Karate Dog

When you look at a Chihuahua you say he can't stand on his hind legs which is why the dog they choose was perfect best computer animation ever

The actors doing the voices for the dogs--especially Chevy Chase--seem to be the most talented here. Also Nicollette Sheridan as a white cat who provides valuable help getting things done. And Lori Petty is quite good as Fowler's version of Siri.

The dogs, and the cat, are also talented musicians. Or appear to be.

The animals can't be that talented, but CGI helps. It's realistic only in the sense that if dogs could move like this, they would look this way.

The movie's title is misleading in that karate is rarely used, but it is used. Cho Cho and Cage also breakdance. You KNOW that's not Jon Voight doing most of it.

And what about Jon Voight? Isn't he a respected actor? What is he doing here? He's not that good, although you could blame the drugs. Still, it is possible for an actor to show talent as someone going senile, even comically. I'm just not sure that's what's happening here.

Jaime Pressly hadn't won any of her Emmys yet, but she does show promise here. Ashley is sweet and intelligent, and of course beautiful.

Fowler is interested in Ashley romantically. This leads to a hilarious Cyrano de Bergerac scene in a restaurant.

It's a kid's fantasy, though a little on the violent side for young kids. But I can't see this appealing to that many adults.

Still, it made me relatively happy.

Cho Cho (voice of Chevy Chase) is an extraordinary dog who has been especially trained by his master, Chin Li (Pat Morita). Li is a powerful karate expert and his dog has learned the moves. Not only this, the pooch can talk English! One sad day, bad guys come looking for Li, as he has discovered a rejuvenation formula. Cho Cho's beloved owner is killed but not before a huge fight. In the fray, Cho Cho is also targeted for extermination but he escapes. As police and detectives arrive to investigate what happened, our canine jumps in the back of the hot sports car driven by a handsome detective, Peter (Simon Rex). Once they arrive back at Pete's place, the dog finally starts talking. Peter is freaked! Yet, as he pays attention, this law officer knows what a tremendous help Cho Cho will be in finding the men who murdered Li. He also grows very fond of the lovable dog. Aiding their investigation is a beautiful police officer, Ashley (Jaime Pressly), who Peter admires openly. As all trails lead to a crooked dog racing businessman, Hamilton (Jon Voight), who is only interested in winning races, can the officers bring down Hammie? Can Cho Cho help Peter romance Ashley? This darling movie has a real dog but also uses computer animation to give the canine martial arts skills. What a concept! Rex and Pressly are a dynamite couple, in looks and charm, while Chase makes Cho Cho a dog after everyone's heart. Morita, Voight, and all of the cast fine work, too. Sets, costumes, effects, a funny script and a surefooted direction all combine to produce such an entertaining family film! Doggone it, find it soon.

This movie is a great family film. Looking for something clean, fun and entertaining for the whole family, this movie will serve the purpose. It is by no means a riveting drama or a hilarious comedy. However, it will be fun for the kids and mildly entertaining for adults. Just by the tittle you should get the idea that the movie is not a serious one. The dog in this movie who talks and does karate is bent on helping a cop find the killer of his previous owner. The cop gets himself into all kinds of trouble as he struggles to produce evidence. Of course a minor plot is his relationship with a female cop who he infatuated with. The dog of course tries to help him with this as well. I guess you will have to watch to see how everything turns out.

SFPD Computer Expert Peter Flower (Simon Rex) investigates the murder of an man (The late Pat Morita), what seems to be a murder/robbery case. But Peter discover that the man, who recently murder has an dog named Cho Cho (Voiced by Chevy Chase). Which Cho Cho could actually talk to Humans and he's the only witness to the crime. Cho Cho feels that his master was up to something and Peter tries to help Cho Cho to solve it. So Cho Cho could avenged his master's murderer. But Cho Cho and Peter finds themselves an strange case that involves Dogs on the race track and an millionaire (Jon Voight), who thinks who found the fountain of young by using Drugs and Dog DNA!

Directed by the late Bob Clark (Black Christmas, A Christmas Story, Porky's) made an silly comedy that aimed at Kids. Although the low-budget of the film is hurt by most of the CGI effects on the film. An bigger budgeted was certainly needed in this film as well. But it's Chase as the voice of "Cho Cho" makes it bearable. Chase certainly gives most of the laughs in this one. Rex is likable enough in the movie and he has an hilarious sequence with Jaime Pressly in the restaurant scene. Only Voight seems to be embarrassed with his film and he gets goofier by the minute with his bizarre performance. Which Voight must paid well to be in this movie and he got to work with Clark again on the "Baby Geniuses 2"!

The Canadian DVD has an fine Pan & Scan (1.33:1) transfer and an decent Dolby 2.0 Surround Sound. The movie works best during the first half and This is certainly not the best work of Clark's or his worst. But it's decent enough and it is certainly better than "Baby Geniuses". Voight reunited with his co-star Ron Lester from "Varsity Blues" Voight even executive produced this oddball movie. (** ½/*****).