Al's Top Rated Films: Dogs (and other Animals)
These are my favorite films that feature an Animal (or Animals) as the main focus of the movie. Not like Jaws, Jurassic Park, or The Birds. I'm listing movies with likable animals. Mostly dogs, since I love dogs.
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- DirectorChristopher GuestStarsFred WillardEugene LevyCatherine O'HaraA behind-the-scenes look into the highly competitive and cut-throat world of dog shows through the eyes of a group of ruthless dog owners.This is Christopher Guest's greatest film in my book. And also the best mockumentary I've ever seen. Dog people can be crazy. Hilarious comedy about several eccentric folks who are completely obsessed with their dogs. The story follows each of them to the Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show, and is shot in a documentary/behind-the-scenes format, which follows their excitement and preparation for one of the biggest moments of all their lives. Brilliantly written and acted throughout. Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Michael Hitchcock, Parker Posey, Carrie Aizley, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, John Michael Higgins, Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Lynch, Bob Balaban, Fred Willard, Don Lake, Larry Miller, and Linda Kash all had excellent performances, among a super solid supporting cast.
- DirectorLasse HallströmStarsRichard GereJoan AllenCary-Hiroyuki TagawaProfessor Wilson discovers a lost Akita puppy on his way home. Despite objections from his wife, Hachi endears himself to the family and grows to be Parker's loyal companion. As their bond grows deeper, a beautiful relationship unfolds.Outstanding and extremely heartwarming biography/family drama from Lasse Hallström that follows the adaptation of a Japanese tale about an abandoned Akita puppy named Hachi. One day Hachi breaks out of his cage after being shipped off to Rhode Island, and locates a college music professor named Parker Wilson getting off a local train, and decides that he's going to be his new owner. It took a bit of convincing for his wife Cate to come around to the idea of having a dog. But after some time, she realizes Hachi is the best thing for Parker and their entire family. A unique and special bond develops between Parker and Hachi when Hachi decides to walk Parker to the train station every morning on his way to work, and he's always there to meet him at 5pm when the train gets home. When a devastating family tragedy strikes and Parker dies, Hachi's true devotion to Parker is honored in a lifelong story of loyalty and the locals that love him. The story is perfectly done overall, and the production design and casting was also perfect. The subject matter really sticks with you, and while it is heartbreaking, the story and emotions grow organically as opposed to needlessly pulling at your heart-strings. It's arguably the best dog film of all time. Richard Gere and Joan Allen both deliver a couple of their very best lead performances. The dogs who played Hachi were also fantastic performers. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Sarah Roemer, Jason Alexander, Erick Avari, Davenia McFadden, Robbie Sublett, and others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorGail MancusoStarsJosh GadDennis QuaidKathryn PrescottA dog finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he meets.Beautiful comedy drama/adventure based on W. Bruce Cameron's best-selling novel. It's the sequel to A Dog's Purpose (2017), and I must say that this film is even better than the first (which I also loved). The story follows Bailey now living a happy and fulfilling life with his owner Ethan and his wife Hannah, and builds a special bond with their daughter, CJ. When Bailey reaches the end of his life, Ethan requests that Bailey look after CJ, as he understands Bailey's gift of reincarnating into different dogs and greatly affecting people's lives. Different stories jump around and correlate together, and make for a most outstanding and touching ending. Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, and Kathryn Prescott all deliver superb lead performances. Marg Helgenberger, Henry Lau, Abby Ryder Fortson, Emma Volk, Betty Gilpin, Ian Chen, Jake Manley, and Daniela Barbosa all had excellent supporting roles.
