ironhorse_iv
At least, the tabletop game was a lot more fun than this film. Bingo, the comedy film was dog-crap. As a kid of the 1990s, this kid movie was really hard watch at the time. Directed by Matthew Robbins, the film tells the story of a circus dog named Bingo trying to reconnect with his owner, Chuckie Devlin (Robert J. Steinmiller Jr.), when both of them, got separate on a recent move to another state. Can Bingo find Chuck or will Bingo end up, being abandoned? Watch the movie to find out, if you want to! Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, this movie was pretty damn dark for a kid's film. It was really shocking to find out, that this film was rated PG at the time; due to fact, that the film has a lot of swelling, over-drinking, sex related themes and some rather graphic violence. However, it's the disturbing scenes that take the cake for me. There are tons of intense scenes where animals are being turn into meat sausages, going through fires, or getting shot at. That's hardly the worst, as the film really veer off from being acceptable as a family film, as adult-theme gags are introduce, such as Bingo meeting a sleazy prostitute named Bunny (Tamsin Kelsey), a large knife wielding escape prison convict, "Four-Eyes" (Wayne Robson), and a bunch of criminals, Lennie (Kurt Fuller), and Eli (Joe Guzaldo) who loves torturing children. Honestly, I have no clue, who this film was gear for? It's marketed as a kid movie, but most of the jokes seem for adults. I really doubt, any adults of a certain age would find this movie, fantastic to watch. After all, they could just watch, funnier more recent adult-driven comedies with dogs like 2011's TV Show 'Wilfred" or "Family Guy". The only ones, I can see, rewatching this film are the kids now turn adults like myself, just wanting to rant about it. However, that viewership is slim to none, since this movie bomb at the box office, went it came out. For children; I really doubt, kids of today, would find this film, very interesting, due to the fact, that, it's a bit dated. Also, because that there has been a large surge of unwatchable child-friendly dog movies that been circulating kid's film genre as of late. Not only has those films really oversaturate the market, but it makes films like this, harder to stand out. In my opinion, films like these, don't have a chance in being a good dramatic heart-warming film, compare to films like 2009's 'Hachi: A Dog's Tale' or 2008's 'Marley & Me'. Even, as adventure comedy about a dog trying to get back with its owner, this movie really fails to be, very entertaining as a kid's film. Films like 1993's 'Homeward Bound: Incredible Journey' shows a great mix of humor and heart. This movie hardly shows that. Most of the human characters are one-dimensional, unrealistic dog-hating villains. Even Chuckie's family was very crude and unlikeable to Bingo for some odd reason. They were just the worst. Very annoying parents, Natalie (Cindy Williams) & Hal Devlin (David Rasche) were. All they do is fight and yelled. The brother of Chuck, Chickie (David French) is nearly a borderline psychopath, because of it. I really don't think, Bingo should even reunited with Chuckie, just for that reason, along. God knows, what Chuckie's evil family, would do; once they get hold on him. As a spoof, in which, I believe, this film was going for. It's a lot better than, let's say, the 2005's film, 'Karate Dog', but not as good as '2001's Cats Vs Dogs'. While, the movie does have some funny low blow dark humor; sadly most of it, didn't hit my funny bone. I laugh more at the cheap awful visual effects in the film like puppet paws, more than the film jokes, itself. Still, it was nice to see Bingo, being able to telephone 911, know Morse code, drive a truck, do math, and even stop a bomb from exploding. I found the far-fetched nature of Bingo's actions to be, kinda funny. I also, like the female dog that portraying the very male, Bingo. I found her to be very cute, friendly and well-trained. Other things, that I kinda like, about the film is the theme song by Robert Gibbs. Its sound, very similar to 'Way Out There' by Carter Burwell, from 1987's Raising Arizona. It's somewhat catchy. Still, overall, this film seems to have missed its mark. Not only did it, not gain its intended target, overtime, but it's still being overshadow, by better animal related comedies. It's a long forgotten comedy that probably deserve that title. In other words: dog crap.