Underdog (2007 film)

Underdog
Underdog film poster
Directed by	Frederik Du Chau
Written by	Adam Rifkin Joe Piscatella
Starring	Alex Neuberger Taylor Momsen Jim Belushi Peter Dinklage John Slattery Patrick Warburton Brad Garrett Amy Adams Jason Lee
Distributed by	Walt Disney Pictures
Release dates	United States: August 3, 2007
Language	English

Underdog is a 2007 film released on August 3, 2007 featuring the super-powered cartoon character of the same name and several other characters from the cartoon. It is produced by Spyglass Entertainment and Classic Media and distributed theatrically in the United States by Walt Disney Pictures. This film stars Alex Neuberger as Jack Unger and features Jason Lee as the voice of the titular character.

Plot

The movie begins in City Hall in Capital City, where the mayor is giving a speech about how crime in the city has skyrocketed. A police dog soon smells a bomb, which turns out to be a ham. For this mistake, the dog leaves the force. Cad (Simon Barsinister's lackey) sees the dog and takes him into a lab. After he gets put into a cage surrounded by other caged dogs, the dog asks the dog next to him what this place is; and the dog says is that BAD stuff goes on in here. In the lab lobby, Cad watches the door with another security guard, Dan Unger. Dan stops a man trying to walk in saying the lab is closed for the night. The man shows his pass, and Cad identifies him as Dr. Simon Barsinister. Simon and Cad go into the lab, where they retrieve the former police dog and plan to perform an experiment on him. Simon tells the dog that it’s going to hurt a lot, which causes the dog to sneeze into Simon’s mouth then jump out of his hands. As he runs around, the dog causes severe damage to the lab and knocks a shelf containing chemicals onto himself. The chemicals change his body around and make him able to run out of the lab by smashing his way through several walls, but not before setting the lab on fire.

As the dog walks through an alley trying to figure out what just happened, he runs into the bully dog Riff Raff and 2 other dogs. They tell the dog to get out of their alley; The dog doesn’t want any trouble, so he takes off. Unfortunately, he runs out into the street in front of a car. Dan, who is driving the car, slams on the brakes and gets out, thinking he has hit the dog. Dan thinks he didn’t hit the dog after he finds him hiding underneath the car. Dan decides to call the dog Shoeshine and takes him home for the night.

The next morning, Jack Unger makes up a note from his dad excusing him from school. Dan walks in and shows Shoeshine to Jack, yet Jack doesn’t really like Shoeshine at first. Later, Jack gets at trouble at school, due to the illness on his sick note being "Monkeypox”. When Jack comes home, he sees that Shoeshine has totally trashed the place. As Jack scolds Shoeshine, Shoeshine tells him it was an accident. Jack freaks out at the fact that Shoeshine is talking, but Shoeshine calms him down and tells him what happened. As Jack is still trying to figure everything out, they go to a park. Also at the park is the writer for the school newspaper, Molly. Shoeshine immediately falls for Molly’s dog, Polly Purebred. After they talk, Jack gets a Frisbee out of the trash and throws it across the field; Shoeshine runs at lightning speed to catch it. Jack is amazed by this and decided to experiment with Shoeshine. In a humorous scene, he tries playing fetch with Shoeshine, but Shoeshine isn’t amused. Suddenly, Shoeshine gets a feeling that Molly and Polly are in trouble. Shoeshine starts running through the city. He accidentally starts flying and occasionally flies into things. He finds Molly’s purse is being stolen by two thugs. Shoeshine beats up the two criminals (by crashing into a fire escape ladder which in turn falls) and takes off. Jack completely forgets that his house is still a mess, so he and Shoeshine run back to the house to clean it up. As they clean, Cad stops by asking if they’ve seen his lost beagle; Cad gets suspicious, but Jack says he hasn’t seen him and closes the door. Unfortunately, Dan gets home and finds a broken window, shattered dishes, etc. Dan decided to take the dog to the pound, but Jack convinces him to let Shoeshine stay now that he likes the dog. Jack takes Shoeshine to the park again and teaches him 4 weeks worth of obedience training in 4 minutes. As Jack and Shoeshine watch a baseball game, Jack comments on how his team are always the "underdogs", and explains to Shoeshine that an underdog is someone who nobody expects to be great but is (Shoeshine can relate). Jack also gives Shoeshine a collar with his name on it, which makes Shoeshine happy now that he finally has a home.

Back at the lab, Cad helps Simon emerge from the sewer he’s been living in; Simon now has a crippled leg and scars around his brain. Simon is furious that his lab is destroyed and that Cad is too stupid to find the dog, but Simon still attempts to rebuild his lab.

