underdog Tagged Articles at Cinematical

I grew up reading Charlotte's Web and watching Mister Ed and the Francis (the Talking Mule, with Donald O'Connor) movies on TV, so I have a very warm spot in my heart for talking animals. They can inspire wondrous flights of fantasy, lift the spirits with good-natured humor, and lead to a deep and abiding respect for nature and the environment.

Of course, watching the Yogi Bear cartoons once made me think I could take on a black bear foraging for food at our family's camping site in Yellowstone National Park -- I was six years old and had to be physically restrained -- so I can see the down side as well. Still, dozens of animated films have made it abundantly clear that it's possible to lend human voices to the animal kingdom without dumbing the material down to idiocy and, when done right (Babe, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, Joe's Apartment), live-action talking animals also deserve to be a treasured part of our cinematic heritage.

But not these. Here are seven (mostly) live-action movies featuring talking animals that attack our sense of what makes a movie good.

7. Underdog (2007)

When Hollywood screws around with my cherished childhood memories, I strain to give them the benefit of the doubt. There's no excuse, though, for this abomination of a movie. I realize that Wally Cox's dweeby voice would be impossible for someone else to replicate, but Jason Lee? Really?! A huge chunk of the original cartoon's charm was the very simple (cheap) animation, which relied upon the writers to come up with witty things for the actors to say. None of that was transplanted to the live-action movie and I can't imagine any children looking back fondly upon this version of Underdog in the future.

Beginning with the summer of Surf Ninjas and concluding with last year's Underdog, Vulture has compiled a list arguing that August movies generally blow. Sifting through the titles from the past fifteen years, it's hard to ignore their point. If Bushwhacked, Spawn and The Thirteenth Warrior don't convince you, how about Hollow Man? The Adventures of Pluto Nash? Anacondas?

August usually means a lot to America. It's big for vacationers. The sun comes out and everyone gets one last hurrah before the summer recedes for the year. So why would studios dump their worst movies at this time? Maybe it's just a coincidence, but either way, it's hard to say whether or not this August will break the trend. Swing Vote seems to confirm Vulture's dire prediction, but Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder will surely find some appreciative audiences. And we all know The Dark Knight will continue to make bank. However, before you start thinking that a turnaround is on the way, consider the third Mummy movie -- and, once again, Vulture might have something here: Variety has called it "cheeseball stuff." Could that be the codeword for "typical August movie"? It would seem so.

Here's a good question: How many times have you been out renting a movie with your significant other when a fight between the two of you over which movie to rent breaks out? Okay, maybe not a full-on fight, but more like one of those annoying arguments ... in public? Over at The Movie Blog, they have up a pretty funny post called How To (And Not To) Pick A DVD With Your Girlfriend. Of course, the title kinda leaves out boyfriends, husbands and wives -- but that's not the point. The point is that this has become one of the hardest tasks for a couple -- and if you've never argued with your significant other over a rental choice, then congrats: You're in the perfect relationship!

I can't even count the number of times I've been in Blockbuster with my wife (used to be girlfriend), and she'd pick up a movie like Underdog (simply because she wanted to see how our dog would react to the other dogs talking), and I'd sort of grumble back a "Really? Do we have to get that?" Then, most (if not all) of the time, she'd say something like, "Ugh -- you think you know everything because you write for a stupid movie site. Why can't I ever pick something!?" People look, the guy putting away movies smiles all-knowingly and I wind up watching Underdog while she holds our dog's head toward the screen, whispering "Who's that doggie? Is that doggie talking? Look at that doggie flying!"

The '60s saw the arrival of some really great cartoons; colorful stuff that was silly enough for the kiddies yet sly enough for the grown-ups who happened to be in the room. Over the last several years those classic cartoons have been turned into movies like Dudley Do-Right, George of the Jungle and (the amazingly bad) Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle. (Or if you prefer lame movies from lame cartoons: Josie and the Pussycats is out there, as are both of the brain-softening Scooby-Doo movies.) Each of these remakes tried to capitalize on the nostalgia value of the brand name while also aiming directly for the new batch of young moviegoers who know nothing of these characters. Each of these movies failed in many regards -- although none of 'em are as obnoxious as that Bullwinkle travesty.

Based on the well-remembered animated series that ran from 1964 to 1973, the new-fangled version of Underdog bares little to no resemblance to its predecessor. Aside from a few proper nouns and some throwaway gags (and the overplayed theme song), this is more of a low-rent mixture of Babe and Superman ... although not nearly as well-produced as those flicks. Director Frederik Du Chau (who, after the execrable Racing Stripes, looks to be Hollywood's go-to guy for low-end talking animal movies) focuses all his energies on the digital lips of his canine co-stars, neglecting to notice that his movie has a boring story, dreary characters and (even at 80-some minutes) next to nothing in the area of forward momentum.