- DirectorLasse HallströmStarsJosh GadDennis QuaidPeggy LiptonA dog discovers the meaning of its own existence through the lives of the humans it teaches to laugh and love. Reincarnated as multiple canines over the course of five decades, the lovable pooch develops an unbreakable bond with Ethan.Being a dog lover, this movie quickly became a modern day favorite for me. Excellent adventure from Lasse Hallström and W. Bruce Cameron that follows a dog that searches for his meaning of life as he jumps into the bodies of different dogs with different owners over the course of several lifetimes. Along his journey, he meets several loving owners, confusing and lonely owners, as well as very bad owners. It's an emotional and beautiful story that leads up to the relationship with his most important and life-fulfilling friend, Ethan. Worthy of being called one of the best dog movies of all time. It's excellent in every way. Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, Bryce Gheisar, K.J. Apa, and Britt Robertson all deliver fantastic performances. Juliet Rylance, Luke Kirby, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Pooch Hall, John Ortiz, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorSimon CurtisStarsKevin CostnerMilo VentimigliaJackie MinnsThrough his bond with his owner, aspiring Formula One race car driver Denny, golden retriever Enzo learns that the techniques needed on the racetrack can also be used to successfully navigate the journey of life.Fantastic comedy drama that follows a very special golden retriever named Enzo, and his Formula One race car driving owner Denny. The story is told from Enzo's point of view, and details the inspiring events of of Denny's life as he meets his new wife, has a child, and also faces devastating loss, which results in a bitter legal battle which nearly causes him to lose his daughter and everything important in his life. Enzo is there every step of the way as he faithfully fulfills his life journey. Milo Ventimiglia and Amanda Seyfried both delivered excellent lead performances, but it was really Kevin Costner narrating the voce of Enzo that made this film so special. He has the perfect vernacular to express his thoughts, that are often times hilarious and extremely heart-wrenching. This was an extremely emotional ride all around—prepare to laugh and cry. Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kathy Baker, Martin Donovan, Marcus Hondro, Ian Lake, Gary Cole, and Lily Dodsworth-Evans all had excellent roles among the supporting cast.
- DirectorFrank MarshallStarsPaul WalkerJason BiggsBruce GreenwoodBrutal cold forces two Antarctic explorers to leave their team of sled dogs behind as they fend for their survival.Excellent and inspiring adventure set in Antarctica about a dedicated sled dog trainer who had to leave his dogs behind when he and his team had to temporarily evacuate their base due to a heavy snow storm; and just after the dogs saved his and another explorer's life. The storm becomes so big, their evacuation becomes permanent as these poor dogs must fend for their survival for 6 long months, as the trainer spends all his time and resources planning for his team to return to Antartica and save them. There's no getting around the love you'll feel for these sled dogs throughout their grueling journey for survival. Great movie for dog lovers. Paul Walker may be known for the Fast and the Furious franchise, but I personally feel this was his best performance. He was excellent. Bruce Greenwood, Moon Bloodgood, and Jason Biggs all had nice supporting roles.
- DirectorRobert StevensonStarsDorothy McGuireFess ParkerTommy KirkA teenage boy grows to love a stray yellow dog while helping his mother and younger brother run their Texas homestead while their father is away on a cattle drive. First thought to be good-for-nothing mutt, Old Yeller is soon beloved by all.Excellent and heart-wrenching western from Robert Stevenson set in 1860s Texas, and follows a mischievous and dedicated Yellow Labrador Retriever. Travis is the oldest boy in the family, and he is left to run the farm with his mother and younger brother Arliss while his dad sets out on a long cattle drive. When a stray Old Yeller causes trouble and destroys things, Arliss falls in love with the dog, and Travis reluctantly agrees that he can stay. From their on, Travis and Old Yeller become inseparable, and is there to protect and help the family in many ways in their time of need. Great acting and writing all around. And one of the all-time saddest and most powerful endings to any movie. Dorothy McGuire and Tommy Kirk deliver great lead performances, and Fess Parker, Jeff York, Chuck Connors, Beverly Washburn, and Kevin Corcoran have very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorEricson CoreStarsWillem DafoeJulianne NicholsonChristopher HeyerdahlThe story of Togo, the sled dog who led the 1925 serum run despite being considered too small and weak to lead such an intense race.Fantastic historical drama set in 1925 Alaska that tells the story about an amazingly dedicated Siberian husky named Togo, who was thought to be too old, weak, and small to complete the grueling 600-mile serum run; which was necessary to deliver medicine to treat the epidemic of diphtheria. The film centers around Togo's owner Leonhard Seppala as they both fight through their limitations in life. Inspiring story, and one of the very best Disney films out there. A must watch for dog lovers. Willem Dafoe delivered a a fantastic lead performances—perhaps my favorite from him. Julianne Nicholson, Christopher Heyerdahl, Zahn McClarnon, Brandon Oakes, and others also had great roles among a solid and relatively unknown supporting cast.
