Amazon.co.uk Review
Adolescence is an emotionally stormy time for kids, but it's especially so for Shane (Josh Hutcherson), a teenager being raised by single firefighter father Connor (Bruce Greenwood). Add the recent death of Shane's fire-captain uncle (Connor's brother) in the line of duty and the pending closure of their neighbourhood "Dogpatch" fire station, and both Shane's propensity for skipping school and brooding in his room and his father's obsession with work seem easy to explain. When a mutt called Dewey, really a very spoiled superstar dog named Rexxx who's been presumed dead after a parachuting stunt went wrong, turns up in a burning building and is rescued by the Dogpatch crew, Connor puts Shane in charge of caring for the dog and finding its owner.
Shane and Dewey clash immediately and Shane is extremely resentful toward both the dog and his father. However, Dewey's special talents (like skateboarding and trampoline jumping), combined with his good fire-fighting instincts, soon win the admiration and affection of Shane and the entire Dogpatch crew. A series of mysterious fires really causes Shane and Connor to begin to communicate and reconnect, but those fires also threaten their very lives. At the same time, Dewey's former owner discovers Dewey's true identity and demands the return of his superstar companion. An engaging dog story that explores the difficulties of growing up and dealing with personal tragedy,
Firehouse Dog is a fun family film that's rated PG due to some mildly crude humour, language, and action peril.
--Tami Horiuchi
Synopsis
In director Todd Holland's family film FIREHOUSE DOG, Hollywood's top canine star, Rexxx (played by a number of Irish terriers), is forced out of his pampered lifestyle when an accident leaves him far from home and presumed dead. Taken in by Shane (Josh Hutcherson), the son of a firehouse captain (Bruce Greenwood), Rex becomes the struggling fire department's unlikely mascot, and is gradually forced to give up his snooty behaviour while embracing the selfless and daring duties involved in firefighting. And as the stubborn Shane forges a bond with Rexxx, he also begins to heal the rift with his sullen, hard-working father.
Helmed by TV comedy vet Holland, FIREHOUSE DOG mixes animal-driven action and laughs with a poignant father/son storyline. And though the lead mutt(s), Hutcherson (star of '07's BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA), and seasoned actor Greenwood are all fine in their roles, the film is bolstered by an excellent supporting cast that includes Bree Turner, Dash Mihok, Steven Culp, Bill Nunn, and Mayte Garcia (Prince’s former wife). Ideal for firefighting enthusiasts, dog lovers, and tween viewers, FIREHOUSE DOG doesn't reinvent the canine-centric movie, but it's an entertaining instalment in the subgenre that stands (on four legs) on par with AIR BUD and BEETHOVEN.
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