Air Bud DVD

Air Bud
The heartwarming story of a boy, his dog and a basketball forms the basis of this family comedy from Disney. Snively (Michael Jeter) is an unfunny clown whose appearances at children's parties are usually upstaged by his dog Buddy, who has learned how to shoot a basketball. Snively is tired of being upstaged by the pooch, and he eventually abandons him. Buddy is taken in by Josh (Kevin Zegers), a shy boy whose father recently died. Josh's mother Jackie (Wendy Makkena) moves them to a small town in Washington, where the naturally withdrawn Josh doesn't quite fit in. Too shy to try out for the basketball team, he instead becomes team manager, and he practices on his own after the team goes home. One night, Josh discovers Buddy that can not only shoot hoops, but he's a better shot than anyone on the team. Coach Barker (Stephen E. Miller), hungry for victory, adds Buddy to the team and soon the dog with game is famous -- just famous enough, in fact, for Snively to return, demanding the return of his pet. Buddy the Dog was spotted by the film's producers shooting baskets on the "Stupid Pet Tricks" segment of The Late Show with David Letterman. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Cast Michael Jeter as Norm Snively Kevin Zegers as Josh Framm Wendy Makkena as Jackie Framm Bill Cobbs as Arthur Chaney Eric Christmas as Judge Cranfield Brendan Fletcher as Larry Willingham Norman Browning as Buck Willingham Jay Brazeau as Referee Stephen E. Miller as Coach Joe Barker Nicola Cavendish as Principal Pepper Shayn Solberg as Tom Stewart

Crew Eric Fraser - Art Director James A. Jusko - Associate Producer Abra Edelman - Casting Elisa Goodman - Casting Jana Stern - Costume Designer Kelsey T. Howard - First Assistant Director Charles Martin Smith - Director Richard Martin - Second Unit Director Alison Grace - Editor Michael Strange - Executive Producer Harvey Weinstein - Executive Producer Bob Weinstein - Executive Producer Anne Vince - Executive Producer Brahm Wenger - Composer (Music Score) Elizabeth Wilcox - Production Designer Mike Southon - Cinematographer William Vince - Producer Robert Vince - Producer David Chiasson - Set Designer Ruth Huddleston - Sound/Sound Designer Aaron Mendelsohn - Screenwriter Paul Tamasy - Screenwriter

Air Bud
A dog who can sink jumpers had to end up in a movie sooner or later, and Air Bud might as well be that movie. Jordan he's not, but Buddy the Dog does have an amazing sense of aim, and screenwriters Aaron Mendelsohn and Paul Tamasy cobble together a reasonable enough story to explain it all. But Air Bud is clearly meant for the younger tykes, with its hissable villains (Michael Jeter as the sour clown, overacting; Brendan Fletcher as the loudmouth bully) and its Lassie-like message about the healing power of owning a pet. In other words, hoops fans should look elsewhere if they want some good game action to cheer. However, anyone who was excited to see a movie about a basketball-playing golden receiver in the first place will probably be pleased as pie. Actor Charles Martin Smith (Never Cry Wolf) helms his first big-budget feature effectively enough to have scored modestly at the box office and prompted two sequels to date, which he did not direct. Also leaving the franchise, although not by choice, was the talented pup, who died of cancer shortly after the film's release. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
 

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General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: Sound Processing: DDS: Dolby Digital Surround Additional Features: Original theatrical trailer Chapter search DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard MPAA Rating: PG DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 98 min