- DirectorDuwayne DunhamStarsMichael J. FoxSally FieldDon AmecheA fun-loving American bulldog pup, a hilarious Himalayan cat, and a wise old golden retriever embark on a long trek through the rugged wilderness of the Sierra Nevada mountains in a quest to reach home and their beloved owners.Excellent adaptation of Sheila Burnford's classic 1961 novel, and an even better remake of the 1963 film, "The Incredible Journey". I watched both films growing up, but this one got way more views with all the great comedy and dialogue involved. The story follows a rambunctious bulldog pup named Chance, a snobby Himalayan cat named Sassy, and a wise old enlightened Golden Retriever named Shadow who feel compelled to set out on a rigorous 300-mile trek through the Sierra Nevada mountains to reunite with their loving owners, who temporarily boarded them on a farm while the family's father attends to business in San Francisco. The trio of animals assumed they were in trouble and take off on a dangerous and drama-filled adventure to get home. The interactions between all three animals/actors is hilarious and heartwarming throughout, and drives the film beautifully. Don Ameche, Michael J. Fox, and Sally Field all voice the animals perfectly, and have excellent lead performances. Robert Hays, Kim Greist, Benj Thall, Kevin Chevalia, Veronica Lauren, Jean Smart, Mark L. Taylor, and others also have great supporting roles.
- DirectorDavid FrankelStarsOwen WilsonJennifer AnistonEric DaneA family learns important life lessons from their adorable, but naughty and neurotic dog.Excellent family comedy drama that follows a newly married couple (John and Jenny) who move from Michigan to Florida when they get better jobs writing for newspapers, and decide to adopt a Yellow Labrador Retriever puppy (Marley) to help kick off their life together. Marley proves to be hyper, mischievous, and disobedient in every way. While it ends up being great stories and comedy for John's newspaper column, Marley creates so much tension between the couple that it puts their marriage through the ultimate test. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston were excellent together—both arguably delivering their best performances. Alan Arkin, Eric Dane, Kathleen Turner, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorRandal KleiserStarsEthan HawkeKlaus Maria BrandauerJedJack London's classic adventure story about the friendship developed between a Yukon gold hunter and the mixed dog-wolf he rescues from the hands of a man who mistreats him.Fantastic adventure for dog lovers from Randal Kleiser, and my favorite rendition of Jack London's classic novel. Great tale about a young man who travels to frosty snow-covered Alaskan frontier to hunt for gold, when he forms a special bond with a traumatized wolf-dog named White Fang as he and his partner encounter danger when a group of villains interfere with their mining operation. Ethan Hawke delivered one of greatest early day performances as Jack. Klaus Maria Brandauer, Seymour Cassel, Susan Hogan, James Remar, and Bill Moseley all had very nice supporting roles. One of my favorite Disney films.
- DirectorRoger SpottiswoodeStarsTom HanksMare WinninghamCraig T. NelsonA detective must adopt a rambunctious dog in order to help him find a killer.Hilarious and underrated crime comedy for dog lovers from Roger Spottiswoode, that follows a small-town California detective named Scott Turner who has 3 days before he leaves town to join a big city police department to see some real action. But after one of the locals is mysteriously murdered, he puts off his trip to investigate, which the kind of case he's wanting to work. The only witness to the murder is the local's aggressive, protective, and trouble-making Mastiff named Hooch. Scott isn't a dog person, but must take care of the dog to solve the case, which results in plenty of hilarious situations as they track down police corruption and other dangers throughout the process. Great story overall, and I still love it to this day. Tom Hanks delivers one of his best lead performances. Mare Winningham, Craig T. Nelson, Reginald VelJohnson, John McIntire, Ernie Lively, Clyde Kusatsu, and others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorFred M. WilcoxStarsRoddy McDowallDonald CrispMay WhittyAfter her destitute family is forced to sell her, a collie named Lassie escapes from her new owner and begins the long trek from Scotland to her Yorkshire home.Excellent adventure for the whole family that follows a loyal and loving collie named Lassie who has a sixth sense when the time is about to hit 4 o'clock so she can meet her best friend and young owner Joe Carraclough when he gets out of school. However, the story is set in the 1930s during the Great Depression, and his parents unfortunately have to sell Lassie to feed their own mouths, which is devastating for poor Joe. However, everyday at 4 o'clock, she escapes from her new owners' kennels, and makes her way to see Joe at school. However, when they move her 300 miles away to their other home in Scotland, Lassie must make the daring, dangerous, and adventurous