As expected, The Simpsons Movie ruled the box office with a yellow-tinted iron fist, taking in more than the rest of the top five combined, outdoing second place film I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry by $55 million and exceeding my personal prediction by almost $7 million. I hadn't expected any of the other new movies to break the top five, but No Reservations pulled in a modestly surprising $11.7 million to grab the number five spot. Here's the final tally:

1. The Simpsons Movie: $71,850,000
2. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry: $19,063,000
3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: $17,065,000
4. Hairspray: $15,550,000
5. No Reservations: $11,755,000

This week's new movies involve a flying dog, talking dolls, a klutzy stunt man, a salsa king and Matt Damon. Here's what we've got:

The Bourne Ultimatum
What's It All About: Matt Damon returns in his third outing as rogue agent and amnesiac Jason Bourne, trying to learn his true identity once and for all.
Why It Might Do Well: The first two films in the franchise pulled in $27 million and $52 million respectively on their opening weekends, and since the Bourne Ultimatum is the obvious big gun this week, I suspect the trend will continue.
Why It Might Not Do Well: Could Jason Bourne's luck have finally run out? No, I didn't think so either.
Number of Theaters: 3,500
Prediction: $65 million.

Bratz
What's It All About: In this live action film based on a line of fashion dolls, four girls enter high school and discover the meaning of peer pressure and loyalty.
Why It Might Do Well: Teenage girls looking for more of what Mean Girls had to offer may like this one.
Why It Might Not Do Well: Target demo seems awfully small.
Number of Theaters: 1,700
Prediction: $5.5 million

El Cantante
What's It All About: Biopic of Hector Lavoe, the salsa king. Not a snack food magnate, but a singer of salsa music. Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez star.
Why It Might Do Well: Based as it is on true events, El Cantante offers a genuine alternative to what's out there.
Why It Might Not Do Well: The relatively small release combined with the 18% rating over at rottentomatoes.com suggests that this one will not be raking it in.
Number of Theaters: 600
Prediction: $3 million

Hot Rod
What's It All About: Comedy about a motorcycle stunt man wannabe played by Andy Samberg who plans to jump fifteen buses to raise money for an operation that will save the life of his abusive stepfather.
Why It Might Do Well: The adorable Isla Fisher (the crazy one from Wedding Crashers) for one thing, plus there are some genuine laughs in the trailer for those into broad physical comedy.
Why It Might Not Do Well: I believe there was a motorcycle stunt in The Simpsons Movie, so that quota may be filled for this year.
Number of Theaters: 2,500
Prediction: $11 million

Underdog
What's It All About: In this reinvention of the classic cartoon, a dog receives super powers and the ability to talk in a lab accident.
Why It Might Do Well: Jason Lee is the voice of Underdog and a funny guy. Nostalgia appeal will also work in the film's favor.
Why It Might Not Do Well: The aforementioned nostalgia may be tempered by the fact that this new version is pretty far removed from the cartoon's original concept.
Number of Theaters: 2,800
Prediction: $16 million

This week I'm piercing the veil of time by reading tea leaves, or at least that was the original plan. I tossed back several bottles of Snapple before I realized that kind of tea doesn't have leaves, so I just asked my cousin Frank how he thought this weekend's box office might go:
1. The Bourne Ultimatum
2. The Simpsons Movie
3. Underdog
4. Hot Rod
5. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry

Last Week's Prediction Rankings
1. Matt: 13
1. Evan: 13
1. Marc: 13
1. Gian1414: 13
1. Opp-Neg: 13
1. Anna07: 13
2. Bubba8193: 12
3. Jason: 10
4. Ness265: 9
4. ElBoracho: 9
4. Ray: 9
4. Josh: 9
4. JimRM: 9
4. Chris: 9
4. Mario: 9
5. Dustin: 7
5. Rufus: 7
5. Curt: 7
5. Lostpicks: 7
6. Gordy: 6

We had a pretty decent response to last week's box office prediction contest, but I'm hoping for more this time around. Come on, you know you want to. No prizes, of course, but I think that would sully the whole experience, don't you? Don't forget to post your prediction for the top five films in the comments section below. One point for every top five movie correctly named, two points for every correct placement, and one extra point for the top movie.

With Michael Bay's Transformers pulling in Daddy Warbucks dollars at the box office, it's inevitable that we'll soon be seeing a flood of films based on cartoons making their way to theaters. The question is: Will we be treated to quality adaptations of cartoons that actually do lend themselves to the big-screen treatment ... or will we have to endure a two-and-a-half-hour "epic" entitled My Little Pony: At World's End?

As it happens, studios are already answering this question, with a bevy of 'toon-based films set to hit cineplexes this year and in the not-so-distant future. First, after years of speculation and anticipation, The Simpsons Movie lands in theaters July 27. Then in August Jason Lee lends his voice to a live-action Underdog movie (he's the superheroic dog), and in December he pops up again (in human form this time) as David Seville in the live-action/animation hybrid Alvin and the Chipmunks. And next summer, the Wachowski bros. will try to spin cinematic gold out of Speedracer, starring Emile Hirsch and Christina Ricci (sorry, no Jason Lee this time).

