Teacher's Pet
The Movie Reporter
Films Reviews from a Family Perspective
by Phil Boatwright
With the synopsis and content, you can decide if the new films are suitable for your viewing.
Video alternatives
contain the same theme, but lack the offensive material.
TEACHER'S PET: Disney animated adventure, with the voices of Nathan Lane, Kelsey Grammer, Shaun Fleming, Debra Jo Rupp, David Ogden Stiers, Jerry Stiller. W-Bill Cheri Steinkellner. D-Timothy Bjorklund.
A talking dog named Spot fulfills his ultimate wish to become a #147;real boy#148; when he hooks up with a mad scientist. Spot becomes a canine #147;guinea pig#148; in the kooky doctor#146;s evolutionary experiment, with the dog successfully turned into a human. The only catch is that the silly scientist didn#146;t calculate for #147;dog years#148; and Spot finds himself in the body of a middle-aged man! The fur really flies as his pals (led by best friend and master, Leonard Helperman, a cat named Mr. Jolly, and a boisterous bird named Pretty Boy) help him out of his #147;tight Spot#148; and try to right this genetic wrong.
Cute, with a creative storyline and a wonderful voice performance from the witty Nathan Lane, this is a lot of fun for kids and, unlike a lot of animated adventures for little ones, tolerable for accompanying adults. Full of vibrant drawings and lots of energy, the plot makes room for life lessons concerning selfishness and helping others fulfils their dreams.
PG (A trip to a Jerry Springer-like program has the audience members chanting #147;wacko#148; at the mad scientist during the show. Later, the boy and dog go to the mad scientist#146;s house #150; the address consisting of the numbers 666, a biblical numerology that refers to the anti-Christ. Because the scientist is attempting to turn animals into humans, the question of nature vs. science is touched upon. But the storyline doesn#146;t seriously address this subject. At one point both dog and boy are strapped down to an operating table and undergo transformations. Other creatures that didn#146;t do well during transformations appear as freaks. But they are more comical than scary. I felt the filmmakers were careful about what they put in front of their intended audience. As always, however, I suggest a parent attend when taking any child under ten to a movie. You just never know when parental comfort is going to be needed #150; and no other relative can meet that need quite like a Mom or Dad).
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. "Know Before You Go" reg;Philip Boatwright, Editor Film/Video Reviews from a Family Perspective, Email:
moviereporter@sbcglobal.net
. Published by C. C. Publications, 835 Northstar Ct., Tonganoxie, KS 66086. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com