trek to get back to her Yorkshire home, while meeting and touching several other lives along the way. This is a fantastic dog film, and one of the best I've seen. Roddy McDowall, Donald Crisp, and Elsa Lanchester had great starring performances. May Whitty, Nigel Bruce, Edmund Gwenn, Elizabeth Taylor, and others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorJosh GreenbaumStarsWill FerrellJamie FoxxIsla FisherAn abandoned dog teams up with other strays to get revenge on his former owner.Hilarious comedy adventure from Josh Greenbaum that follows a innocent and loving dog named Reggie who's failure of an owner Doug is desperately trying to abandon him by driving him out to the middle of nowhere, but Reggie thinks it's a game and always makes his way back home. After Doug abandons him 3 hours away from his home into the inner city, he's forced to build a new life after meeting a cocky street-smart Boston Terrier named Bug, an Australian Shepherd named Maggie, and a Great Dane named Hunter. They all show him how great living free can be. Once they finally make Reggie realize that Doug is a bad person, Reggie comes decides he wants revenge against Doug, and convinces the group to travel back to his home so he can bit Doug's d**k off. It's a ridiculous premise, but cleverly and uniquely executed throughout, with lots of great laughs and fun along the way. Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx both deliver excellent lead performances. Isla Fisher, Randall Park, and Will Forte also had great starring roles. Rob Riggle, Brett Gelman, Josh Gad, Sofía Vergara, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorMichael AptedStarsSigourney WeaverBryan BrownJulie HarrisThe story of Dian Fossey, a scientist who came to Africa to study the vanishing mountain gorillas, and later fought to protect them.Excellent biography from Michael Apted on the life of renowned primatologist and conservationist Dian Fossey. The story is set in 1963 Africa, and follows Fossey as she studies rare mountain gorillas and the fact that they are being killed off by corrupt poachers that sell their skins, hands, and heads. She becomes closely connected to these gorillas, and does everything in her power to fight for their rights and protect the species. Powerful and very nicely done film. Sigourney Weaver delivers a very complex emotional lead performance. It's definitely one of my favorites from her. Bryan Brown, John Omirah Miluwi, Julie Harris, John Omirah Miluwi, Iain Cuthbertson, Constantin Alexandrov, Waigwa Wachira, Iain Glen, and others also had very nice roles among the supporting cast.
- DirectorClarence BrownStarsMickey RooneyElizabeth TaylorDonald CrispA jaded former jockey helps a young girl prepare a wild but gifted horse for England's Grand National Sweepstakes.Excellent sports drama from Clarence Brown set in the 1920s Sussex (England) that follows a young drifter and former horse racing jockey named Mi Taylor who's on his way to see the Brown family in hopes of finding some stability after finding the mother's name in his father's notebook who recently passed away. On his way, he meets the very excitable 12-year-old Velvet Brown, who is so deeply in love with horses that it consumes all of her thoughts and dreams. The family offers Mi a job working on their sheep farm, and soon after Velvet luckily wins a boisterous and wild horse in an auction for $1 that she named "The Pie". After figuring out The Pie has all the tools to win England's greatest racing event—the Grand National Steeplechase—Mi and Velvet train The Pie to be a winner while the family puts up the last of their money for the entry fees. Great uplifting story all around. Mickey Rooney and Mickey Rooney both delivered excellent lead performances. Donald Crisp, Anne Revere (Oscar-winner), Angela Lansbury, Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins, Juanita Quigley, and others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorJonathan KaplanStarsMatthew BroderickHelen HuntWillieAn Air Force pilot joins a top secret military experiment involving chimps, but begins to suspect there might be something more to the mysterious "Project X".Fascinating sci-fi comedy drama from Jonathan Kaplan that's based on a true story, which follows an American Air Force pilot named Jimmy Garrett who's been assigned to care for chimpanzees that are being used in mysterious flying experiments in a program named "Project X". An extremely intelligent chimp named Virgil is sent into the program. Jimmy ends up forming an unlikely bond for Virgil, and really begins to enjoy his work there. However, tension comes in the play when Jimmy finds out something terrible is happening to these chimps during and after experiments, and works to expose the project's secrets and free the chimps. Underrated film all around, and great for animal lovers. Matthew Broderick delivers an excellent lead performance along with Willie the chimp (as Virgil). Helen Hunt and William Sadler also had great starring roles. Johnny Ray McGhee, Stephen Lang, Jean Smart, and all the superbly trained chimps gave great supporting roles.