Also on the horizon is a live-action CGI Thundercats flick, in which Lion-O and an army of humanoid cats (yes, you read that correctly) battle the evil sorcerer Mumm-Ra on a planet known as Third Earth. And last but not least is a real gem for the true cartoon aficionado: a live-action movie based on the Japanese anime 'toon Voltron, about five rebels who battle evil using robotic lions that unite to form one giant ass-kicking robot warrior (Voltron) when the individual lions inevitably get thrashed.

That's about it as far as upcoming cartoon-based film. Which other cartoons would you love to see made into movies? Personally, I'd love to see a crossover mash-up of two different 'toons, Alien vs. Predator-style. I mean, who wouldn't line up to see SVGB: Smurfs vs. Gummy Bears?

Hollywood loves talking dogs. And I guess a lot of moviegoers love them too, because otherwise Hollywood wouldn't keep making them. Later this summer, we have a super-powered talking dog in Underdog and in two years, we'll be getting a super-sized talking dog movie called South of the Border. I say super-sized because the live-action Disney movie is going to have a lot of talking dogs in it. Drew Barrymore will be voicing the lead dog, a pampered Beverly Hills Chihuahua named Chloe, who ends up lost in Mexico while on vacation with her owner (Piper Perabo). As you'd expect, the little dog meets a bunch of new friends to help her find her way.

Most of the other dogs will be voiced by Latino actors, including Salma Hayek, who plays a spirit guide who helps Chloe learn her Hispanic roots, and George Lopez, who plays another Chihuahua who attempts to woo Chloe. Other unspecified roles have been cast with Cheech Marin (who voiced the cartoon Chihuahua character in Disney's Oliver & Company), Paul Rodriguez, Plácido Domingo, Edward James Olmos and Eddie 'Piolin' Sotelo. Andy Garcia will also be voicing a dog, one which doesn't seem to be of the Latino variety. The Cuban actor is voicing an ex-K-9 German Shepherd. I assume that the character will have a German accent (as long as they're going so racial) and that he will end up the true love interest for Chloe -- though I don't think this is physically appropriate.

After seeing what Hollywood did with one of the finest cartoons ever made (The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle, ugh!) I was more than a little skeptical when I learned that Disney was turning one of my very favorite animated characters into a live-action movie. The cartoon is Underdog, the movie version comes from the guy who did Racing Stripes, and the very first teaser trailer is right here.

It's basically one of those "misdirection" trailers in which we're expected to think we're watching a "serious" promotional piece ... and then it's all fun and giggles when we get a flying dog thrown at the screen. Plus, and I know it's a major piece of geeky nit-pickery, but this cute little pup doesn't look a thing like Underdog! Someone get me the canine casting directors on the phone! Opening August 3 (against the teen comedy Charlie Bartlett and the spy thriller The Bourne Ultimatum), Underdog looks to have been a fairly "collaborative" production, what with its three screenwriters and ten (yes, ten) producers.

The title pup is voiced by Jason Lee; the supporting cast includes Peter Dinklage, Jim Belushi, Patrick Warburton and (the voice of) Amy Adams; and the tagline "One Nation Under Dog" is sure to cause some complaints across the bible belt. Bet on it.

A film version of the hit '60s and '70s TV series Underdog flies into theaters Aug. 3, but you don't have to wait until then to get your first glimpse of the canine superhero. We have an exclusive look at two very iconic photos from an upcoming calendar being used to promote the film (click on the photos below to see larger versions). Jason Lee (Chasing Amy, TV's My Name Is Earl) stars as the voice of an average dog named Shoeshine who develops some pretty nifty super powers after a laboratory accident. But while he gains the ability to talk and fly, unfortunately he does not develop the capacity to scoop his own poop.

POST: What do you think of the photos?

POST: Are you excited for the movie?

GET IT: More about Underdog

Geek news I found while wondering where I put my socks:

• The first official Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer picture is online. It looks mostly like all the unofficial pictures we've seen, but a bit more polished. The Four are there, but of course no sign of the Surfer yet. (Thanks to F4Movies)
• Speaking of official pictures, AICN throws us the first official Underdog poster. Laugh at me if you want, but I was unaware the movie would actually star, you know, a real dog. I figured it'd be something more along the lines of the Rocky and Bullwinkle movie, with CGI'd representations of the old cartoon character. I'm not a fan.
• According to SuperheroHype, if you watch the FX channel's screening of Spider-Man 2 on January second, you'll catch a sneak peek of Spider-Man 3. Who knows what this means, really. As usual, if you aren't interested just wait for the internet to catch up an hour later.
• Why did big names grab onto the Speed Racer movie? Money, of course! Producer Joel Silver talks about Ice Age envy with IGN.
• Warner Bros. debut another Ninja Turtles trailer. Whatever opinions you hold about this film, they probably will not be changed by the new look.
• Last but certainly not least, a brand new trailer for Transformers (that includes real footage from the film!) is supposed to debut on December 20.