Snow Dogs film review

certificate_PG

SNOW DOGS

Snow Dogs is top pedigree family entertainment, founded on a self-consciously ridiculous plot with plenty of laughter, spills and thrills, and hordes of cuddly critters.

Cuba Gooding Jr stars as family dentist Ted Brooks, who runs a highly successful practice in Miami with best friend Rupert (Sisqo).

Having learnt he is the main beneficiary in a will, Ted heads north to the remote Alaskan settlement of Tolketna, where he discovers the bequest is a run-down shack and a team of prize-winning sled dogs.

Ted and the mischievous mutts initially clash, and he contemplates selling them to curmudgeonly local, Thunder Jack (James Coburn). Thankfully, alluring bar owner Barb (Joanne Bacalso) helps Ted to see the error of his ways, and to win the dogs' respect and trust. When Thunder Jack goes missing during the annual dog race in atrocious weather conditions, Ted risks his life (and the wellbeing of his canine chums) to save the day.

Snow Dogs follows the Disney family movie template to the letter, creating an inoffensive and highly entertaining fish out of water comedy.

The plot throws up plenty of preposterous surprises, not least the discovery that Thunder Jack is Ted's biological father, with a wonderful larger-than life cameo from Nichelle Nichols (Commander Nyota Uhura in the original Star Trek) as Ted's glamorous adoptive mother.

Much of the comedy in the film is physical: Ted slipping on ice, being chased by a ravenous grizzly bear, and being dragged for miles behind the sled after his foot gets caught in the reins. All good clean fun, if undemanding.

Gooding Jr delivers his performance full volume, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, and Coburn offers terrific scenery-chewing support.

Inevitably, the animals are the stars of the show, and they never disappoint. Youngsters will love all of the pratfalls, and the crazy facial expressions of the dogs (created using computer trickery a la Babe) as they outwit the humans.

Parents will just be glad of a film that keeps the little ones engrossed for the full 90 minutes, and may even find a small lump in their throats, brought on by the rousing feelgood finale.