Jack sees a jewelry heist on TV, and is certain that Shoeshine can stop the heist. Shoeshine doesn’t want to do it, but Jack convinces him to do it. Shoeshine flies out of the house (through a fish kite) and towards the jewelry store. When he gets there, Cad and a few henchmen are robbing the store for Simon. Shoeshine, while still wearing the fish kite, roughs up the henchmen, chases Cad away, and gets worried when he sees a fox skin scarf lying on the store’s floor as he thinks it’s alive.

The next day, Jack tells Shoeshine that the jewelry store incident was incredible and that he should become a regular superhero. Shoeshine doesn’t want to do it though because he’s afraid he’ll be noticed and that Simon will take him back to the lab. Jack doesn’t want Shoeshine to quit, so he goes into a story about how his dad used to be the greatest cop in Capital City then quit for no reason. Dan was supposed to spend a lot more time with Jack after his mom died; however, Dan hasn’t really done a good job with that. To help with Shoeshine’s problem, Jack decides that Shoeshine needs an alter-ego to protect his identity. They try out a few costumes, but finally settle on Dan’s old college shirt (a red shirt with a white U on it) and a blue cape. Along with his alter-ego, they decide if Shoeshine needs to leave to help someone, he barks three times. They also settle on his name: Underdog.

For the next few minutes, a montage showing Underdog stopping different crooks cues up. As he takes down crime, he works on a few different catchphrases, but finally settles on the famous, "There’s no need to fear; Underdog is here." In the same montage, Molly looks a lot of research trying to figure out exactly who Underdog is.

One day, Jack takes Shoeshine to the library so they can meet up with Molly and Polly; Shoeshine calls it a "double-date", which Jack immediately says it’s not. They have to work on Shoeshine’s secret identity, so he has to wear one of those dog cones around his neck. At the library, Riff Raff comes around and makes fun of Shoeshine’s cone. Shoeshine talks with Polly, who really just talks about how amazing Underdog is. Shoeshine tells Polly that Underdog will answer any call for help. That night, Polly stands out on her porch calling for help Underdog comes, and when he realizes there’s really no need to be there, he asks Polly out on a date. They fly over all over Capitol City and stop at an Italian restaurant to steal a couple’s 'doggy bag'. Underdog quotes, "What's for dinner? Mmm, Italian." As they eat on top of City Hall, Underdog drops a meatball on a cat.

Meanwhile, Simon is getting furious that Underdog is getting recognized for the powers he gave him. Simon comes up with an idea to lure Underdog out: Cad dresses up like an old lady and hangs out of a window of a tall building. It lures Underdog out, who flies in too fast and knocks Cad down. Underdog still saves him and brings him down to the ground; Cad takes off his old lady wig and puts a choke collar on Underdog. Underdog decides to take Cad for a 'walk' – he runs around the city at lightning speed, dragging Cad around. Cad goes back to Simon, who is furious for another failure; however, Cad was able to rip Underdog’s collar off, revealing his address.

Later, Jack and Shoeshine head out to go meet with Molly and Polly. Dan asks if he can come, but Jack says he and Shoeshine will be fine. Shoeshine calls Jack out on this, so Jack wants to apologize. However, Simon and Cad kidnap Dan and bring him to the lab. Simon now knows that Shoeshine is Underdog, so he sics his 3 test dogs (all German Shepherds) on Dan until he calls to Underdog for help. Shoeshine hears Dan’s call and barks three times. Jack and Shoeshine both awkwardly run away from talking with Molly and Polly to go save Dan. They get to the lab, yet end up captured. Simon will let Jack and Dan go if Underdog agrees to give up his powers. Underdog agrees, and his powers are removed and placed into blue pills. Simon forces Underdog to take one more pill, which returns him to his normal dog self.

Simon uses his new powers to transform his test dogs into super dogs. Simon goes to City Hall and holds the mayor hostage; his demands are a billion dollars, immunity from the law (Ironically, you wouldn't need money if you are free from law), and his lab restored. As the SWAT team arrives and people gather to watch, Molly and Polly sneak in after they see Cad enter. Back at the lab, Jack and Dan start arguing about Dan quitting the force. Dan finally admits he only quit because he was afraid of dying and leaving Jack alone as they escape the lab with Shoeshine.

