The Shaggy Dog (DVD, 2006)

What a great family film. I got this for my son. I thought here we go another same type story disney film. Wrong... Tim Allen is great, better tahn anything he has done before. Its a great movie and very funny.
Directed by Brian Robbins (VARSITY BLUES, THE PERFECT SCORE), this updated spin on THE SHAGGY DOG and THE SHAGGY D.A. features Tim Allen as Dave Douglas, a Deputy District Attorney who spends way too much time at the office and way too little time with his family. His son, Joe (Spencer Breslin), feels completely misunderstood, and his wife, Rachel (Kristin Davis), feels like a single parent. To make matters worse, his teenage daughter, Carly (Zena Gray), considers Douglas the enemy because he is representing a pharmaceutical company, Grant and Strickland, in their case against her social studies teacher, who is accused of burning down their lab to protest animal testing. Douglas’ life changes in an instant when animal-loving Carly brings home a friendly shaggy dog that bites the dog-disliking D.A. What Douglas doesn’t know is that the dog has a secret. This Tibetan wonder dog is 300 years old, as smart as a human, and as playful as a pup. Soon, Douglas is exhibiting canine tendencies himself - a heightened sense of smell, a tendency to growl at opposing counsel in court, and an overwhelming urge to defend his front yard. His full transformation to a dog allows him rare insight into what his family really thinks and feels, and gives Douglas the opportunity to decide what is truly important. To further complicate matters, Grant and Strickland – the very company Douglas is representing – are certain that the dog that bit him holds the secret to the Fountain of Youth, and are determined to learn what it is. Robert Downey, Jr. stars as Dr. Kozak, Grant and Strickland’s evil mastermind, and Philip Baker Hall plays head honcho Strickland. Jane Curtin and Danny Glover are also featured. Featuring a heart-warming story, the trademark Jim Henson wit, and beautiful songs, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas originally aired as an HBO special. The story is a spin on the classic "Gift of the Magi," with the impoverished Emmet and his Ma each making a sacrifice in the hopes that it will help them win the yearly talent show, and enough money to buy the other a Christmas gift. Purists, take note: For reasons that remain unclear, the VHS and DVD releases of Emmet Otter contain minor but noticible edits compared to the 1977 HBO version.

I nrecent years, Disney has attempted to "re-imagine" some of their old films. While I was impressed by "Freaky Friday" (thanks mostly to the performances of Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis), Disney's attempt to makeover "The Shaggy Dog" was a half-hearted effort that felt more like their were attempting to find a use for Tim Allen.

The plot of the film remains mildly related to the classic 1959 film. Tim Allen stars as Dave Douglas, a succesful lawyer who is trying to impress his boss and be the next district attorney. While he is a success in the courtroom, Dave's passion for his job causes him to neglect his family. His daughter is a champion of animal rights, which puts her into conflict with her father who is defending an animal testing lab. His wife (played Kristian Davis) is tired of taking second place to Dave's job and his son would rather star in a musical than be the football star who father wishes he was. Complicating this fact, Dave is bit by a mystical dog and begins to turn into a shaggy sheep dog at the most in appropraite times.

I won't ramble on about the plot or performances because there is nothing of note here. I went into the film with low expectations and I was not disappointed. Young children may find this film entertaining, especially if they love animals. However, this film is only slightly better than Disney's "The Wild".

If you are given a choice, leave this film in the pound.

Every Saturday and Sunday, is family night at the Smith Home, so we will either rent a Movie or go out to see a movie that we all agree on. The Shaggy Dog came out in 2006 at a nearby theater, and we all went to see it. My Daughter loved it so well that I had to purchase this movie. I just happen to see this movie on DVD for sale on ebay. I purchased this movie for a family night of fun and laughs. Tim Allen is great as the D.A. who was bitten by the dog, that transformed him into a Shaggy Dog, and so the story goes. I'm going to purchase the original Shaggy Dog which came out sometime in the 1960's produced by Walt Disney, and see if my daughter will like the original as well.

Bought this DVD for my daughter; we were going to rent it but since our family loves dogs and liked the original Disney Shaggy Dog movie, decided to buy it for our daughter as a gift.

Movie was GREAT- Tim Allen was the perfect one to play The Shaggy Dog.

This is a wonderful family movie with lots of laughs!

I've actually wanted to see this movie since the day it came out but have never gotten the chance to. Years later, my sister tells me that it's really good and that I should see it. I bought it off of eBay about a week ago, and without a doubt, it is a very fun movie to watch. The meaning of family, believing, and the cuteness of animals are all blend into this wonderful family film. I like it because I personally love animals and seeing them in films make the films even better. It is also very touching to see how a man who didn't care about his family and promises start to realize how important they actually are. It has the meanings as well as the laughs.