The Shaggy Dog (2006)

Directed by: Brian Robbins | 98 minutes | comedy, family, fantasy | Actors: Tim Allen, Kristin Davis, Zena Grey, Spencer Breslin, Danny Glover, Robert Downey Jr., Joshua Leonard, Shawn Pyfrom, Bess Wohl, Jarrad Paul, Annabelle Gurwitch, Jane Curtin, Philip Baker Hall, Joel Moore, Jeanette Brox, Kevin Cooney, Rhea Seehorn, Cole

Films with animals in a prominent role often do well as family films, as evidenced by the large number of films of this type that have already appeared in the past. Moreover, if such films also come from the famous Walt Disney stable, they usually get an extra qualitative dimension. In the case of ‘The Shaggy Dog’, this general maxim also applies to a large extent. The story is, of course (given the main target audience) not too complicated and partly based on the film ‘The Shaggy DA’ from 1976, in which a lawyer who preys on the position of Public Prosecutor through an age-old spell also regularly turns into a dog. .

In this film, however, the strange transformation is caused by a genetic experiment gone wrong in an animal laboratory. From a storytelling point of view, this film largely follows paths previously traveled. The story develops fairly predictably, there are no too surprising twists and turns and the standard ingredients that come back in most family films produced by the Disney company are also not missing in ‘The Shaggy Dog’. Despite some sugary moments, it is fortunately the humor that predominates in this film.

Visually, the film looks nice. The theme of genetic animal testing has apparently inspired the makers, with the result that a colorful procession of strange creatures (including a snake with a fluffy tail, a bulldog with a frog’s body and a barking monkey) passes the viewer’s eye. The animations look good, as we are used to from Disney, although some action scenes could have been a little better.

Acting is most famous for Tim Allen. The role of crazy pelvic pulverizer in this production is made for him and especially the street chase scenes and the scenes in the court (in which he somewhat reminds of Jim Carrey in ‘Liar, Liar’) really make you laugh. Also for Robert Downey Jr. stars as the slippery villain Dr. Cossack laid aside. The rest of the cast mainly has a supporting role and rarely really comes to the fore, although logically there is a fairly important role for the children of Dave Douglas. All in all ‘The Shaggy Dog’ lacks the quality to become a real classic within its own genre, but it is a nice family film that will appeal to younger viewers in particular.