I grew up in the 80's, and would rush home from school
to watch what I remember critics calling "30 minute
commercials" like Transformers. Okay, they were trying
to sell toys. So what? A) I wanted the toys anyway,
unless B) I didn't. I had some sales resistence. I
distinctly remember being singularly unimpressed with
certain line-ups and saved my money. But interesting
to me was some shows that, I now realize, may have
been intended to sell toys but the people involved
stepped up their game. Like the movie Pirahna, what could
have been just another quick buck was given some real
effort. As a result, I still have fond memories of the
storytelling from shows like Spiral Zone and
Inhumanoids. All because the creative staff didn't just phone
it in.

I mention this because of Underdog, which I literally
just saw. When I first heard about live action
Underdog, I thought it was a joke. Then I found out it
wasn't. I thought it was the dumbest reworking of an
established concept until I saw the ads for the thugged-up
Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. That'll teach me to
open my stupid mouth. I swear to God, I expect to open
the paper and see an announcement the Zalman King has
signed to direct a live action Sailor Moon.

When the summer movie season started, I had pegged
Underdog to be the worst movie of the season. As time
went by, it became apparent that this wouldn't be an
easy victory. When your competition includes the Fat Man
and Little Boy known as Evan Almighty and I Know Who
Killed Me, and features Licensed To Wed putting up a
good fight to join them, Underdog would have to bring
something really special to the table to claim the
crown. It had to want it.

And so it was a complete surprise when my suspicions
about Underdog turned out to be offbase. It's actually
a surprisingly good little film that has a lot more
heart and better focus than most of the overblown
superhero flicks these days. For every one thing it does
wrong (origin story, afterthought romantic subplot,
scene narration, Jim Belushi), it does something right
(genuine feeling, funny delivery, brisk pace, Jim
Belushi).

While I usually hate when comic movies start with the
origin story (i.e. The Powerpuff Girls movie), here,
it's actually necessary to keep everyone in the loop
about the progression and changes. Simon Barsinister
and his henchman Cad (has Patrick Warburton ever NOT
been funny?) are trying to genetically manipulate dogs to
make them effective for the police. One spunky
little mutt escapes while wrecking the lab and getting
doused with every DNA sample in the room. He's unaware of
the changes when he gets picked up by Jim Belushi's
character, a security guard at the building Barsinister
works at. Belushi is a widower, and hopes the dog
will help his son, Jack. Jack quickly warms to
"Shoeshine" when he finds out he has superpowers, and soon,
sees the dog as a genuine friend instead of a neat
inside joke on the world. Naturally, this can't last.
Barsinister is determined to continue his research, and
soon realizes that the flying dog fighting crime is his
renegade from the lab.

The movie aims for the feel of superhero stories in
the pre-Frank Miller/Alan Moore mode. There is
selflessness, danger, and a sense of doing things to help
instead of public grandstanding. It's mentality follows
the lead of the Harry Potter books/movies in that,
whether you were born to be a hero or not, when people
count on you, the choices you make determine everything.
The scenes where Jack and Belushi try to work around
each other as a family also strike just the right
chord. The "a boy and his dog" moments are also
surprisingly legit. But the real star is the writing. Not
content to just follow a generic movie template (like
how the first Addams Family movie seemed more intent on
reminding everyone of how much they enjoyed the
original series instead of standing on its own), they add
good jokes to tag the lame gags and the comic
deliveries, from Jason Lee as the voice of Underdog to
Warburton, one of the greatest comic finds of the past decade,
get genuine laughs.

Interestingly, the movie does a neat little sidestep
around the energy pills and whether Underdog has his
powers back or if they will fade. I'm actually hoping
for a sequel, because I think I know where they will
take it. I also immediately recognized the voice of
tough dog Riff Raff (the writers clearly wanted the
audience to know they were on their side). Thank you for
that little touch.

All in all, Underdog beat my expectations, and instead
of being a phony effort like Dudley Do Right, is a
legitamite movie that was worth the price of admission.