- DirectorJeremy KaganStarsMeredith SalengerJohn CusackJedIn the 1930s, a tomboy runs away from her guardian to join her single father who is 2,000 miles away, where he has found work.Underrated adventure/drama set during the Great Depression in the 1930s, and follows a 12-year-old girl named Natty Gann after her father leaves her with a guardian in Chicago while he travels to Washington State to find work in the timber industry. Natty ends up running away and embarking on a 2,000 mile trek to reunite with her father. Along the way, she saves a wolfdog from a dog fighting ring, who becomes a great protector along her treacherous journey. Excellent story and a great film for animal lovers. It was one I was excited to revisit when I got Disney+, and I felt it held up very nicely over the years. Meredith Salenger delivered an excellent lead performance. John Cusack, and Ray Wise also deliver great starring roles. John Finnegan, Barry Miller, Scatman Crothers, Verna Bloom, Lainie Kazan, and others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorEd KaplanStarsBrandon DouglasNed VaughnPaxton WhiteheadMisfits Danny Stauffer and Chips (a chicken-chasing German shepherd) are teamed up in the Army's "Dogs for Defense" program during WWII.Underrated and forgotten Disney war drama/adventure set 1943–1945 during World War II when the United States Army used dogs in battle that were donated by their American owners. The program is called "Dogs for Defense", and follows an unlikely paring of an Army solider named Danny Stauffer who initially doesn't like dogs, and a rambunctious German shepherd named Chips who was sent to the program for terrorizing neighboring chickens and almost being killed for. They end up creating a true bond together through basic training and into the deadly field of battle where they become heroes. Brandon Douglas and Chips both deliver excellent lead performances. William Devane, Ned Vaughn, Ellie Cornell, Paxton Whitehead, Robert Miranda, Sheridan Gayr, Luke Rossi, and others also had great performances among many others in the supporting cast. I really wish they would add this one to Disney+ or re-release it. It's a gem.
- DirectorCharles HaidStarsMackenzie AstinKevin SpaceyDavid Ogden StiersA brave young man is thrust into adulthood as he and his courageous team of sled dogs embark on a grueling and treacherous cross-country marathon.Excellent family adventure from Charles Haid based on a true story about a courageous young man named Will Stoneman, who's father tragically dies and forces he and his mother to raise money to save their family farm. With no other options to earn the cash, Will embarks on the strenuous and grueling 522-mile-long dog-sled race from Winnipeg, Manitoba to Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1917, which can win him the grand prize of $10,000 if he wins. While most believe Will is too young to meet the challenge, a motivated news reporter named Harry Kingsley promotes his adventures and exploits. Great under-the-radar Disney gem for dog lovers. Great story and casting all around. Mackenzie Astin delivered an excellent lead performance. Kevin Spacey, David Ogden Stiers, August Schellenberg, Brian Cox, George Gerdes, John Terry, Penelope Windust, Jeffrey Alan Chandler, and others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorWilliam DearStarsJohn LithgowMelinda DillonMargaret LangrickThe Henderson family adopt a friendly Sasquatch but have a hard time trying to keep the legend of 'Bigfoot' a secret.Hilarious and touching family comedy drama from William Dear that follows the Henderson family on their way home from a hunting and camping trip when they strike what appears to be a large animal on the road with their car. After seeing that the creature is actually a Sasquatch, they decide to tie it to the roof and take it home since mythical creatures would be worth a fortune. That night, the Sasquatch wakes up and breaks free from the ropes in their garage, and proceeds to destroy the Henderson household as the family retreats in fear. But soon after, they discover the Sasquatch is a kind, caring, and loving creature that they nickname "Harry", and decide to help keep him safe and out of sight. But when some local hunters and a Bigfoot hunter named Jacques Lafleur learn about his location, Harry's life is in danger, and it's up to the Henderson family to save him. Underrated story all around with a great cast of actors. John Lithgow, Melinda Dillon, Kevin Peter Hall (Harry), Margaret Langrick, and Joshua Rudoy all have excellent lead performances. David