Beethoven
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Bonnie Hunt, Charles Grodin, Christopher Castile, Dean Jones, Nicholle TomBrand: Universal Studios
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 87 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2009-04-28
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Studios
Movie Reviews of Beethoven
Movie Review: roll over beethoven and let me rub that big belly
Summary: 5 Stars
It's unfortunate that Beethoven hasn't become a classic because I remember back in the day it was an *extremely* popular family film. You see 20 years ago, comedies pertaining to dogs and cats wasn't yet beaten into the ground to the point of being predictably bland so the viewers were able to better appreciate them. Perhaps that explains why this film isn't considered a classic- there's too many similar types out there these days.
Anyway, I'm not the biggest fan of Saint Bernards because they slobber a lot and actually strike me as the kind of dog that can suddenly turn vicious without giving warning (perhaps I'm wrong about that- hey, every dog is brought up differently) but when they're puppies it's impossible to deny just how adorable and surprisingly small they are. I really enjoy the puppy segment in the beginning, especially the perfect timing of Beethoven hiding in a trashcan at just the right moment so the dognappers couldn't find him. Oh, and we can't forget that biker chick who walked into the pet store looking for something suitable for her personality only to have a certain... disgusting incident happen, hehe.
This is the kind of well-written family movie where numerous scenes remain extremely memorable to me over the years, so the entire film flows with so much great humor and perfect timing. Who can possibly forget the scene when the husband/father walks through the front door, sees muddy dog footprints all over his floor and carpet, and ventures upstairs only to be the victim of the greatest slobbering surprise of his life! Nowadays I realize they exaggerated the amount of slobber flying around in every which direction, but back in the day I thought this segment was quite realistic, haha. A similar incredibly funny segment that will probably make you laugh uncontrollably is when Beethoven hops into bed with the husband, unbeknownst to him, and Beethoven starts licking his face. He believes it's his wife doing it, lol! Perhaps a mildly inappropriate moment, I admit.
I definitely do not like the one scene with the bad guy walking up to Beethoven's doghouse and deliberately trying to get Beethoven to attack him so he has a good excuse to put the dog down. I know when the movie was being written the actors were actually playfully teasing the dog (and you can tell because Beethoven is wagging his tail the entire time) but to me it looks frighteningly realistic like animal abuse. Also the scene where the camera is positioned through a living room window showing the little girl of Beethoven's family falling into the swimming pool and nearly drowning while the babysitter is occupied playing the piano and totally unaware what's taking place outside is VERY uncomfortable for me to watch. Another unintentionally realistic moment.
Other memorable scenes include those two business people who not only get a spitty-tasting glass of lemonade, but receive a chair-flipping (and perfectly timed landing) adventure of a lifetime, haha. Oh, and the bacon-stealing scene at the kitchen table is great too.
The film is incredibly brief though, at just over 80 minutes. It felt so much longer to me back in the day.
I don't know, Beethoven just seems like such a perfect comedy to me with no flaws. I wish more people agreed.
Summary of Beethoven
BEETHOVEN - DVD MoviePut Charles Grodin together with a 200-pound Saint Bernard and you're likely to come up with some good laughs. In this popular family comedy from 1992 Grodin plays a beleaguered dad who reluctantly lets his kids keep the lost puppy they've adopted. The dog quickly grows into the huge and clever hound named Beethoven. In a marked departure from his nice-guy roles in several Disney comedies from the 1960s and '70s, Dean Jones plays the villainous veterinarian who abducts Beethoven to be a subject in his sadistic animal experiments. The kidnapping sets the stage for a raucous rescue and, of course, an inevitable sequel. Innocuous but harmlessly entertaining, Beethoven is one of those movies that some kids can't get enough of. --Jeff Shannon
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