Directed by Robert Vince
Starring Dominic Scott Kay with the Voices of Dylan Sprouse, James Belushi, Kris Kristofferson, Josh Flitter, Jimmy Bennett, Liliana Mumy, Skyler Gisondo, Henry Hodges
Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Rated G
Amazon $19.99 (available 2/5/08)

 

Reviewed by Leigh Leveen

They’re back!! Snow Buddies continues the saga of the escapades of the brood of talking Golden Retriever puppies known as Air Buddies.  This movie was heralded in our home, as the Buddies series is well-loved, well-watched, and parent approved around here.  While the plotline is a bit far-fetched, the movie is likeable and fun to watch.  And, if you are anything like me – dreadfully tired of family fare that in no way resembles something you want to watch as a family – a flick that is entertaining and appropriately rated G is like an eighth wonder of this world

Last time we saw the buddies, each was given to a new owner, all well-deserving young boys and girls, who live in the same town.  But these puppies are so close that they meet up each morning in town square after seeing their owners off to school.  There is Budderball, B-Dawg, RoseBud, Buddha and MudBud – each with his or her own idiosyncratic personality quirks, giving a little something to each type of watcher out there.  There is the farting little MudBud, the adorable, pink-loving Rosebud, or the rapping B-Dawg.  They are a sibling group unlike any other.  When they mistakenly get stuck in an ice cream truck that is about to be boarded onto an airplane bound for an airdrop in Alaska (far-fetched I know, but trust me the under 6 set will not care!), the real fun begins. 

The puppies meet Adam, a young boy who dreams of dog sledding just like his father.  Adam’s father recently lost his prize dogs in a terrible accident and does not want to retrace those emotional steps with his own son.  So, Adam, using the five buddies and his own Huskie puppy, Shasta, builds his own dog sled team.  They cavort, tumble, drag heavy logs, and generally have a ton of fun as they all learn to work together to make a sled run.  Teamwork is the central theme of this movie.  Adam is the sort of kid we all hope we can raise – self-reliant, well-mannered and compassionate.  Not a bad hero for your kids to watch for two hours. 

Adam enters the local two-day dog sled race (kind of a mini-Iditarod) without telling his parents.  Everyone laughs at him, he is half the size of the other entrants, and his team is a quarter the size of the other dogs.  He doesn’t care, and neither do we – he pulled it together to get there, and we are going to root for him!  The race itself has its ups and downs, including a terrible snowstorm from which Adam and the team are saved by an Indian, and a last minute save of a fallen team.  Suffice it to say that Adam reigns supreme in character and ability as the race comes to an end. 

The first few Buddies movies centered more on the relationship of one boy and one dog.  That formula really worked, dog is man’s best friend, and he really shone as such in those movies.  The puppies are fun, they talk and are relatively believable, but I hoped for a core to this movie as in the first ones.  But, it isn’t just my opinion that counts.  According to my son, this was the “bestest” one yet!  Who can argue with that?

I give it 8 binkies (although I think my son would give it a hardy 10)!