Underdog Review

Underdog


Release Date: 20th September 2007 - Australia


Production Companies
Walt Disney Pictures (presents)
Have No Fear Productions
Maverick Film Company
Classic Media (in association with)
Spyglass Entertainment (in association with)

Distribution
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia


Genre: Family/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 82 minutes


Budget: $25,000,000

Box Office Gross: $65,270,477 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
An ordinary beagle finds

himself endowed with

unimaginable powers

and the ability to speak

when he is involved in

an accident in the

mysterious laboratory of

mad scientist Dr. Simon

Barsinister. Outfitted with

an adorable costume,
Underdog swears to

protect the imperilled

citizens of Capitol City,

especially one beautiful

spaniel called Polly

Purebred. When the evil

Barsinister and his

overgrown henchman Cad

hatch a diabolical scheme

that may threaten to

destroy Capitol City,

Underdog is the only one

who can save the day.

Cast
Jason Lee - Underdog (Voice)
Peter Dinklage - Dr. Simon Barsinister
James Belushi - Dan Unger

Patrick Warburton - Cad

Alex Neuberger - Jack 
Taylor Momsen - Molly
John Slattery - Mayor
Amy Adams - Polly (Voice)
Brad Garrett - Riff Raff (Voice)

Samantha Bee - Principal

Susie Castillo - Diana Flores

Timothy Crowe - Police Chief

Frank Ridley - Police Sergeant

John DiMaggio - Bulldog/

Supershep (Voice)

Phil Morris - Supershep (Voice)

Cam Clarke - Supershep/

Little Brown Dog (Voice)

Michael Massese - Supershep (Voice)
Jay Leno - Himself (Cameo)

Jess Harnell - Astronaut (Voice)

Crew

Director - Frederik De Chau
Based on the Television Series - W. Watts Biggers (Uncredited)
Story/Screenplay - Adam Rifkin, Joe Piscatella and Craig A. Williams

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - Todd Arnow

Executive Producers - Eric Ellenbogen

and Bob Higgins

Producers - Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum,

Jonathan Glickman and Jay Polstein
Co-Producers - Rebekah Rudd and Erin Stam

Production Designer - Garreth Stover

Art Director - James Truesdale

Set Decorator - Maggie Martin

Property Master - David Gulick

Costume Designer - Gary Jones

Director of Photography - David Eggby

Aerial Director of Photography - Hans Bjerno

Location Manager - Adam McCarthy

Unit Production Manager: Second Unit -

R.J. Mino

First Assistant Director - Phillip A. Patterson

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator - Bob Brown

Animal Coordinator - Boone Harr

Head Animal Trainer - William S. Grisco

Animal Trainers - James Dew, Tracy Kelly,

Shawn Weber, Linda Rowe, Joe McCarter,

Jackie Kaptan and David Allsberry

Special Effects Coordinator - Paul J. Lombardi

Supervisors: K.N.B. EFX Group - Greg Nicotero

and Howard Berger

Visual Effects Supervisor - Hoyt Yeatman

Visual Effects Supervisor: Framestore CFC -

Robert Duncan

Visual Effects Supervisor: Cinesite - Ben Shepherd

Visual Effects Supervisor: Cinesite, City -

Matt Johnson

Visual Effects Supervisor: Digiscope - Mark Dornfeld

CG Supervisor: Framestore CFC - Michael Mulholland
Animation Supervisor: Framestore CFC -

Kevin Spruce

Animation Supervisor: Cinesite - Alexander Williams

Editor - Tom Finan

Sound Design & Supervising Sound Editor -

Robert L. Sephton

ADR Supervisor - Jessica Gallavan

Re-Recording Mixers - Terry Porter

and Dean A. Zupancic

Foley Artists - Dawn Fintor and

Alicia Stevenson

Music - Randy Edelman


Review

You may be too young to recognise the old cartoon series UNDERDOG, which hardcore purist fans may have grown up with within the sixties. I have only experienced the film iteration of UNDERDOG when Disney released it in 2007. It was before 2012 when DreamWorks bought Classic Media, which owns the original 60s TV show. The show no longer airs, but DreamWorks, now that they own the rights, may reinvent the character in a movie that I hoped is better than this one. It became unnoticeable at the box office, possibly due to competition with few other film adaptations. Most likely, the feature gets criticised for having recycled material and barely resembling the classic cartoon. It's no wonder the director Frederik De Chau has stripped all privileges of what made the original very nostalgic. Here's what Disney should do: not turn UNDERDOG into a live-action feature. And do not get too involved in competing with Alvin and the Chipmunks or Michael Bay's non-kiddie action hunk of Transformers.

The humour is flat and cheesy, which could have been handled better except for a few giggles. Jason Lee's voice of Underdog is tolerable, though he is trying to be witty to be that power-pampered pup we all know and love. I believe Jason is better to be in Alvin and the Chipmunks as this role is beyond his talents. Considering his short stature, Peter Dinklage is lucky to portray the evil mad scientist. Peter proves to be a worthy, talented actor in the face of a poorly written script.

Unfortunately, as I watched this movie the whole time, I was waiting for it to finish as it lacked certain qualities, like an intriguing plot. It is an instantly forgettable cartoon movie adaptation that would only appeal to young children. It would be only something that I would watch once, and I suggest you direct your attention to something more engaging than this.

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average

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