DVD review: ‘Air Bud: Golden Receiver Special Edition’
Air Bud: Golden Receiver comes with a whistle!
Another day, another Disney reissue. Yet this time around, it’s not just a simple DVD reissue with Disney FastPlay being the only new addition. The good people at Buena Vista have now included a whistle with Air Bud emblazoned across it for the release of Air Bud: Golden Receiver. But as they say on QVC, “that’s not all.” Those yapping, cuddly puppies, Air Buddies, return for a corny sports commentator skit where they provide play-by-play and color for the final game in the film.
Air Bud: Golden Receiver is the 1998 sequel to the 1997 hit Air Bud, which followed a basketball-playing pooch. This time around, the dog plays football but that’s really the only difference between the original (well, besides a new dog. Sadly the original K9 passed away before production on the follow-up began). The story centers on young Josh Framm (Kevin Zegers) who becomes angry when his mother, Jackie, begins dating Patrick Sullivan (Gregory Harrison), the town’s spicy new veterinarian. Sullivan gives Josh a football and Josh is shocked and excited when he learns that that the dog can catch the pigskin with his teeth. Luckily for the Timberwolves, a local kid’s football team, they are in need of a leader and some inspiration to help the bunch of losers actually win a game. Buddy is that leader. A dog.
Leading a team of humans on the gridiron isn’t the only problem Buddy must contend with. Two Russian miscreants who run a nefarious zoo saw Buddy on TV and decided, yes, the dog will make a fine act to their menagerie of evil. As the gruesome twosome dognap Buddy, the spicy vet, Patrick “I’m your new Daddy” Sullivan, helps Josh got his dog back. Nothing bonds a step-father and son together like rescuing a dog from Russians.
Buddy arrives just in time for the big game and saves the day…well, he would have if he wasn’t tackled. Seriously.
All kidding aside, Air Bud: Golden Receiver is good family fun as long as your kids are old enough for the dognappings and school hallway talk about chicks and sports.
