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Film Title: Air Bud (Special Edition DVD)

 Best for ages: 7 and up.

Movie Website: Click Here

Year Released: 1997

Rated: G (US)

SYNOPSIS

   "Air Bud" is a coming of age story about a boy named Josh who's father recently died.  Along with his mother and little sister they move into a small town where Josh is labeled as an outcast in school. His real passion is basketball, but Josh does not seem to have the confidence to play. He is labeled as the teams water boy, and is picked on by the other students. But he meets Bud, a dog with many talents. But Buddy didn't have it easy either. He was a sideshow dog with an abusive clown named Norm Snively whom just wants to make a quick buck off of Buds talent. When Bud ruins a Birthday party, Norm gets rid of Bud who finds his way into the loving arms of Josh. the two bond and Bud teaches Josh how to be a better basketball player as well as a better person. When the teams coach is fired, the schools janitor whom used to be a professional basketball player takes over. He teaches the kids team work and even allows Bud to attend practices as part of the team. But Buddy and Josh's relationship will be tested when the media catches wind of Bud's talent and Norm comes to claim Bud as his dog. Knowing that Norm does not care for Bud, and that Bud does not care for Norm. Josh will do anything to make sure Bud is free of Norm, even it it mean never getting to see Bud again. But Bud won't let that happen and together they will learn what it means to be friends and stay together no matter what gets between them.

VIOLENCE/GRAPHIC CONTENT/language

  The Clown "Happy Slappy" or known as Norm Snively has a real attitude problem and abuses "Air Bud" both verbally and physically. In the beginning of the film he is kicked in the shin by a young girl. Soon after he ruins a Birthday party after chasing Bud all over the house.  Bud is put into a crate in the back of the clowns truck, which is not secure and the crate falls off the back of the truck where it is almost him by a tractor trailer, but is instead bumped by a small truck where the dog is able to escape. This all happens within the first five minutes of the film, so "Air Bud" does have quite a few things that might be of concern. I'm going to try to name all of them, but there are a lot of little things here and there.

   Death is an issue as the young boy named Josh's father has passed away, which results in his mother, sister and him moving to a new town. Josh has some issues, and is picked on by his new peers and even the basketball coach who asks him if he wants to be the teams water boy. He gets a bit angry in one scenes and kicks down a fence revealing an old basketball court where he first runs into the dog. The first meeting goes well until Josh gives Bud a bath. He uses a Leif blower to dry Bud off, and then Bud goes crazy and wreaks the house, getting paint all over the place and ruining things. Josh is knocked over by a bully during basketball practice. Josh also has a bunch of stinky shirts thrown at him by some of the teams players.  He also takes his anger out on Bud sometimes but apologies to him. 

   Bud is a sneaky dog and we even see him climb up a flower fence to get into Josh's bedroom, he's a dog that gets into trouble but the characters relate to one another by both being sneaky. Josh has to sometimes hide Bud from his mother, who's not to keen on Bud being in the house. There is a laundry list of little mischievous that Josh and Bud do in the movie that are not hurtful but are just kids being kids and dogs being dogs, and doing thing that both do. 

   I noticed a lot of school yard bullying in this movie, such things I guess happen in all schools. I know I was a victim of bullying in my days and was able to relate to Josh in retrospect to the elements of being bullied. The kids in the movie that pick on him say a few hurtful things to Josh and push him around, but Josh is always able to bounce back and think positive.  The teams coach in one scene is seen throwing basketballs at a student in an abusive manner because the kid keeps dropping balls during the game. He is soon replaced by Arthur Chaney the school's Janitor, whom jut so happens to be a retired professional basketball player.

   Norm Snively eventually comes back into the picture to clam Bud as his Dog and tries to market him to companies, one such being a beer company. Josh helps Bud escape his clutches, but a chase ensues where Norm drives his truck after Josh and Bud and tries to run them down. They avoid him and he eventually drives his truck into a river. But he will do anything to make money off of Bud's talent and will stop at nothing to claim Bud as his own, even though he does not love and care for Bud like Josh does.

   "Dam It", "I hate this and that" " I swear" are just some of the words in the movie that might be of concern. other than those few words there really is not much to worry about. Norm Snively does throw fits and is a very shady character that lies, cheats, steals and does whatever it takes to get what he wants. He's a mean and vicious villain in the film, and he might scare some kids with his evil tactics.

OVERALL VIEWS

  While "Air Bud" may have many things that might make the film seem like there is a lot going on that might be of concern. There is a real moral to the story. Behind the hurt that Josh is feeling, Bud is also alone and feels like he has no one. The two bond together almost instantly and it becomes a coming of age film. Where we think that Josh might go down the wrong path because of the stress he's under, he uses that energy to make good things happen. One such thing is he cleans up the yard so he can play basketball and though this Bud helps Josh get better with his game. So it's one of those movies where the character turns a lot of negative energy into positive energy. But also is able to have some fun with Bud as they go though the adventure of life together. Josh also finds a mentor in a retired basketball player whom is now the school janitor, where he learns the game. This is one of the positive up-lifting moments of the movie.

   "Air Bud" in the end really turns into a positive movie, and is especially uplifting if your child is being bullied in school, or is trying their best at sport, but needs that extra motivation.  There are a lot of life lessons in the film such as playing as a team and being true to ones self that are the focus of the film. Despite some of the negative elements of the movie, In the end it all turns positive because the right thing is done and good prevails in the end.

   The Special Edition DVD comes with Buddy dog tags, as well as Dog-U-Commentary with the Buddies puppies from the recent Disney Buddies films.  It also includes the original theatrical trailer to Air Bud as well.

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