Underdog is the newest breed of TV-shows-turned-movies (Alvin and the Chipmunks is coming soon), and it succeeds far more than it has any right to. Jason Lee seems to have an amazing amount of fun, and the other cast members look like they're having a blast. Underdog ends up being loads of fun, especially for a little children's movie. It has everything to satisfy the youngsters, and it is full of grown-up jokes and humor; it's short and sweet, and never drags itself out to much, which seems to be the case with other films in the genre (Garfield: The Movie, anyone?) Underdog is directed by Frederik Du Chau, who also directed the forgettable and dull Racing Stripes and the underrated animated flick, Quest for Camelot.
After seemingly failing at everything, a beagle named Shoeshine obtains super powers after a lab accident. He befriends a young boy, who helps him come up with a secret identity, and the dog eventually becomes the superhero Underdog. As Shoeshine learns about his new powers and accepts his abilities, he must face Dr. Barsinister and his evil henchman, Cad, to save the town after they become obsessed with obtaining his DNA.
The acting and the quirky humor are the best parts about the film, although some of the jokes don't really stick. There are several fun gags and characters scattered throughout the film, although Underdog himself clearly takes center stage. The special effects were also superb, and the voice acting (and normal acting) is perfect. While it does have some similarities to many other films in the genre, it does things in such a fashion that everything seems new again! Overall, Underdog was a very cute and enjoyable movie. It won't be winning awards or anything, but it was a very fun summer movie that kids and adults will like. My expectations were pretty low, but the movie surprised me with its smooth direction, a great cast, and pretty good story. While it wasn't as fleshed-out as it could have been, they might have done this intentionally. I think I smell a sequel in the near future, and I would welcome it with it open arms! This premise showed a lot of promise, and hopefully the sequel could improve upon the original, although it is great as it is. Underdog was a great family film, although far from being perfect. 7/10
After seemingly failing at everything, a beagle named Shoeshine obtains super powers after a lab accident. He befriends a young boy, who helps him come up with a secret identity, and the dog eventually becomes the superhero Underdog. As Shoeshine learns about his new powers and accepts his abilities, he must face Dr. Barsinister and his evil henchman, Cad, to save the town after they become obsessed with obtaining his DNA.
The acting and the quirky humor are the best parts about the film, although some of the jokes don't really stick. There are several fun gags and characters scattered throughout the film, although Underdog himself clearly takes center stage. The special effects were also superb, and the voice acting (and normal acting) is perfect. While it does have some similarities to many other films in the genre, it does things in such a fashion that everything seems new again! Overall, Underdog was a very cute and enjoyable movie. It won't be winning awards or anything, but it was a very fun summer movie that kids and adults will like. My expectations were pretty low, but the movie surprised me with its smooth direction, a great cast, and pretty good story. While it wasn't as fleshed-out as it could have been, they might have done this intentionally. I think I smell a sequel in the near future, and I would welcome it with it open arms! This premise showed a lot of promise, and hopefully the sequel could improve upon the original, although it is great as it is. Underdog was a great family film, although far from being perfect. 7/10