UNDERDOG Film Review - 20/1/08

Disney grabs the film rights to this ancient cartoon and transfers it to live action. Horribly likable in a caustic and generally sarcastic tone this flits from pure genius to drivel that is so bad it's good in a laughable way. Taking the Michael from the get-go this satire of Superheroes (Particularly in this current state of affairs with studios chucking wadfuls of cash at anything from a game/comic in a desperate hope of a big bucks $$$$ return) continues with the one-liners and wisecracks from beginning to end. A duff Police dog loses his job and ends up at the local pound. Here an evil scientist performs experiments and actually transforms the dog into a superhero with powers by accident. Underdog is born and flies badly from one CGI Effect screen to another righting wrongs as he goes. Cue evil scientist & stupid henchman wanting to get dog back and kidnapping his new human owners to force him to give himself up. Then the whole schmaltzy shebang ends up happily ever after! (Somewhat?)