of a lovable cocker spaniel with the heart of a freeze-dried artichoke. Instead, what we get is a thinly-disguised rant on the oppression visited upon our four-legged friends by corrupt politicians, corporate CEOs, and alien sex predators. PETA take note! Not since "Myra Breckenridge" has Raquel Welch been so radiant and yet so absent from the screen. Interestingly enough, Tom Cruise does NOT appear in this film either. The film score, however, is reminiscent of "Ears Wide Shut", the film Kubrick would have made if cameras had been unavailable.
I miss movies like that.
viclulucat1 July 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This film is perfect! It has great actors! The dogs are amazing! Very well trained! The music "I feel love" is sweet and catching! I miss movies like that, innocent films with an identifiable contrast between right and wrong. It is an honest film and I show to my family without worries. I highly recommend it to all lovers of good movies! I believe this is a timeless film and that new generations will enjoy too! Make no mistake, there are many movies with animals that are silly, but here this is not the case! This is a fun and exciting movie with very well done script, great dialogues and a perfectionist intricacy in production!
Wholesome Family yet strangely made film
paiello-4431910 September 2020
For the love of Benji is a pretty good yet uneven, strange movie with a lot of action scenes of Benji out running trouble. He's a very bright and cute dog and easy to cheer for. It really was never clear to the audience what exactly was implanted in his paw are exactly who the antagonists were?
It was very strange that they filmed the movie in Greece with no one speaking English? I'm not sure why on earth they would do that? Little children will love Benji and adults will most likely say how much time is left? Still, fairly wholesome family entertainment.
Yet another bad sequel
gregorycanfield31 May 2021
For openers, it's not the same dog from the first film. That, however, is the least of what's wrong here. The story takes place in Greece, for reasons that weren't clear to me. You have characters speaking (and often yelling) in Greek, and no subtitles. If we don't need to know what's being said, why set the story in a foreign country? Most of the movie is Benji wandering around the streets. He seems to have forgotten his cute female companion, and is just trying to steal food. The story has no juice. The movie is populated with unfamiliar and unappealing characters. The title also doesn't really fit the film, except on one level. The "love of Benji" is the only reason you could have to sit through this inferior sequel. Unless you enjoy watching and listening to stupid-looking idiots yelling at each other, in Greek.
Brings a tear to the eye
Op_Prime2 January 2000
What a great movie. No action, no swearing, no gore, just a wonderful family movie with that lovable dog, Benji. The story seems unlikely and impossible, but who cares? I don't. It makes you appreciate whatever pet you have. Wheter it be a dog, a cat, a bird, a fish, etc. Like other Benji movies, his one is fun to watch and should be seen with the family, including the family pet. Thumbs up!
Benji does Greece
safenoe21 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I remember seeing For the Love of Benji back in the late 1970s on television, and I enjoyed it very much, with Benji exploring the beautiful city of Athens all on his own, and pretty much standing up for himself. I've been to Greece a couple of times, and it's great that Benji got to explore life outside of America, and also get amidst international espionage at the same time.
Anyway, I'd love to have a sequel, like Benji in Italy, Benji in New Zealand, Benji in Canada, Benji in Morocco, Benji in Germany, Benji in Japan, Benji in Iceland, Benji in Denmark, Benji in Guyana, Benji in Panama, Benji in Scotland.
Anyway, I'd love to have a sequel, like Benji in Italy, Benji in New Zealand, Benji in Canada, Benji in Morocco, Benji in Germany, Benji in Japan, Benji in Iceland, Benji in Denmark, Benji in Guyana, Benji in Panama, Benji in Scotland.
The little tramp mutt becomes a hero again! Liked better than "Benji".
estherwalker-347107 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
For most of the film, Benji(actually Benjean) impressed me as a dog version of Charlie Chaplin's 'little tramp' character: just trying to survive in a world that is mostly hostile or indifferent to him, but occasionally encountering a person or dog that is kind to him. It even often plays rather like a silent film, when silent lost Benji is strolling or running for his life through the streets of Athens, Greece. Sometimes Greek music is played in the background while Benji is on the move.
In contrast to some reviewers, I found this film much more interesting than the prior "Benji", which I found too repetitive and bland, except for the kidnapping portion. However, I do prefer the dog actor in this prior film. Unlike in "Benji", here, Benji is lost and in trouble most of the time, which I find more interesting. I will admit that the screenplay is full of contrivances and unlikely coincidences. In addition to Benji's frequent misadventures, there is an international conspiracy that involves Benji, woven in. This ultimately involves the planned stealing of a scientist's supposed formula for converting one barrel of oil into 10 barrels! Don't ask me why they couldn't think up a much more believable invention?! How dumb did they think the audience is?