Suchet, Don Ameche, and M. Emmet Walsh also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorBrian LevantStarsCharles GrodinBonnie HuntDean JonesA slobbering St. Bernard becomes the center of attention for a loving family, but must contend with a dog-napping veterinarian and his henchmen.Underrated family comedy drama from Brian Levant that follows a lovable, drool-crazed, disorderly, and very intelligent St. Bernard that escapes from evil dog-nappers, and makes his way to the Newton family household in the suburbs. The wife and kids have wanted a dog forever, but the father George hates dogs, and insists they are "goldfish people". When he shows up, the entire family is thrilled (except for George) and they name him "Beethoven". George reluctantly ends up taking care of Beethoven in a series of hilarious debacles, as he predicted. However, when evil dog-nappers come back looking for Beethoven, George has a change of heart after his life is put at risk. Fun and touching story all around with a great cast. Charles Grodin delivers on of my favorite lead performances of all time as George. It's the role I'll forever remember him by. Bonnie Hunt, Nicholle Tom, Christopher Castile, and Sarah Rose Karr also had excellent starring roles, along with Beethoven himself. Dean Jones, Stanley Tucci, Oliver Platt, David Duchovny, Patricia Heaton, O-Lan Jones, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorCarroll BallardStarsJeff DanielsAnna PaquinDana DelanyA father and daughter decide to attempt to lead a flock of orphaned Canada Geese south by air.Heart-warming and inspirational family adventure about a a 13-year-old girl who's mother dies, and she goes to Canada to live with her father who she has barely any connection with. She's unhappy with her new surroundings until she finds a nest of goose eggs and soon becomes "mother" to them. The geese must fly south for the winter to survive. With her father's help, they build two extremely lightweight airplanes to fly alongside and lead them to a bird sanctuary in North Carolina. Anna Paquin, Jeff Daniels, Dana Delany, Terry Kinney, Holter Graham, Jeremy Ratchford, and others had very nice supporting roles. Great for animal lovers.
- DirectorJay RussellStarsFrankie MunizKevin BaconDiane LaneA shy boy grows up in 1940s Mississippi with the help of his beloved dog, Skip.Nice coming-of-age comedy drama set in Mississippi during the 1940s, and follows a introverted young boy who was gifted an incredible Jack Russell Terrier puppy on his 9th birthday, which helps him make friends, gain confidence, and move forward in life. Frankie Muniz puts on a great lead performance. Luke Wilson, Kevin Bacon, Diane Lane, Susan Carol Davis, Cody Linley, Caitlin Wachs, and others had nice roles among a solid supporting cast.
- DirectorCarroll BallardStarsCharles Martin SmithBrian DennehyZachary IttimangnaqA government researcher, sent to research the "menace" of wolves in the north, learns about the true beneficial and positive nature of the species.Great Adventurous drama from Carroll Ballard that follows a young Canadian biologist named Tyler that is tasked to travel to the isolated Canadian arctic wilderness to study wolf-pack attacks in relation to the declining caribou population. Along with his struggles to survive to wilderness, he learns that the belief that wolves ra e major threat to the area is complete false, and that humans are actually mostly to blame for threats to our ecosystem. Very well done and fascinating film overall. Charles Martin Smith arguably delivers the best lead performance of his career. Brian Dennehy, Zachary Ittimangnaq, Samson Jorah, and Tom Dahlgren also had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorWilliam A. WellmanStarsWalter BrennanPhil HarrisBrandon De WildeAn old man and a young boy who live in the southeastern Mississippi swamps are brought together by the love of a dog.Great drama for dog lovers from William A. Wellman that follows a young boy and his uncle who live a modest life in the southeastern Mississippi swamps. After hearing some strange noises in the night and discovering an untamed dog, the boy works to catch him, and they become the best of friends as he trains the dog to become a superb bird hunting dog. Trouble sets in when they discover the dog is an extremely rare breed of African hunting dog, and the pervious owners want him back. Touching story all around. Walter Brennan and Brandon De Wilde both delivered great lead performances. Phil Harris, Sidney Poitier, and William Hopper all had great supporting roles.
