Film Review: Film in 1992–“Beethoven”–Family Time Movie in 1992

Released in 1992, Beethoven was a popular family comedy from America. Beethoven is the name of the St Bernard puppy that becomes one of an American family, the Newton’s.

 

Story

 

The puppy grows up, bigger and perhaps cuter, sheds saliva and wrecks mud through the house. Adored by the children. Meanwhile, a pet stealing racquet is shedding fear through dog owners’ souls, namely, a pathetic shady vet (Dean Jones) and two bumbling pet robbers (Stanley Tucci and Oliver Platt), but don’t mess with a St Bernard…

 

Response

 

The film may be sugar-coated (and not only on the dog’s teeth), but the heart is good: the family members are good to each other, there is no profanity, and it firmly keeps within the traditions of the family genre.

 

Themes

 

There are some quite good themes. It affirms being nice to animals and shuns animal cruelty while the humans that perpetrate their nefarious deeds against pets are up against the Newton’s.

The film also says that sometimes, it’s good to do things we don’t feel like doing which brings its own kind of rewards. There’s affirmation of standing up to bullies (with some help from a St Bernard dog) and although the teen girl in the family is getting a phone call from an interested guy way too young the payoff is not liking a girl only for her looks. Although I thought the guy was too young to be ringing her up for a date.

 

Qualities and Lack Thereof

 

As a film, there are set pieces and moments aiming to provide laughs for kids and grown-ups, which should keep the family demographic happy. The stand-out is Charles Grodin who plays the reluctant convert to the pet. Grodin’s performance is hilarious, when he’s flustered by the pet, that is. Issues keep propping up, like dog sleeping in the bed and so on. There is even a montage of doggy behaviour, which, I for one, would have difficultly living with.

 

Main Cast: Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt, Dean Jones, Chris (Beethoven the dog), Nicholle Tom, Christopher Castle, Sarah Rose Karr, David Duchovny, Patricia Heaton, Oliver Platt, Stanley Tucci. Screenplay: Edmond Dantes and Amy Holden Jones. Director: Brian Levant.