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Underdog
Disney

Underdog reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 37 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
6.5 out of 10
based on 16 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 66 votes
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MPAA RATING: PG for rude humor, mild language and action

Starring Alex Neuberger, Jason Lee, Amy Adams, Peter Dinklage, Patrick Warburton, and James Belushi

After an accident in the mysterious lab of maniacal scientist Dr. Simon Barsinister, an ordinary beagle unexpectedly finds himself with unimaginable powers and the ability to speak. Armed with a fetching superhero costume, Underdog vows to protect the beleaguered citizens of Capitol City and, in particular, one beautiful spaniel named Polly Purebread. When a sinister plot by Barsinister and his overgrown henchman Cad threatens to destroy Capitol City only Underdog can save the day. (Disney)


GENRE(S): Action  |  Adventure  |  Comedy  |  Family/Kids  |  Fantasy  |  Sci-fi  
WRITTEN BY: Joe Piscatella
Craig A. Williams
Adam Rifkin
 
DIRECTED BY: Frederik Du Chau  
RELEASE DATE: DVD: December 18, 2007 
Theatrical: August 3, 2007 
RUNNING TIME: minutes, Color 
ORIGIN: USA 

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

67
Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman
This digitized update, with Jason Lee as a huskier, more generic Underdog, mostly drops the doggerel, but the endearing airborne-beagle effects help to offset the formula twists.
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63
TV Guide Ken Fox
If you're expecting anything resembling the beloved cartoon, you'll enjoy the title sequence and nothing else. If, however, you set your expectations just low enough, or are an easily satisfied 8-year-old, you might have a bit of fun.
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63
New York Daily News Jack Mathews
Made for viewers old enough to appreciate a talking pooch but too young to read or write about it.
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60
The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt
The movie isn't nearly as bad as you would expect when the studio holds its only press screening the night before a national opening.
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50
Variety Justin Chang
Falls somewhere between stale retread and half-hearted parody of superhero-movie formulas.
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40
LA Weekly Jim Ridley
Even the promising team of Peter Dinklage’s mad scientist Simon Barsinister and Patrick Warburton’s henchman Cad turns out to be a bust.
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40
Empire Anna Smith
Despite the talent on show, there's little to distinguish this from any other bland family comedy.
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40
Austin Chronicle Marrit Ingman
The elements of the film don’t quite mesh: The villains are cartoony, but Du Chau aims for soggy family drama in his father-son story.
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40
Chicago Reader Joshua Katzman
The TV show was mildly subversive, with humor that children and adults could enjoy on different levels, but the movie strives for a blander, family-oriented middle ground.
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40
Film Threat Michael Ferraro
Regardless, what probably made the show so tolerable and popular was the fact that each episode was under a half an hour long. This movie is about 84 minutes long and gets tiresome after the first 20 minutes or so.
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38
Premiere Glenn Kenny
For adults -- even adults with fond memories of the TV series -- this is one bizarre mess.
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38
New York Post Kyle Smith
The bite and bark of Underdog are both pretty awful, but little kids might take this pooch for a walk.
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38
Boston Globe Janice Page
Underdog! Rest assured, there is no superhero cliche left unchewed; they even manage to slide in a "Lady and the Tramp" homage while they're at it.
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30
The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis
Underdog may have been originally created to sell cereal for General Mills, but this latest incarnation couldn't sell Frisbees at a dog park.
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30
Los Angeles Times Sam Adams
Director Frederik Du Chau's big-screen Underdog has all of the cartoons' crudeness and none of their charm. It's the celluloid equivalent of sugar cereal: cheap, empty and headache-inducing.
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16
The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias
The result is unfit for humankind.
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What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this movie is 6.5 (out of 10) based on 66 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Anthony G gave it a2:
A waste of six dollars plus popcorn. The plot was predictable and the acting was worse than Gigli. Do yourself a favor and spend the time on a funnier movie that at least has some originality.

Kelly p. gave it a10:
It is a really good movie..i love dogs and this sis a really good comedy feature!

Q B. gave it a6:
Not a great film by any stretch of the imagination, but I laughed. and I enjoyed the homages.

Christopher C. gave it a6:
My 8 year old niece dragged me to see Underdog, and it wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it would be. She enjoyed it immensely, and it was engaging enough for me that I didn't run screaming. But it's definitely a only-if-you-have-a-youngster affair.

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