Show Dogs Blu-ray Review
Jeremy Werner
October 22nd, 2018
I think the highest compliment I could pay a movie like SHOW DOGS is that I didn’t hate it. That’s not to say I liked it, because I didn’t. Unlike other bad movies though, I didn’t find myself loathing my existence as time passed. This is a movie that kids will lap up, while the parents may roll over and play dead. As I usually question when reviewing kids movies, does this children’s movie degrade itself with potty humor and amount to an intellectually offensive display for a young impressionable mind? I would have to say it doesn’t, which might actually be another high compliment for a film, which I have to once again reiterate, I didn’t like.
While the plot is basic, SHOW DOGS does a terrible job establishing any kind of rules for its world where humans and canines interact verbally. Frank (Arnett) is the human police partner to Max (Ludacris), a Rottweiler police dog. They’re going undercover at a dog show in Las Vegas to catch some animal smugglers. I immediately understand that this is a world where anthropomorphic dogs jib and jab with humans, recreationally and in a work environment, but are these the only animals that talk?
The animal smugglers they’re going after are looking to steal a baby panda. But when the humans and dogs encounter the panda, it isn’t able to communicate with them. Is it because it’s a baby or are pandas in general still cursed to not having the ability to adapt to language and dialect? But Max has some pigeons that he interacts with in the film, even though I never see Frank or any other human talk to them. So does that mean pigeons are sentient? Then there’s a tiger that talks, and once again, the dog seems to understand it, but the humans seemingly don’t. But then the panda seems to understand the tiger’s verbal, English commands. I know I’m looking for logic in a film where talking dogs are on the police force and have the same societal sway as a human being, but it took me out of the film. Although, come to think of it, I’m glad I had these philosophical quandaries to distract me.
Frank eventually finds a human girl that he’s interested in and Max finds a dog girl he’s interested in. Max makes friends at the show as well as Frank, and they learn that models are people…or dogs…too. That’s a good lesson. Right? Sure. Why not? The movie seemingly spends a lot of downtime following Max’s shenanigans, none of which are as funny or amusing as a Youtube video where a dog eats peanut butter. Frank truly comes off as the sidekick, merely reacting to CGI hijinks and attempting to maintain a semblance of being undercover. Like I said, kids will get a kick out of this. Like me, parents might be wondering if this is a world where other pets have become an integral part of society as well. Are goldfish working with the Coast Guard?
SHOW DOGS is inoffensive for young ones, but rarely cute and imaginative enough to having any kind of staying power. The film seems to acknowledge its own stupidity and almost relishes in its silly premise. Movies about talking dogs aren’t necessarily setting a high water mark for family entertainment. Sure a film like ISLE OF DOGS could, but that’s not a movie for families, much less children. SHOW DOGS isn’t for families, unless a parent is really a glutton for punishment or merely finds joy in their children finding joy in what they’re. I’m willing to bet that, that a parent is more likely to hit play and take a nap.
BLU-RAY REVIEW
Video: (1080p HD Widescreen 1:85:1) The Blu-ray pops with bright lights of Sin City, but really highlights the subpar mouth CGI on the dogs. So in that regard, it’s a crystal clear Blu-ray.
Audio: (English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1) No problems audio wise.
