Snow Dogs

“Snow Dogs” is typical Disney at its most meager. It is true to the heart, it involves some funny moments, personal achievements, a comedic character, a “limited to hugs” romantic interest and some cute doggies. But even though the ingredients seem to be in the right place, its place of timing isn’t. The problem is that the movie soo belongs in Disney’s old “fun movies era” of the sixties that I did not help but think that I have been thrown into a world that is somewhat dated. You know what I’m talking about; The main sympathetic guy gets a challenge, nobody believes in him at first but he doesn’t quit and even though he encounters some problems in the way, he finally triumphs over the face of evil and in the end, everybody (and by that, I mean every-friggin-body) end up happy. In a time when such quirky and somewhat more hard-hitting Disney film like “Monsters Inc.” and “Remember the Titans” roamed the screens, “Snow Dogs” looks nothing more than a Saturday morning happy hour TV movie. It is very entertaining, has an unsophisticated charm about it but it is also ultimately forgettable.

Directing: Brian Levant from “The Flinstones” fame handles this movie as an altogether Disneyfest that is somehow strapped on to auto pilot. It moves along without a single sense of originality but also manages to keep up to theatrical contortions with some really good production design and some of the usual heart-warming music. But there’s one thing that I strongly disliked about its technicality and that involves the usage of computer generated effects on the dogs to improve on their facial expressions. This is not a fantasy movie like “Cats and Dogs” or “Dr. Dolittle” where the animals can talk so not only do these effects disillusioned me from the movie, it also didn’t fit into the sensory drive of it.

Acting/Character: The great comedic actor Cuba Gooding Jr. who I think is one of the most talented actors around, plays the “fish-out-of-water” dentist who learns that he has inherited a cabin full of sleigh dogs in Alaska from his long lost mother with a great sense of fun and manages to transcribe his sense of warmth through the screen which helps to mend through some of the narratively inane parts of the script. Other than Cuba, James Coburn gives an all-out, hard-shelled performance as Cuba’s father who isn’t quite up to the idea of accepting him and Joanna Bacalso, who plays Cuba’s love interest seems like a very cute and insightful person who I would like to see more of in the future (Preferably, in more uncondescending roles).

The Movie: Aside all the professional criticism, “Snow Dogs” is basically a fun-filled cute little movie which will probably entice the kiddies as well as adequately entertaining the adults. In a time when imaginatively inept and incredibly out-of-content outings like “Pokemon” and “The Powerpuff Girls” are out there to poison the young minds into a form of vegetation, this movie would be choice of selection. But remember, better selections are also available.

Starring: Cuba Gooding jr., James Coburn, Sisqo, Nichelle Nichols, M. Emmet Walsh, Graham Greene, Joanna Bacalso...

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