DVD “Air Bud: Golden Receiver,” a Review

Just released on DVD in time for Super Bowl hype, Buddy, the basketball playing Golden Retriever phenom, discovers a talent for football. The DVD also includes a gold plated referee’s whistle and a Sports Channel play-by-play by The Buddies.

To say that a Disney movie made for kids is predictable is to say the ocean is wet. And for an adult to criticize predictability in a kids’ movie is unfair. What may be predictable for an adult because we have seen so many movies can be fresh and funny for a child.

Besides that, children love the familiar when it comes to entertainment as any parent knows who has had to read the same stories or watch the same videos over and over.

In this movie Buddy discovers football when his junior high age owner, Kevin, reluctantly becomes the new quarterback of a loser team, the Timberwolves. The team turns around when Buddy learns to catch a football like a Frisbee and run for the end zone.

Fitted out in a football helmet (without a facemask) and jersey (with shoulder pads) Buddy is able to catch Kevin's passes and race to touchdown after touchdown, putting the Timberwolves on their way to the state championship.

Of course villains have to be in kids’ movies and these two are reminiscent of Boris and Natasha from the old "Rocky and Bullwinkle” shows. When they capture Buddy to take him back to their Russian circus, it looks like he will miss playing in the Big Game.

A subplot involves Kevin’s relationship with the cool veterinarian who becomes an uncool rival when he proposes to Kevin’s widowed mother.

Damon, my ten-year-old fellow movie critic, gave the movie an 8 out of 10. While younger children won’t mind, at ten the reality of allowing a Golden Retriever to be a wide receiver in a school sanctioned league creeps in. And some of the slapstick was a little overdone. It isn’t that Damon has reached a great level of sophistication. He roared when “FISH GUTS” poured down on Boris and Natasha. Well, OK, I did too.

A safe and most entertaining G rated movie for children and adults who enjoy being with children, “Air Bud, Golden Receiver” is now in stores.

The DVD was provided by the distributor for our independent review.

Comments

[jackie]

i'll pass.

[Khyra]

Did someone paw Timberwolves?

[Feline Heart Health]

catching DvD for kids...thanks...

[Poodle fan]

I prefer poodles, they are more clever.

[Col]

I can easily see where kids would love this movie... and dream of one day too having a wonderful yeller dog that can be the best catcher, ever. :-)

[Air receiver manufacturer]

really kids will love this....and adult too