- DirectorLibby SherrillStarsRoxie RandleBeyond the Myth is a film about dogs commonly referred to as "pit bulls" and those who love and defend these breeds. It explores the contributing factors behind the public's generalized fear of "pit bulls," and examines the conflict existing between advocates and opponents of breed discriminatory laws, as carried out in three cities that ban pit bull-type dogs: Denver, Miami, and Cincinnati-along with San Francisco, which requires the animals to be spayed and neutered.Excellent documentary from Libby Sherrill that breaks down why Pit Bulls are my favorite breed of all time. There is a stigma attached to the breed along with many other "bully breeds" is heavy, and this film does a nice job of exposing truths and question why some states discriminate against Pit Buls.
- DirectorCharles BartonStarsFred MacMurrayJean HagenTommy KirkA teenage boy is cursed with periodically turning into a sheepdog.Excellent fantasy-infused comedy for the whole family. The story follows a 16-year-old boy named Wilbur "Wilby" Daniels who's dad can't stand dogs. Through a series of events, Wilby inadvertently cursed with the legend of the Borgia family, which makes Wilby randomly transform into a shaggy sheepdog, and back to human form again, generally at the most comical and inopportune times. Now he's on a mission to break the spell. These are some of my favorite early day Disney comedies. I rewatched this recently, and it's still a fun film! Fred MacMurray, Tommy Kirk, and Jean Hagen all deliver excellent lead performances. Annette Funicello, Tim Considine, Kevin Corcoran, Cecil Kellaway, Alexander Scourby, Roberta Shore, and others also had nice roles among the supporting cast.
- DirectorFred M. WilcoxStarsElizabeth TaylorFrank MorganTom DrakeAcademy Award-winner Elizabeth Taylor stars in this touching family drama about a young girl who rehabilitates an Army's shell-shocked collie.Great drama adventure from Fred M. Wilcox that follows a curious collie who gets separated from his pack just after being born, and makes friends and lives with other animals in the wilderness. One day after accidentally shot and almost killed by hunters, a young dog lover named Kathie Merrick takes him in, nurses him back to health, adopts him and names him Bill (not Lassie, oddly). They become inseparable as Kathie trains him to be a sheep herder. But not long after, Bill ends up lost again, and fighting as a K9 in the army, which gives him severe PTSD, and makes him wild and untrusting. Through a miraculous journey, he makes his way back to Kathie where he has a chance to be rehabilitated by his best friend. Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Morgan both delivered excellent lead performances. Tom Drake, Selena Royle, Harry Davenport, Catherine McLeod, and others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorRod DanielStarsCharles GrodinBonnie HuntNicholle TomBeethoven, the St. Bernard dog, becomes a father, but his girlfriend Missy is dognapped, and his puppies are in danger of the same fate.Hilarious and underrated sequel to the first Beethoven film (1992). John Hughes is back writing, and this time Rod Daniel provides the direction. After Beethoven falls in love with another St. Bernard named Missy, they end up having puppies. The youngest kids Ted and Emily find out first, and decide they want to help keep their secret and help raise the pups. However, Missy's viciously greedy owner Regina uses her to bargain for a divorce settlement. After Ted and Emily successfully escape with the puppies, now Regina has it out for the Newton family, as she and her imbecilic boyfriend Floyd try to steal her puppies back for the profits. While some of the romantic scenes with the dogs can get a little cheesy, the solid writing and great performances by the returning cast make this sequel a big winner. Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt, Nicholle Tom, Christopher Castile, and Sarah Rose Karr all deliver great starring roles. Debi Mazar, Chris Penn, Ashley Hamilton, and Danny Masterson all had nice supporting roles.