I wish it had been made clear what the relationship was between imposter schemer Dietrich, and the mysterious British couple of Ron and Elizabeth. Clearly, both wanted to capture Benji for some important reason. We know why Dietrich wanted to, but the motive for the only seldom-seen British couple is not apparent. From their interaction on the yacht, clearly they knew each other, but seemed unfriendly toward each other. Dietrich wasn't above knocking out Ron with the butt of his pistol. Speaking of pistols, I find it curios that Dietrich gave his German luger to Mary, and took the smaller pistol from the unconscious US secret agent Stelios? Speaking of Mary, the same actors who played Mary, Paul and Cindy in "Benji" have returned. Of course, the kids are now much bigger, as early teens.
My most memorable scene: Seeing Benji running down the street carrying the long string of sausages he stole, with the butcher and customer in hot pursuit. Eventually, the latter two gave up, then had a good laugh at the cunningness of the pooch. Benji took the sausages to his 'hideout', among an ancient ruins, where he shared them with his previous acquaintance: a large dog that also hid out there. This would pay dividends when Benji returned, having been chased in a marathon run by a vicious Doberman. His big dog friend stood in front of Benji, and the Doberman backed off.
Incidentally, Benji's 'girlfriend' in "Benji", is present, but barely in the film, having missed all Benji's exciting adventures. However, at the end, we see that she presented Benji with a litter of pups.
In contrast to some reviewers, I found this film much more interesting than the prior "Benji", which I found too repetitive and bland, except for the kidnapping portion. However, I do prefer the dog actor in this prior film. Unlike in "Benji", here, Benji is lost and in trouble most of the time, which I find more interesting. I will admit that the screenplay is full of contrivances and unlikely coincidences. In addition to Benji's frequent misadventures, there is an international conspiracy that involves Benji, woven in. This ultimately involves the planned stealing of a scientist's supposed formula for converting one barrel of oil into 10 barrels! Don't ask me why they couldn't think up a much more believable invention?! How dumb did they think the audience is?
I wish it had been made clear what the relationship was between imposter schemer Dietrich, and the mysterious British couple of Ron and Elizabeth. Clearly, both wanted to capture Benji for some important reason. We know why Dietrich wanted to, but the motive for the only seldom-seen British couple is not apparent. From their interaction on the yacht, clearly they knew each other, but seemed unfriendly toward each other. Dietrich wasn't above knocking out Ron with the butt of his pistol. Speaking of pistols, I find it curios that Dietrich gave his German luger to Mary, and took the smaller pistol from the unconscious US secret agent Stelios? Speaking of Mary, the same actors who played Mary, Paul and Cindy in "Benji" have returned. Of course, the kids are now much bigger, as early teens.
My most memorable scene: Seeing Benji running down the street carrying the long string of sausages he stole, with the butcher and customer in hot pursuit. Eventually, the latter two gave up, then had a good laugh at the cunningness of the pooch. Benji took the sausages to his 'hideout', among an ancient ruins, where he shared them with his previous acquaintance: a large dog that also hid out there. This would pay dividends when Benji returned, having been chased in a marathon run by a vicious Doberman. His big dog friend stood in front of Benji, and the Doberman backed off.
Incidentally, Benji's 'girlfriend' in "Benji", is present, but barely in the film, having missed all Benji's exciting adventures. However, at the end, we see that she presented Benji with a litter of pups.
Love it, from beginning to end
laciefrazee15 July 2004
This movie is amazing, I really love it. But I have to admit the first Benji is the best because it was so original and sad and has such a great story line to it, but the second one is not far behind it's first. This is the kind of movie, just like the first Benji, that makes you think of things, it makes you stop and forget about all your worries and cares, it lets you just watch the dog and live his life in the movie. I had a tear run down my face when the part came on, when Benji saves Cindy, and those flashbacks he's had. This dog had a real talent in the movies, the way he showed his emotions and just the way he is. This movie leaves a big impacted on you once you see it, it's called the spirit on Benji.
Good, but not as good as the first one
megawhoosits27 August 2003
This movie uses the same plot devices and cinematography as the first one, but it has a lot of long, pointless sequences that make it drag on. The first one had a lot of action/reaction on the part of the dog, in part because the dog was more aware of what was going on. In this one, Benji is part of an intricate plot that not even the audience understands until the end. Obviously Benji acts in ways natural to a dog in a strange place, but he doesn't get much chance for heroics until the very end. All in all, I still like this film, but I just don't like it as much as the original.
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