Jack, Dan, Shoeshine get to City Hall and learn what’s happening. Shoeshine, who looks helpless now, suddenly smells a bomb. Shoeshine is sceptical of his smell, but ends up going inside via a vent. Shoeshine sneaks through the vent until he falls through and lands on a globe. The globe goes out of control, knocking the mayor unconscious and knocking a few of the blue power pills out of Simon’s pocket. Shoeshine eats one and becomes Underdog again. As the test dogs chase Underdog around, Molly finds Cad strapping a bomb to the top of the building. Polly barks at Cad, which causes Cad to find both of them and tie them up where the bomb is. Back inside, Simon takes a pill himself and now has all the powers Underdog has. He gets the upper hand by throwing a Frisbee-like shield at Underdog. Simon is now ready to detonate a bomb, which will release a toxin in the air forcing all citizens to obey him. When the test dogs are set to finish Underdog off, he talks to them and asks if they really like working for Simon. Simon yells at the dogs, but they get annoyed when he tries to interrupt their talk. Finally Underdog convinces them to hold Simon down as he goes outside to get his outfit. As the mayor gains the strength to leave City Hall, Dan decides to go inside and capture Simon. With two minutes left on the bomb, Underdog heads up to save Molly and Polly. Underdog takes the bomb and digs an immense hole to put the bomb in. The bomb goes off, sending Underdog into space (where an astronaut sees him). Underdog falls back down to Earth, causing a crater. For a minute, it appears that he is dead, yet he is still alive. The town celebrates. A few days later, Simon is shown to his lifetime cellmate; he screams in agony when he sees that it is Cad. Meanwhile, Jack and Molly are at the park again. Polly still cannot stop talking about Underdog, which bums Shoeshine out. Riff Raff comes over to bully Shoeshine again, but Shoeshine gives a mega bark that removes all of Riff Raff’s hair. The movie ends with Shoeshine jumping up in the sky and flying around as Underdog.

Rating

This film is rated PG by the MPAA for rude humor, mild language, and action.

Cast

• Alex Neuberger - Jack Unger
• Rebekah Aramini - Fox Collar Lady
• Jim Belushi - Dan Unger
• John Slattery - Mayor of Capital City
• Joe Bucaro III - Goon #1
• Albert Chan - Geek Worker
• Peter Dinklage - Simon Barsinister
• Armen Garo - Cat Burglar Police #2
• Stephen James Kidd - Captain of the Bomb Squad
• Taylor Momsen - Molly
• Joe Stapleton - Cat Burglar Police #1
• Larry Vigus - Security Officer
• Patrick Warburton - Cad
• T.R. Knight - Capitol City Cop #3
• Daniel Lee White - Officer M. Fitzgerald
• Stephen Kyle - Police Officer
• Roy Souza - Capitol City Cop #2
• Samantha Bee - Principal Helen Patterson
• Jay Leno - Himself
• Christopher Daniel Barnes - Mailman

Voice cast

• Jason Lee - Shoeshine/Underdog
• Amy Adams - Sweet Polly PureBred
• Cam Clarke - Supershep 3, name found out to be "Attack", Little Brown Dog
• John DiMaggio - Supershep, Bulldog
• Brad Garrett - Riff Raff
• Jess Harnell - Astronaut
• Michael Massee - Supershep #2, name found out to be "Kill"
• Phil Morris - Supershep #1, name found out to be "Maim"
• Daniel Mastrogiorgio - Crazy Dog

Merchandise

The merchandise store released on July 31, 2007 from Disney Store. Among the merchandise being release that day is a soundtrack album from Walt Disney Records, and books from Disney Publishing Worldwide.

Reception

Underdog was released on August 3, 2007, in 3,013 theaters across the US. It grossed $11,585,121 on its opening weekend, placing in third among that weekend's films in release. As of October 11, 2007, Underdog made $42,937,703 at the domestic box office.

Critical

Upon its release, Underdog received cold reviews. Rotten Tomatoes' freshness rating for Underdog presently clocks in at 13%, the lowest achieved by any of the three pictures directed by Du Chau (His first two, Quest for Camelot and Racing Stripes, received 35% and 34% respectively.). The movie consensus on that site reads:

Underdog is a mostly forgettable adaptation that relies far too heavily on recycled material and sloppy production.

Even many of those whose work was among the 13% were seemingly unable to review this film on their level. Ken Fox of TV Guide said: "If you set your expectations just low enough, or are an easily satisfied 8-year-old, you might have a bit of fun." The New York Daily News saw Underdog as being "made for the Saturday morning TV crowd," claiming that "parents who lead their tykes to this adventure aren't likely to leave disappointed."

Commercial

While Underdog has sustained scathing criticism from devoted purist fans of the original TV series, that same fan base has generated sizable amounts of warm adulation for the film. Particular praise was reserved for Dinklage's Barsinister and Warburton's Cad.

DVD and Blu-ray Disc release

Underdog was released on standard DVD and high-definition Blu-ray Disc on December 18, 2007. The DVD and Blu-Ray Disc both aspect ratios with Widescreen and Fullscreen.

The DVD shows the first episdoe of Underdog on the bonus features.

See also

• Underdog (movie soundtrack)
• Kyle Massey, sang the single "Underdog Raps"
• Jason Lee
• Underdog, the television show.

References

• Official Site
• Underdog at Disney Movies Guide
• Underdog at Rotten Tomatoes

External links

• Underdog Movie - Official Disney DVD Website
• Underdog at IMDb
• Trailers
• About the Production