- DirectorSimon WincerStarsJason James RichterLori PettyMichael MadsenWhen a boy learns that a beloved killer whale is to be killed by the aquarium owners, the boy risks everything to free the whale.Great family adventure from Simon Wincer that follows a homeless and troubled teenager named Jesse who is sentenced to clean up an Ocra whale pool viewing area as community service after being arrested for vandalizing the area with his buddy. He's then forced by his parole officer to enter into a foster home with a caring couple named Annie and Glen. After he's done finishing his community service, the manager Randolph offers him a job working there because he can see that the whale Willy has a special connection with Jesse. He and Willy become great friends even though Willy usually hates everyone else. For the first time in Jesse's life, he is happy and has a purpose. But all that gets put at risk when a the owners of the water park try to kill Willy and collect the insurance money. Great film for animal lovers. Jason James Richter delivered a great lead performance. Lori Petty, Jayne Atkinson, Michael Madsen, August Schellenberg, Michael Ironside, Richard Riehle, Mykelti Williamson, Michael Bacall, and others had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorJoe CampStarsRed SteagallFrank InnBenjeanBenji is left in the wilderness after an accident. Can he survive?Very nice family adventure from Joe Camp and one of my nostalgic childhood favorites. This is the fourth in the series of six Benji films over the years (1974–2008). The story follows a small golden mixed-breed show dog named Benji who goes lost at sea and ends up struggling to survive in the heavy Oregon wilderness. After he witnesses a cougar being shot and killed by a hunter, he decides it's his duty to take care of the mother's orphaned cubs as he takes on the role of their mother and caretaker, while simultaneously struggling to survive and find his way back to civilization. Very nice story with a minimal and nice supporting cast of humans. Still a solid viewing today.
- DirectorRod DanielStarsJim BelushiMel HarrisKevin TigheTo stop an elusive criminal, a maverick detective enlists the aid of a police dog who's an unusually intelligent smart alec.Very nice action-packed crime comedy from Rod Daniel that follows an eccentric San Diego narcotics detective named Michael Dooley who enlists the help of a rambunctious drug-sniffing German Shepherd named Jerry Lee, who comically ruins Dooley's personal life while also creating trouble while they track down a drug kingpin he's determined to catch. I've always likes this movie as a kid, and it really went hand in hand with another dog-friendly childhood favorite—Turner & Hooch. Jim Belushi delivers a great lead performance. Ed O'Neill, Mel Harris, Kevin Tighe, Rando (Jerry Lee), James Handy, Daniel Davis, Cotter Smith, Pruitt Taylor Vince, and others also had very nice roles.
- DirectorCharles Martin SmithStarsAshley JuddJonah Hauer-KingEdward James OlmosA female dog travels four hundred miles in search of her owner throughout a Colorado wilderness.Of all these movies written by W. Bruce Cameron and Cathryn Michon, I'd have to say this film wasn't executed nearly as well as the others. The story follows a puppy named Bella and her loving owner named Lucas. When they are separated, Bella embarks on an epic 400-mile journey through the Colorado wilderness to reunite with her owner. It's an entertaining story, and very nice for dog lovers, but "A Dog's Purpose" (2017) and "A Dog's Journey" (2019) are much better films. Jonah Hauer-King, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ashley Judd, Edward James Olmos, Alexandra Shipp, Wes Studi, Chris Bauer, Barry Watson, and other all deliver very nice performances throughout.
- DirectorMatthew RobbinsStarsCindy WilliamsDavid RascheRobert J. Steinmiller Jr.A runaway circus dog befriends a young boy who has trouble fitting in with his friends.Solid fast-paced comedy adventure from Matthew Robbins that follows a mischievous and extremely intelligent dog named Bingo that runs away from the circus and heads towards the Colorado suburbs. He ends up finding a family with a troubled young boy named Chuckie Devlin who seriously needs a friend. Chuckie attempts to hide him and keep him a secret, but when the family sets off to move to Green Bay and leaves the dog behind, the dog makes the 1,000-mile trek to reunite with Chuckie, and encounters many comical situations along the way. Fun nostalgic flick that I watched plenty growing up. Cindy Williams, David Rasche, and Robert J. Steinmiller Jr. had nice lead performances. David French, Kurt Fuller, Glenn Shadix, and others also had solid supporting roles.